LOS ANGELES (CNS) - The Los Angeles County Department of Arts and Culture will use a multi-year grant from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation to implement an artist development initiative aimed at increasing diversity and inclusion in the field of public art in the region, it was announced today.
The $1.75 million grant will fund implementation of the Civic Artist Initiative's multiple components, including small-scale project commissions to support temporary art and performance-based practices; the development of a year-long fellowship for artists to gain one-on-one support and a budget to complete their first public art projects; and a suite of free professional development workshops and events geared toward meeting the needs of a wider range of local artists at various skill levels.
The department's Civic Art Division commissions original artworks at public facilities across the county, integrates artists into planning and design, and encourages new approaches to civic art and access to artistic experiences for residents and communities.