Thursday, April 17, 2025

LA County Allocates $50,000 For Art-Centered Fire Recovery In Altadena

STAFF REPORT

Funding initiative coincides with 20th anniversary celebration of County’s Civic Art Program

This week, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved a motion introduced by Supervisor Kathryn Barger and co-authored by Supervisor Hilda L. Solis to allocate $50,000 to support art-centered recovery efforts in Altadena following the recent Eaton Fire.

The initiative aims to restore and preserve the community’s cultural fabric while using art as a healing mechanism for residents impacted by the disaster.

“As we celebrate two decades of civic art in our County, it’s important that we also use the power of art to help communities heal,” said Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors Chair Kathryn Barger, who represents Altadena and Pasadena.

“Altadena is a vibrant, arts-rich community that has endured profound loss from the Eaton Fire. I’m committed to preserving the spirit of our community and ensuring art remains a cornerstone in its recovery. I’m proud to invest in efforts that not only conserve what was lost but also uplift and inspire hope through creativity.”

The funding, drawn from Supervisor Barger’s Fifth District discretionary fund, will support various initiatives including conservation clinics, fire recovery preservation kits, and resources for artists and community members whose creative works and personal collections were damaged in the fire.

The motion directs the LA County Department of Arts & Culture to engage with the community and apply those insights to guide recovery efforts.

Additionally, the department will support other County agencies in incorporating Altadena’s unique arts, culture, and identity into the rebuilding process.

“As Los Angeles County continues to move towards recovery after the January wildfires, it’s important that we uplift the resilient vibrancy and spirit of our communities through engagement in the arts,” said Chair Pro Tem and Supervisor for the First District, Hilda L. Solis.

“Art provides healing, and on the 20th anniversary of the Department of Arts and Culture’s Civic Art Division, we not only celebrate their incredible/meaningful work across the County, but spotlight how civic art can transform a neighborhood and its community, and serve as an embodiment of resilience and strength. I’m especially excited to see our County Library’s Civic Art Passport program spotlighted, and know this is a powerful, local way to ensure the arts preserve history, and inspire our residents across the County.”

The initiative coincides with the celebration of the LA County Civic Art Program’s 20th anniversary and highlights the LA County Library’s “Passport to Civic Art” program, which launched in April as the County honors Arts Month.

The motion also encourages County departments to collaborate with the LA County Department of Arts & Culture’s Civic Art Division on best practices for maintaining civic artworks at public facilities.