A coalition of local and international cultural institutions, led by the J. Paul Getty Trust, have announced a $12 million emergency relief fund for members of the Los Angeles arts community affected by the wildfires that have devastated the city since January 7.
The L.A. Arts Community Fire Relief Fund, which is expected to keep growing, is organized in partnership with a long list of philanthropic institutions. In addition to the Getty, these include the Mohn Art Collective—which comprises the Los Angeles-based museums LACMA, the Hammer, and the Museum of Contemporary Art—and many foundations set up in the name of artists Helen Frankenthaler, Andy Warhol, Robert Rauschenberg, Ellsworth Kelly, Mike Kelley, Willem de Kooning, Joan Mitchell, David Hockney, Sam Francis, and Carolee Schneemann.
“People around the world are watching in horror as vast areas of Los Angeles burn, but this regional tragedy has global cultural repercussions,” said Katherine E. Fleming, president and CEO of the J. Paul Getty Trust. “Amid the losses suffered by the artists and arts workers who so strongly define L.A., Getty is grateful to the many partners, local, national, and international, who have come together to meet the urgent needs of this community.”
Other partners include the mega galleries Gagosian and Hauser and Wirth, as well as Frieze and Qatar Museums. Another significant donor is East West Bank, which is headquartered in Pasadena, one of the most badly affected neighborhoods.
Several of Hollywood’s biggest names have also contributed, including Steven Spielberg, George Lucas, and Kate Capshaw. New partners can join the coalition via Getty.
The recent wildfires in the city, which have most seriously impacted the Pacific Palisades and Altadena neighborhoods, have displaced hundreds of thousands residents, destroyed countless buildings, and killed at least 25 people. A number of area artists have lost homes, studios, or significant holdings of work, including Christina Quarles, Diana Thater, Paul McCarthy, Martine Syms, and Kathryn Andrews.
Some cultural sites, such as the Bunny Museum in Altadena, have burnt to the ground. Many other museums and galleries in the area have been forced to close, postpone events, or evacuate their premises, including the Getty Center in Brentwood and the Getty Villa Museum in the Pacific Palisades, which are both safe but will remain closed until at least January 20.
The soaring cost of living already was pushing many artists out of state, and those who remain are concerned the fire will force many more to leave. Funds will be administered as quickly as possible, Fleming told the Los Angeles Times, with an eye toward making sure fire victims can put down deposits on new housing, buy clothes, and continue to feed their families.
The L.A. Arts Community Fire Relief Fund will be administered by the grants organization Center for Cultural Innovation to artists and arts workers who have lost homes, livelihoods, studios, or been impacted by the wildfires in some other way. Applications for emergency grants will open on January 20 at 9 a.m. PST.
“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,” said the Mohn Art Collective. “Our local spirit of collaboration is being evidenced right now. And we’re immensely grateful to those outside L.A. offering support.”
Members of the arts community in L.A. and across the world have rushed to offer their support to artists and arts workers in Los Angeles. Another notable fund is the L.A. Art World Fire Relief GoFundMe campaign, which was set up by artists Andrea Bowers and Kathryn Andrews as well as local gallerists and arts professionals, has a raised over $360,000 with a goal of $500,000. An online form created by the organizers also allows people to offer mutual aid in the form of legal expertise or help filing insurance claims, temporary housing, temporary storage space, clothing, or offers to help clean up damaged properties.
Other emergency funds available to artists include the Craft Emergency Relief Fund, the Adolph and Esther Gottlieb Foundation Emergency Grant, Artists’ Fellowship One-Time Emergency Aid, and the Foundation for Contemporary Arts Emergency Grant.
Local galleries and nonprofits have been actively involved in collecting supplies for those affected, including Black Image Center, Superchief and Thinkspace Projects, amid many wider mutual aid efforts.
