A coalition of major arts organizations and philanthropists in Los Angeles led by the J. Paul Getty Trust, including the Mohn Art Collective (Hammer, LACMA, and MOCA) partnered with East West Bank, today joined with the Mellon Foundation, the Helen Frankenthaler Foundation, The Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts, Qatar Museums, Ford Foundation, and other national and international institutions to announce the creation of the LA Arts Community Fire Relief Fund, an emergency relief fund for artists and arts workers in all disciplines who have lost residences, studios, livelihoods, or have otherwise been impacted by the devastating Los Angeles fires. The fund will be administered by the Center for Cultural Innovation, a longstanding intermediary providing funding, advocacy, and research support on behalf of individuals in the arts.
The LA Arts Community Fire Relief Fund has launched with $12 million and is continuing to grow in response to the severe need. An expanding list of generous individuals, foundations, and corporations includes Karyn Kohl, Terri and Jerry Kohl, Trellis Art Fund, Teiger Foundation, Hobson/Lucas Family Foundation, Kate Capshaw and Steven Spielberg/The Hearthland Foundation, Maria Seferian, Arison Arts Foundation, Snap Foundation, the Robert Rauschenberg Foundation, The Broad Art Foundation, Ellsworth Kelly Foundation, the Smidt Family Foundation, the Mike Kelley Foundation for the Arts, Terra Foundation for American Art, the California Community Foundation, Kraus Family Foundation, Howard and Nancy Marks Charitable Foundation, the A&L Berg Foundation, The Willem de Kooning Foundation, Jane Hait and Justin Beal, Joan Mitchell Foundation, The David Hockney Foundation, Gagosian, Hauser & Wirth, Frieze, Michael Asher Foundation, the Ralph M. Parsons Foundation, Sam Francis Foundation, Artadia, Jay DeFeo Foundation, and The Carolee Schneemann Foundation.
To join the coalition and partner in this initiative, please visit the fund's website.
Recognized internationally as a thriving center in all aspects of the arts, Los Angeles has an exceptionally diverse and vibrant community of artists, arts workers, and related professionals. They have been gravely affected as the ongoing fires have destroyed residences, studios, archives, artworks, and places of employment, striking a blow at thousands of individuals and the creative economy of Los Angeles and its region.
Beginning Monday, January 20, artists and arts workers in all disciplines who have been impacted by the fires can apply here for an emergency grant. The process is being designed with an understanding of the need to get funds to impacted individuals as rapidly as possible. As the situation evolves, funds raised may eventually be applied to longer-term needs.
The LA Arts Community Fire Relief Fund is one of several fundraising efforts in Los Angeles and across the nation, which include the artist-initiated Art World Fire Relief LA GoFundMe campaign, the Craft Emergency Relief Fund, the Los Angeles Fire Relief Effort to Support Music Professionals of the Recording Academy and MusiCares, the We Are Moving the Needle Microgrants: Wildfire Relief Fund, the Entertainment Community Fund, and the Motion Picture Television Fund.
In a joint statement, the Mohn Art Collective said, “Los Angeles is home to one of the world’s most prolific and creative group of artists and people working to support our many artists, galleries, and art institutions. In particular, the fire-ravaged neighborhoods in Altadena are long-time home to an astounding concentration of artists and art workers. Our local spirit of collaboration is being evidenced right now. And we're immensely grateful to those outside L.A. offering support.”