COUNCILMEMBER RAMAN AND THE DEPARTMENT OF CULTURAL AFFAIRS AWARD $300,000 TO LOCAL ARTISTS AND ARTS ORGANIZATIONS IN COUNCIL DISTRICT 4

For Immediate Release: May 12, 2026

Los Angeles, CA — Last week, the Department of Cultural Affairs (DCA) hosted its first of three emergency preparedness workshops, a condition of the $300,000 in grant funding recently awarded to 23 local artists and 20 arts organizations who received it. All of the recipient artists and organizations are based in or connected to Council District 4. The grants are funded through the City’s Arts Development Fee, which is paid by private commercial developers and reinvested in local arts and culture. Councilmember Nithya Raman, in partnership with the DCA, established this funding in October 2025 to support artists and arts organizations who have been impacted by the ongoing effects of the pandemic, natural disasters, and other destabilizing factors. The grants are distributed through the Arts Restabilization and Emergency Response Preparedness Program (ARERPP).

The 43 awardees span dance, theatre, music, film, photography, podcasting, mixed media, visual arts, and multidisciplinary practices. Recipients of the grants are required to attend a series of emergency preparedness resource workshops tailored specifically to the arts sector, hosted by DCA, 18th Street Arts Center, and the National Coalition for Arts Preparedness and Emergency Response (NCAPER). From these sessions, each grantee will develop a customized emergency preparedness plan designed to protect their cultural and artistic assets for the long term.

“Los Angeles is a city built by artists, and Council District 4 is at the heart of that legacy. Our district is home to a thriving creative community that has faced significant hardship in recent years. From widespread disruptions in film and television production to the devastating fires in the Pacific Palisades and Altadena, local artists and arts organizations have faced multiple setbacks. We wanted to find a way to give back to artists during a time of real difficulty,” said Councilmember Raman. “My office has worked closely with advocates to support creators throughout these challenges, and the new ARERPP grants are a direct investment into both the individuals and nonprofit organizations that have helped make Council District 4 a vibrant and distinctive place to live. I thank the Department of Cultural Affairs for partnering with us to put $300,000 directly into the hands of the visual artists, dancers, musicians, filmmakers, and other creatives who make CD4 and this City so extraordinary.”

“Programs like the Arts Restabilization and Emergency Response Preparedness Program not only provide critical financial support, but also equip artists with the tools and knowledge to safeguard their creative work and cultural assets for the future. By investing in our creative workforce, we are strengthening the cultural fabric of our city,” said Daniel Tarica, General Manager of the Department of Cultural Affairs. “We are so excited to celebrate this program as we recognize the importance of preparedness for us as a city to help stabilize our creative communities. Through this partnership with Councilmember Raman, 18th Street Arts Center, and NCAPER, the Department of Cultural Affairs is proud to support artists and arts organizations in Council District 4 as they rebuild, adapt, and continue to uplift our communities.”

“As the new Artistic Director at Skylight Theatre, I am thrilled and honored that we have received this grant through the Arts Restabilization and Emergency Response Preparedness Program. Skylight Theatre Company is very grateful to Councilmember Nithya Raman for recognizing the importance of the arts during tumultuous and challenging times,” said Cameron Watson, Artistic Director, Skylight Theatre. “We feel so fortunate to receive this much needed grant, which will help us bring the community together through new and diverse plays. We believe artists are an essential component of a safe, healthy, and inclusive community that cultivates trust amongst neighbors. We are proud to serve Los Feliz alongside CD4. Thank you for embracing the work we do as artists, and acknowledging the vitality and urgency of art serving our community.”

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