The Los Angeles County Arts Commission has announced $4,518,000 in two-year grants to 184 nonprofit arts organizations through its Organizational Grant Program (OGP). While the current allocation remains the same as last year, it represents a $200,000 increase in funding from the previous grant cycle in which this pool of candidates was eligible to apply and provides support to ensure arts organizations continue to provide cultural services to the diverse population that comprises Los Angeles County.
Grant amounts range from $3,000 to $162,700. Grantee organizations are spread throughout LA County with offices located in 28 of the County’s 88 municipalities. Eight percent of the organizations funded are receiving County arts grants for the first time. The Arts Commission provides applicants with the flexibility to request support for their current critical needs, rather than require they request support for specific types of projects based on their budget size.
“Sixty percent of applicants have increased award amounts from the last time these organizations were funded,” said Claire Peeps, president of the Arts Commission. “Almost half of these grants will support ongoing salaries or new jobs, so arts organizations will not only be able to provide a diverse range of cultural services for residents, they’ll also be employing them.”
Applications were reviewed and scored by over 60 knowledgeable panelists from the arts community, including artists, nonprofit arts administrators and members of the academic community.
“We’re grateful to the Board of Supervisors for continuing to recognize the critical contributions of nonprofit organizations to our creative economy and quality of life,” said Laura Zucker, executive director of the Arts Commission. “The Board’s ongoing funding commitment has a significant impact on hundreds of diverse arts organizations of all sizes throughout Los Angeles County.”
Additional facts and figures about the 2015-16 OGP grantees can be found below, along with an alphabetical list of current grantees. Detailed grant information is available at lacountyarts.org/grants.
The Los Angeles County Arts Commission fosters excellence, diversity, vitality, understanding and accessibility of the arts in Los Angeles County, encompassing 88 municipalities, and provides leadership in cultural services. In addition to its role as an arts funder, the Arts Commission implements the regional initiative dedicated to restoring arts education to 81 school districts, programs and operates the Ford Theatres, funds the largest arts internship program in the country and manages the County’s civic art policy. The Arts Commission also produces free community programs, including the Emmy Award-winning LA County Holiday Celebration for public television. lacountyarts.org.
