To support local arts nonprofits and the communities they serve, the Los Angeles County Department of Arts and Culture (Arts and Culture) has announced over $6.4M in grants to 318 nonprofit organizations through its 2024-2025 Organizational Grant Program and Community Arts Impact Grant awards.

Thanks to leadership from the Board of Supervisors, including motions from Supervisors Solis, Mitchell, and Horvath, there was a larger allocation of funding this year, due to a $1.2M increase to the Organizational Grant Program (OGP), the first increase in over 15 years for LA County’s longest-running arts grant program. OGP grants will go to 238 organizations, 34 of which are first time applicants to the program. The total allocation for grantees this year is $5,668,000, and awards range from $700 to $122,300.

OGP strengthens the Los Angeles region’s cultural ecosystem with funding to organizations of every artistic discipline, budget size, and geography. Grantees can use these funds to support critical needs, from staffing and organizational infrastructure to public arts programming in museums and visual arts, performing arts, film, arts education, arts service organizations, literary arts, and more. Grantees can also access Arts and Culture’s slate of professional development opportunities—programs designed in-house, as well as scholarships for trainings and conferences. OGP addresses systemic inequity in arts funding; 94% of the organizations that were awarded have budgets under $5M and 50% of those have budgets under $200K. These organizations are often underfunded and include those that reflect and serve communities of color, historically marginalized, and rural communities. A complete list of OGP grantees, and the programs and events this funding will support, can be found here.

Different than Arts and Culture’s longstanding funding for nonprofits with a primary focus on the arts, the Community Impact Arts Grant (CIAG) supports arts-based programs of social justice and service organizations. CIAG was designed to address two priorities: making arts services available to LA County residents who might not experience them through traditional arts venues and outlets, and encouraging integration of the arts in cross-sector work at local nonprofits. Grantee programs span art forms and communities reached, from therapeutic visual arts, to social justice filmmaking, music education for youth, dance empowerment, and memory programs for dementia.

There were 80 awarded organizations in CIAG this year, 19 of which were new awardees—making this year’s grantee pool the largest in the program’s history. The total CIAG allocation is $750,000, and awards range from $6,300 to $10,600. A complete list of CIAG grantees, and the programs and events this funding will support, can be found here.

After grant guidelines are released, Arts and Culture follows with a robust offering of application workshops and technical assistance, and then a peer panel review process ensues, facilitated by staff. Applications for both programs were reviewed and scored by a combined 105 diverse expert panelists from the Los Angeles region’s community of cultural workers, artists, curators, nonprofit arts administrators, arts funders, and arts educators. Award recommendations were reviewed by the Arts Commission, an advisory body appointed by the Board of Supervisors.

"Los Angeles County is increasing its investment in the artists, creators, and storytellers who enrich the lives of our diverse communities," said LA County Board Chair Lindsey P. Horvath. "We value the important work of arts organizations and are excited to support even more nonprofits this year. Congratulations to all of this year’s grant recipients."

"My work to develop and advance Los Angeles County’s Cultural Equity and Inclusion Initiative (CEII) and the Countywide Cultural Policy is a testament to my commitment to ensuring all Angelenos, regardless of where they live, have access to the arts. Both of these policies set out strategies to improve inclusion in the wider arts ecology for all residents and at the heart of these works was the finding that more investment was needed in the Organizational Grants Program (OGP). To that end, I authored motions year after year to double OGP in order to make more funding available to local artists and art organizations. I’m grateful that after years of advocacy, an additional $1.2 million is being invested in the program. Many thanks to all of the arts ecology advocates for joining in this effort. Today, we celebrate another step toward increasing equity and access to better integrate arts and culture into the daily lives of every community," said Supervisor Hilda L. Solis.

"The Organizational Grant Program has supported Los Angeles County’s arts nonprofits since the 1990s, and today, the nonprofit sector that it helped build is a crucial part of the larger LA County arts and culture infrastructure and creative economy," said Supervisor Holly J. Mitchell. "These grants not only equitably support the post-pandemic recovery of our arts organizations but bring resources to hardly reached communities and direct access to quality arts activities and programming."

