An Affirmation of Cultural and Creative Expression
The City of Los Angeles is a culturally vibrant metropolis fueled by innovation and creativity. It is one of the most ethnically diverse cities in the United States with more than 224 languages spoken by its close to 4 million residents.
The creative community is reflective of our city’s rich cultural diversity. The Department of Cultural Affairs (DCA) is committed to uplifting, celebrating, and supporting cultural traditions, freedom of artistic expression, and human migration. We honor the creativity and talent in Los Angeles that inspires the world through our creative content.
Freedom of creative expression and ideas fosters an inclusive and informed society. Arts and culture lift our souls, affirm our identity, create a sense of belonging, and develop connected communities.
Through each of our divisions, DCA supports creativity and cultural expression at all levels of our city. In addition to our robust network of city-owned and operated community arts centers and theaters, we partner with over 300 nonprofit arts and cultural organizations, independent artists, presenters, and cultural producers to provide cultural services reflective of our city’s population.
We proactively stand united with our community of artists and cultural practitioners in support of a democracy that promotes diversity, builds bridges, expands access, and defends the creative and cultural vitality of our communities.
Join us by showing your support of arts, culture, and creativity by following DCA on Facebook atfacebook.com/culturela, Twitter @culture_la, and Instagram @culture_la.
There is an abundance of free and low-cost cultural activities taking place throughout our city virtually every day of the year. Take an art class at one of our community art centers, experience one of our city’s eclectic museums, and attend one of the many neighborhood community festivals. Make a family memory that will last forever. Visit DCA’s new website for a list of cultural events for the entire family to enjoy. Below are a few highlights that we want to bring to your attention.
We are proud and honored to co-present African-American Heritage Month again in the City of Los Angeles with Mayor Garcetti, the City Council, Our Authors Study Club, and the City’s African American Heritage Month Committee. The first African-American Heritage Month Celebration began in 1949 when Mayor Fletcher Bowron issued the first proclamation calling for all citizens to celebrate the accomplishments of African Americans. In 1959, the opening ceremony was moved to City Hall. In 1976, the entire month of February was officially declared African-American History Month in LA. Every Mayor since then has recognized the month, especially the late Mayor Tom Bradley. Please see our website or download a copy of DCA’s 2017 African American Heritage Month Calendar and Cultural Guide to find out about the many events happening throughout the month at venues all over town!
This month we are pleased to present: Ours is a City of Writers, an exhibition featuring art writers in collaboration with contemporary visual artists. The writers and artists participating in the exhibition collaborated to produce either a piece of writing, an artwork, a performance, or a lecture. The exhibition will be on view until March 26, 2017, with additional programming including readings and performances. Please visit the LAMAG website for more information.
We are deeply committed to providing access to arts and culture for all. Our artists and cultural partners reflect the best of our democratic ideals and we rely upon them to give us hope for a better tomorrow. Together as a City, we continue to partner with our creative artists and cultural producers to recognize our similarities and respect our ethnic, socio-economic, gender, sexual, religious, and cultural expressions.
Thank you for celebrating the rich and diverse creative forms of expression taking place throughout our city. Together we reinforce the unity in our diversity that makes the City of Los Angeles the Creative Crossroads of the World.