LA Arts Community Fire Relief Fund

Overview

Center for Cultural Innovation (CCI)

The Center for Cultural Innovation (CCI) was founded in 2001 as a California 501(c)3 nonprofit corporation. Its mission is to support individuals in the arts—artists, culture bearers, and creative entrepreneurs—to realize greater self-determination so as to unfetter their productivity, free expression, and social impact, which contributes to shaping our collective national identity in ways that reflect the diversity of society.

LA Arts Community Fire Relief Fund

The LA Arts Community Fire Relief Fund (the “Fund”) is a pooled fund led by the J. Paul Getty Trust with support from a coalition of major arts organizations and philanthropists. The Fund responds to the devastating Palisades and Eaton fires that began on January 7, 2025, and the ensuing financial needs of individuals that have resulted from this federally recognized “qualified disaster.” The Fund is for the benefit of Los Angeles County’s artists and arts workers in all disciplines impacted by the unprecedented wildfire crisis. The Center for Cultural Innovation (CCI), a 501(c)(3) public charity and trusted intermediary focused on the economic security of people in the arts, is administering this Fund.

Individuals may apply only once for up to $10,000. Funds are unrestricted and can be used in any way that alleviates financial hardship. Moreover, as a federally qualified disaster under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act, financial support is not counted as taxable income. We encourage artists and arts workers who are of low incomes, of historically underserved populations, and those with disabilities to apply.

Eligibility

_You can learn more about this opportunity by visiting the funder's website._

* To be considered for funding, applicants:
* Must be a current, full-time resident of Los Angeles County as of January 7, 2025
* Must be 18 years or older
* Must be affected by the Eaton or Palisades fires in terms of loss, severe damage, or lack of access to one’s home, artmaking studio, or both
* We define an artmaking studio as a space—commercial or residential—that is dedicated to the applicant’s artistic practice and may enable an income generating livelihood, even if the income generated is small.

* Must be an individual working artist and/or a full-time, part-time, or contract arts worker at an LA County arts organization
* We use a broad definition of “Artist,” and no specific credentials are required.
* Eligible artists include those who have received training in an artistic discipline, such as those offered in art schools and fine arts degree programs; apprenticeship in traditional arts; as well as those who have craft, folk, traditional, or contemporary creative practices that perpetuate or express cultural identities.
* In addition, applicants must have a public-benefiting practice, which should be evidenced by the application’s required documentation (i.e., a URL or other ephemera that prominently features the applicant’s artistic, cultural, or creative practice).
* We welcome an expansive set of craft, visual, literary, and performing arts practices, as well as traditional and cultural practices, including, but not limited to, book arts, ceramics, conceptual art, dance, design, DJ-ing, fiber and textile work, fiction/non-fiction writing, film/video, folk and traditional arts, glasswork, hip hop, media arts and digital/XR media, multimedia and multi-disciplinary practices, metalwork, mural making, music, musical theatre, opera, painting, performance art, photography, paper and printmaking, poetry, public art, quilting, regalia making, sculpture, spoken word, social/community-engaged practices, storytelling, theatre, and woodworking.
* Regarding traditional and cultural practices, if you are a bearer of a traditional form of expression or one that holds meaning for your cultural community, you are eligible to apply.
* Such practices may include, but are not limited to, artists working with hair, food, in nature, and tattoo arts.

* Arts workers are adults (18 years or older) who work part-time, full-time, or through an active contract serving any LA County arts organization, including for-profits, nonprofits, collectives, cooperatives, or volunteer-run organizations of all visual, literary, and performing arts disciplines as well as arts-related archives, heritage sites, and libraries/library collections.
* People who are employed by an individual artist, for example as a studio assistant, accountant, or personal assistance service aide for artists with disabilities, are also eligible.
* Workers can perform any role (e.g., administration, curatorial, conservation, designers \[graphic, set, costume, etc.\], installation, and education).
* We strongly encourage those in positions that are considered “blue collar” to apply, such as security officers, food service staff, front of house, janitorial staff, groundskeepers, facilities and logistics, maintenance workers, and staff in retail, visitor services, and membership.

* Must submit a complete application
* Can only apply once
* Eligible affected artists and arts workers of all LA County arts institutions will be eligible to apply.

Ineligibility

* Applications from organizations, companies, artist collectives, or any other organization-type applicant will not be accepted.
* Funds cannot be used for lobbying.
* People affected by other fires–such as Sunset and Hurst–are not eligible to apply.
* This program is responding to the community-level scale of devastation brought about by the Palisades and Eaton fires.
* Cannot have a conflict of interest (i.e., family or financial relationships) with board members, staff, or other agents of CCI.