"Arts and culture resources positively impact health and wellbeing, economic opportunity, neighborhood resiliency, civic engagement, and youth development. The Board of Supervisors recognizes the power of arts to drive positive cross-sector outcomes, and I am grateful they approved a $1.2M increase for us to deliver to the arts sector in the Organizational Grant Program this year. Supporting our region’s community-based organizations strengthens all of us, and our grant programs are key delivery mechanisms for these high-return, equitable investments," said Kristin Sakoda, Director of the Los Angeles County Department of Arts and Culture.

"Equitable access to funding like OGP is critical in ensuring LA County’s arts and culture organizations continue to thrive. On behalf of the Arts Commission, we congratulate all the awarded organizations and thank the Board of Supervisors and the Department of Arts and Culture for making these programs possible," said Leticia Buckley, Arts Commission President.

Testimonials from OGP Grantees

"This support is vital for us to continue fostering the careers of visual artists through our programs. Initially, we relied on small donations and volunteer time, which can only sustain us for so long. With this grant, we can cover essential administrative costs, ensuring we keep our doors open and continue our mission. This funding is crucial for our community, providing much-needed support to underrecognized visual artists who depend on our organization to sustain and grow their practice."
—Elizabeth Withstandley, Co-Founder and Co-Director, Prospect Art, Supervisorial District 1

"We are incredibly grateful for the support of the Department of Arts and Culture for our poetry workshops and youth outreach programs in the schools and streets of Los Angeles. This grant has enabled us to expand our in-school programming and our community Street Poets Presents poetry events, broadening our outreach and meeting the rising needs of our community. As we prepare for the opening of the Street Poets Center for Community, Culture and Wellness, this support remains invaluable in fostering community and inspiring youth through the arts."
—Shanae Sharon, Executive Director, Street Poets, Supervisorial District 2

"Grants from the Department of Arts and Culture are vital to community-based art programs, especially in underserved and under-resourced areas like Compton. This grant will provide essential support to local artists as we work collectively to transform our city through art. We are incredibly grateful to the Los Angeles County Arts Commission, the Board of Supervisors, and the LA County Department of Arts and Culture for their unwavering commitment. For newer organizations like ours, access to funding is often limited, and these grants offer one of the few avenues to secure the financial resources needed to make a meaningful impact."
—Rosalind McGary, Co-Founder, Cakecutter Institute; Artistic Director, The Compton Arts Project, Supervisorial District 2

"With this funding, we can continue to support our incredible teaching artists, who are an essential component of our programming. We are excited to bring our students even more joy through music, helping them grow, thrive, and maximize their opportunities for success. Grants like these are vital because they empower us to make a lasting positive impact in our community, fostering creativity, building confidence, and transforming lives through the power of music."
—Natalie Jackson, Executive Director, Harmony Project, Supervisorial District 3

"This award means a lot to our quest for sustainability and is tremendous encouragement for the work we do, every day. Not only can we contribute to the Executive Director's salary, it gives her running room to continue to develop community engagement programs involving our public art murals, aimed at giving under-resourced high school students skills they can put on their resumes."
—Linda L. Grimes, Executive Director, San Pedro Waterfront Arts District, Supervisorial District 4

"Angels Gate Cultural Center (AGCC) is thankful for the Department of Arts and Culture Organizational Grant Program support which benefits our marketing and outreach efforts vital to reaching the community. OGP funding partially supports staff salaries essential to sustaining our arts and arts education programming. Finally, this county governmental funding also helps to grow our revenue exponentially as it shows other funders that we are supported locally."
—Amy Eriksen, Executive Director, Angels Gate Cultural Center, Supervisorial District 4

"Receiving operational support is paramount for non-profits like ours, The Michael’s Daughter Foundation, as we provide free and low-cost arts services in the forms of films and animations to middle school, high school, and secure track youth at juvenile detention facilities. The Organizational Grant from the Department of Arts and Culture will help alleviate the costs associated with building our organization’s systems and program structures, enabling us to strengthen our arts educational programs and expansion. This support will allow us to build stronger relationships with partners, youth, and families, improve the quality of our services, and ensure the sustainability of our programs. Seeing LA County’s commitment to rebuilding and enriching our communities by providing this type of funding support, is truly inspiring and empowering and we could not be more grateful for this support."
—Ciera Payton, Executive Director, The Michael's Daughter Foundation, Supervisorial District 5

