The Department of Cultural Affairs managed a portfolio of $39.8 million in fiscal year 2012/13.

The Department employs a full-time staff of 72.

The Department of Cultural Affairs (DCA) generates and supports high quality arts and cultural experiences for Los Angeles’ 4 million residents and 40 million annual overnight and day visitors.
DCA advances the social and economic impact of the arts and ensures access to diverse and enriching cultural activities through: grant making, marketing, public art, community arts programming, arts education, and building partnerships with artists and arts and cultural organizations in neighborhoods throughout the City of Los Angeles. 
 
DCA’s operating budget and managed portfolio totals $40.6 million in fiscal year 2012/13. It consists of: $11 million in funds from the Public Works Improvements Arts Program (PWIAP); $10.8 million in City related and indirect cost allocations; $6.7 million from the
Private Arts Development Fee Program (ADF); $9.2 million in Transient Occupancy Tax funds; and over $2.9 million in private and public funds raised from foundation, corporate,
government, and individual donors.

DCA significantly supports artists and cultural projects through its Public Art Division by administering a portfolio totaling $17.7 million in PWIAP and ADF funds in FY12/13. Of this amount, typically 15% to 20%, or between $2.55 and $3.4 million, is attributable to artists’ fees. DCA’s Executive Director and the Marketing and Development Division have raised over $21 million since FY07/08 to re-grant to LA-based artists and arts and cultural organizations for re-granting initiatives and to support DCA’s special programming and facilities. DCA also grants approximately $2.2 million annually to over 300 artists and nonprofit arts and cultural organizations through its long-established Grants Administration Division. Additional special project support of more than $1.5 million is also awarded annually for a total of approximately $3.7 million invested each year in LA’s creative community.

DCA provides arts and cultural programming through its Community Arts Division, managing numerous neighborhood arts and cultural centers, theaters, historic sites, and educational initiatives. DCA’s Marketing and Development Division also markets the City's arts and cultural events through development and collaboration with strategic partners, design and production of creative catalogs, publications, and promotional materials, and management of the culturela.orgwebsite visited by over 3 million people annually.

Department History and Division Overview:

Originally formed in 1925 as the Municipal Arts Department to provide cultural services in neighborhoods, the City of Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs was reorganized by an act of the City Council in July 1980. Since then, the Department has grown and changed in response to evolving opportunities, and it now manages extensive programs in four areas:

1.  Grants Administration Division

Providing grant support to LA’s rich and diverse arts and cultural organizations and individual artists is the core service provided by the Department of Cultural Affairs. The Grants Administration Division awards approximately $2.2 million annually to nurture and support community service providers and community artists in Los Angeles. Additional special project support of more than $1.5 million is also awarded annually for a total of approximately $3.7 million invested each year in LA’s creative community. Awards are given to large, mid-size, small, and emerging organizations. Grants are available in a variety of disciplines and categories including dance, music, media, and visual arts, as well as literature, educational programs, residencies, and professional fellowships. The goal of the Grants Administration Division is to provide a diverse portfolio of high-quality free or low-cost services for residents and visitors of all ages throughout the City. Support ranges from $1,000 to $75,000 per project, based on published criteria. DCA selects grantees through a competitive peer review process.

2.  Public Art Division

DCA also significantly supports artists and cultural projects through four distinct types of arts programs within its Public Art Division, each committed to the creation and/or maintenance of art within the public realm: the Public Works Improvements Arts Program (PWIAP, more commonly known as Percent-for-Public-Art or Public % for Art), the Private Arts Development Fee Program (ADF), the Murals Program, and the City’s Art Collection.

As part of the Division’s PWIAP and ADF Programs, DCA implements an independent peer panel and public review process to commission public artists and to approve the creation and/or presentation of site-specific public art projects throughout the City of LA. Through these programs, Division staff oversees a substantial portion of DCA’s programming budget; in FY12/13, through these two programs alone, DCA staff managed a portfolio totaling approximately $17.7 million.

Music LA is DCA’s citywide music education initiative for young people that is administered within the Public Art Division. Music LA coordinates a network of professional music education service providers to offer hands-on instrumental and vocal music classes for students in underserved areas of Los Angeles who might not otherwise have the opportunity to study music. The Music LA Summer Sessions give children and teens an intensive 6 to 8 weeks of hands-on instrumental and/or vocal instruction of any genre. The 10-week Music LA Heritage Month Sessions are offered in conjunction with the City of Los Angeles Heritage Month Celebrations for the Latino, American Indian, African American, and Asian and Pacific Islander American heritage months.

3.  Community Arts Division

DCA’s Community Arts Division offers high-quality instruction in the arts; produces solo and group art exhibitions; creates outreach programs for underserved populations; develops special initiatives for young people; and promotes numerous events during the year that celebrate the cultural diversity of the community. The Division also engages in historic conservation efforts and conducts educational tours at its historical sites. DCA’s galleries present high-quality arts exhibitions reflective of the diversity of Los Angeles.

The Division includes both DCA Managed Facilities and Public/Private Partnership Arts Facilities. DCA Managed Facilities are programmed and staffed by DCA full and part-time employees. Public/Private Partnership Arts Facilities are programmed and staffed by nonprofit service providers through lease agreements with the City and Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs) with DCA for program operations. In FY12/13, DCA managed and programmed 19 Neighborhood Arts and Cultural Centers, Theaters, Historic Sites, and Galleries; oversaw 13 Public/Private Partnership Arts Facilities; and managed 5 Prop K and other facilities in development.

4.  Marketing and Development Division

DCA’s Marketing and Development Division works with local, state, national, and international arts organizations to promote cultural awareness and increase arts education in our communities. The Division raises funds from foundations, corporations, government agencies, and individual donors to support arts and cultural programming, and has raised over $21 million with DCA’s Executive Director since FY07/08. The Division partners with the Mayor’ Office, the City Council, community leaders, museum directors, artists, and arts and cultural organizations to promote local economic development.

The Marketing and Development Division also markets the City’s cultural events by creating thousands of publications, direct mail pieces, and promotional materials; maintaining the culturela.org website; and producing calendars and cultural guides for the City’s Latino, American Indian, African American, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT), and Asian and Pacific Islander American Heritage Month Celebrations. The Division publishes an annual Festival Guide that features over 300 festivals throughout Los Angeles and its neighboring cities, and exhibition catalogs and materials - in addition to producing and promoting several City-wide festivals and special events.

DCA’s administrative staff encompasses personnel, payroll, and accounting. The team is responsible for processing approximately 500 contracts annually, positioning DCA as the second ranking City agency, below Public Works, in terms of the number of City contracts awarded and administered