LOS ANGELES (CNS) - Two Los Angeles-based real estate companies today announced they will provide a total of $650,000 in grant funding to local artists who have been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Hudson Pacific Properties Inc. and Macerich, which are partners in a joint venture to convert the former Westside Pavilion mall into Google's newest Los Angeles campus, will distribute the funding through the Vibrant Cities Arts Grant program.
Rather than allocating the funds to commission artwork, the funds will be dispersed directly to artists or artist groups in need, in increments of $5,000, $10,000 or $15,000.
Special consideration will be given to female and LGBTQ+ artists and artists of color, as well those presenting work on social justice, civil rights, the physical environment and other contemporary social issues, according to the donor companies.
Applications will be accepted beginning Jan. 4 until the funds are exhausted.
“At Hudson Pacific, we know that the artistic community is part of what makes our city so vibrant, and we want to help support artists across Los Angeles during this challenging time,'' said Chris Pearson, the firm's vice president of development, planning and government affairs.
David Short, executive vice president of asset management at Macerich, said the company “prioritizes the needs of local communities in our operations, development and ongoing outreach, in Southern California and around the country.''
“`Here, where the arts are so much a part of people's lives and our regional economy, we're happy to join with our partner Hudson Pacific to help individual artists continue to forward their creative work,'' he said.
Grant applications will be reviewed by a three-person panel. More details and application instructions are available atwww.VibrantCitiesArtsGrant.com.
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