A coalition of major arts organisations, philanthropists, and global institutions announced Thursday the creation of the Los Angeles Arts Community Fire Relief Fund to support artists and arts workers who have been severely affected by the ongoing wildfire.
The fund has a base of $12 million and is spearheaded by the J. Paul Getty Trust. It aims to provide emergency grants to those who lost homes, studios, archives or livelihoods due to the fires. Partner organisations include the Mellon Foundation – Helen Frankenthaler Foundation – Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts – Qatar Museums, Ford Foundation, and local institutions such as Mohn Art Collective, including MOCA LACMA.
The fund will be administered by the Center for Cultural Innovation (CCI), a nonprofit dedicated to supporting individuals in the arts through funding advocacy and research. Applications for Emergency Grants will open on 20 January, focusing on the rapid disbursement of funds to those in need. A lifeline for LA’s creative community: This year’s wildfires have destroyed Los Angeles neighbourhoods, artworks and cultural spaces. The Altadena area, known for its concentration of artists and art workers, has been particularly hit. People around the world watch in horror as vast areas of Los Angeles burn,” said Katherine Fleming, president and CEO of the Getty Trust. This regional tragedy has global cultural repercussions. Getty is grateful to the many partners who have come together to meet the urgent needs of this community. Elizabeth Alexander, president of the Mellon Foundation, commented on the national importance of the initiative. Los Angeles shapes every sense as a place of imaginative power and ingenuity.”
A Collaborative Effort: The fund’s diverse group of contributors underscores the scale and urgency of a united response to the crisis. Contributors include major foundations such as the Robert Rauschenberg Foundation, Terra Foundation for American Art, and the Broad Art Foundation, as well as individuals like Steven Spielberg and Kate Capshaw through the Heartland Foundation. Joel Wachs, President of the Andy Warhol Foundation, spoke of deep ties between the arts community and the city. Los Angeles still feels like home to me, and the artists there are part of my community of interest,” he said. Contributions to this fund are both a reflection of our mission and a moral imperative. The fund builds on the emergency arts funding models developed during the pandemic with an added focus on equity and inclusion.
The Ford Foundation president, Darren Walker, noted the disproportionate impact on disabled individuals and highlighted the fund’s commitment to addressing these disparities. Applications Open Soon artists and arts workers from all disciplines can apply for grant applications starting Jan. 20 via CCI’s website: http://www2.cij.org/. As fundraising continues, the fund may expand to address long-term recovery needs. This initiative joins other efforts to support those impacted by the fires, including artist-led GoFundMe campaigns, Craft Emergency Relief Fund, and Entertainment Community Fund. The coalition hopes the fund will provide immediate relief and highlight the critical role of Los Angeles in the global arts landscape. For H.E. and her staff, the essence of arts is to connect cultures and bring people together. Sheikha Al Mayassa bint Hammad bin Khalifa Al Thani Chairman of the Qatar Museums, said: We are honoured to join this plan to support LA’s great arts community.