LA County Briefs: Supervisors Motion to Boost Performing Arts and Explore Faith-Based and Community Partnerships Office

Supervisors Vote to Boost Performing Arts in Communities

The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors Jan. 23 voted unanimously in support of Supervisor Kathryn Barger’s motion that will promote and increase communities’ access to The Music Center’s Arts Grown L.A. — a program operated by The Music Center: Performing Arts Center of Los Angeles County. 

For more than 40 years, The Music Center’s programs in the community were focused primarily in school settings, providing hundreds of quality performances to youth throughout Los Angeles County. In 2022, the program expanded to public venues such as parks, libraries, senior centers, and civic events. 

“This motion harnesses the power of the County’s communication resources to make more communities aware that they have high quality, no-cost performing arts resources at their fingertips,” stated Supervisor Kathryn Barger. “Our lower-income and rural communities may not be able to afford or attend a performance in downtown Los Angeles, so bringing the arts to venues where the public is already gathered is an outstanding approach. This is also a win-win opportunity to expand the reach of The Music Center’s Arts Grown L.A. in support of community mental health and well-being.” 

The motion will provide a much needed economic boost to the performing arts sector, which has continued to struggle post pandemic. According to the Otis College Report on the Creative Economy, employment in the performing arts sector in 2021 was at approximately 19% below 2018 levels. The Arts Grown L.A. program puts local artists to work with good-paying jobs. In 2023 alone, the program brought nearly 200 performances to communities countywide.

The Music Center is also soliciting Explore  artists countywide for participation in Arts Grown L.A., with an April 30, 2024 deadline to apply. Click here for more information on those opportunities and to view a list of free upcoming community performances.

Supervisors OK Exploration of a Faith-Based and Community Partnerships Office

The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors Jan. 23 unanimously approved a motion co-authored by Supervisors Kathryn Barger and Janice Hahn directing the county’s chief executive officer to explore creating an office to exclusively coordinate Los Angeles County’s work and partnerships with houses of worship and other faith-based organizations.

The office would serve as a broker that connects county initiatives with faith-based organizations and would offer technical assistance to help houses of worship do business with the county. The office would also establish uniform countywide guidelines to help departments address questions raised about church-state separation. 

The motion highlighted the City of Pasadena’s Clergy Community Coalition as a model that has successfully reduced administrative burdens and onerous insurance requirements, and helped that municipality reimburse local faith-based organizations that sheltered people experiencing homelessness during inclement weather.  

A report back to the Board of Supervisors is due in 90 days. It will include a recommendation for the most appropriate department for the future office to reside.