Public Artists in Development (PAiD) is a new program funded by the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation to promote the career growth and economic empowerment of underrepresented artists in LA County.* This program was created to address critical structural barriers to participation identified by the Civic Art Division and across the broader field of public art. The program will expand educational resources, training, mentorship, and new project opportunities to encourage the skill-building and professional readiness of diverse artists.
PAiD’s program team will work directly with artists and community partners to strategize ways to improve outreach and artist selection processes. The group will seek to identify new types of project opportunities and ways of engaging artists and communities. Throughout this process, PAiD will also encourage our organizational partners to develop new practices that support artists’ needs within a creative environment to build a future in which more artists can truly thrive.
Program Goals
- Commission artists from diverse backgrounds, practices, and communities for projects.
- Create opportunities for underrepresented artists to gain hands-on experience navigating the public art field.
- Equip underrepresented artists with transferable skills, tools, and resources to succeed in their professional creative endeavors.
- Engage artist voices to inform Department policies and practices and improve artist selection, outreach, engagement, and contracting in ways that increase access and inclusion among underrepresented artists.
- Amplify artist-led strategies and promote community partnerships to better support artists and the sustainability of the arts and culture field.
Program Components
As a pilot program, PAiD will consist of two cycles of the activities listed below. Each cycle is expected to be completed over a 12-18-month period, with activities occurring across different timelines. Further details about each of these program components with information about how to apply are coming soon.
The Artist Council is an eight-member group of artists selected to provide recommendations to help shape the future of Los Angeles County’s public art policy and processes. Each artist is also granted a $22,500 project budget with a 20 percent artist fee to create a temporary artwork and a $5,500 stipend for participation in Council meetings.
The Public Art Apprenticeship will train and provide mentorship to a rotating group of five artists in the specific skills and knowledge required to complete a public art commission. Each Apprentice will be granted a $100,000-$150,000 project budget with a 20 percent artist fee to complete their first permanent public art project. Each Apprentice will also receive a $5,500 stipend for participation in training sessions.
The Professional Development workshop series will provide artists with free online training sessions to support artists’ growth in various aspects of their careers.
The artist web platform will provide ongoing access to professional resources, recorded workshops, templates, and other materials for artists.
Community Outreach and Engagement
To maximize PAiD’s benefits for artists, Arts and Culture has initiated a community outreach and partnerships plan to incorporate the decades long experience, expertise, and networks shared by local arts organizations across LA County. This work, which is being led by Dyson & Womack art consultants, will convene leaders from local arts organizations to provide critical feedback and support in shaping areas of the PAiD program.
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