Testimonials from CIAG Grantees

"Heart of Los Angeles serves youth and families in some of the least-resourced neighborhoods in Los Angeles, where arts and music programs are often the first to be cut from school curriculums when budgetary constraints arise. With critical support from CIAG, Heart of LA can ensure that hundreds of young people in Westlake, South Central LA, and Watts have access to free, high-quality music and arts education that not only advances their technical skill development but also engages them in meaningful cultural reflection, opens career pathways in the creative economy, and empowers them for lives of self-determination."
—Cristina Briskie-Wood, Chief Development Officer, Heart of Los Angeles, Supervisorial District 1

"This grant will help A Place Called Home provide Arts & Creative Expression programming to more than 500 youth members and thousands of community members from South LA and the greater area, with activities in Music, Dance, Visual Arts, Digital Media, and so much more! Specifically, support from the Community Impact Arts Grant will go towards our community facing events, such as the APCH Comic Art & Literacy Expo, Moondance Film Festival, Music Fiesta, and Haus of Arts. In the community of South Central Los Angeles, access to enrichment programs like ours is limited. As A Place Called Home continues to provide such programs completely free of charge, grant support is vital to inspire, encourage, and support the young people in South Los Angeles to achieve social, emotional, and economic success."
—Bernyce Talley, Associate Director of Arts & Creative Expression, A Place Called Home, Supervisorial District 2

"The Community Impact Arts Grant will greatly enhance our after-school program, Theory+Practice, by helping us bring more art into our STEM curriculum. This support means our students can explore their creativity while learning important STEM skills. By blending arts and STEM, our students imagine and create the world they want to live in. Grants like these are essential for our community because they make it possible for all kids to experience the benefits of both art and STEM education, inspiring them to become leaders and innovators in their community."
—Jacob Adams, Executive Director, Stem to the Future, Supervisorial District 2

"With this grant, our Theater Arts Project shines a spotlight on the talents of adults with significant disabilities through theatrical productions. It fosters skill development, self-assurance, and social connections. Additionally, we advocate for the inclusion of adults living with blindness and multiple disabilities in the arts, empowering them to contribute meaningfully to their community. As shared by one of our project participants, ‘I was so excited to be performing in TLC’s production of OKLAHOMA! I loved being a part of the cast and being on stage.’"
—Bonnie Schlacte, Executive Director, Therapeutic Living Centers for the Blind, Supervisorial District 3

"Funding will support the 31st annual Long Beach QFilm Festival hosted by the LGBTQ Center Long Beach. The festival is one of the longest-running film festivals in Los Angeles County dedicated to showcasing the stories and diversity of the LGBTQ community and increasing visibility for independent LGBTQ and allied filmmakers. Thanks to this funding, the festival’s emphasis on storytelling from historically marginalized communities will continue to afford local audiences and the Long Beach LGBTQ community the unique opportunity to connect with new LGBTQ stories and identities, creating broader inclusion within and beyond the local LGBTQ community."
—The LGBTQ Center Long Beach, Supervisorial District 4

"This type of grant has helped United Cambodian Community’s after school art program tremendously, by allowing us to pay guest artists, get materials for the kids and teach them soft skills and a whole other area of placemaking in Long Beach. We are forever grateful there is such a grant like this out there. Otherwise we will not be able to do our work, serve the youth and our community in Long Beach."
—Sayon Syprasoeuth, Program Director, United Cambodian Community of Long Beach, Supervisorial District 4

"Receiving the CIAG grant means that we will be able to continue and expand upon utilizing art in the delivery of individual behavioral health treatment, particularly for survivors who have experienced domestic violence and other trauma. Providing an art-based service supports those who may struggle with traditional talk methods of processing trauma. We plan on utilizing our award to expand our A Window Between Worlds program which has been geared towards survivors in our domestic violence program. We would like to expand the amount of staff that are trained and able to provide this group with hands-on art workshops to residents in our 30-day emergency domestic violence shelter and to clients accessing comprehensive domestic violence services in our offices."
—Nikki Buckstead, CEO, Child and Family Center, Supervisorial District 5

"With these funds, we will be able to provide vibrant and intentional heritage and diversity programming that simply would not be possible without designated funding. We are ecstatic that we now have a budget to pay performers, presenters, and artists—this opens up new possibilities and allows us to curate a whole year's worth of activities for older adults in our community!"
—Annie Laskey, Director of Special Events, Pasadena Senior Center, Supervisorial District 5