A $250,000 partnership between the city of Los Angeles and the California Community Foundation will support year-round arts, cultural and family-friendly programming at MacArthur Park Bandshell, it was announced Wednesday.
Councilwoman Eunisses Hernandez joined representatives from the foundation, as well as the Department of Recreation and Parks, and Music, Arts and Community Los Angeles, to celebrate the launch of the new public-private partnership Tuesday evening.
Programming kicked off with “A Night at the Bandshell,” a free community open house featuring a live performance by Boleros With Attitude, a Los Angeles-based musical project blending hip-hop with traditional boleros, and a backstage photography exhibition curated by Hands Up Gallery.
The collaboration brings together $150,000 from Hernandez’s Council District 1 funding and another $100,000 from the foundation for arts programming at MacArthur Park.
“Expanding family-friendly programming is a critical part of our comprehensive approach to public safety, ensuring that the park is not only maintained and cared for, but actively used and enjoyed by the thousands of people who live nearby. That means more music, more arts, more joy, more family programming, and more reasons for people to come out and enjoy their park safely,” Hernandez said in a statement.
The new partnership builds on nearly $30 million in care-first investments championed by Hernandez in and around MacArthur Park, including expanded street medicine, overdose prevention and harm reduction services, peace ambassadors, neighborhood clean teams and improvements to public infrastructure, according to her office.
“A good life starts close to home, in the places where neighbors gather and families spend time together,” said Miguel Santana, president and CEO of the California Community Foundation. “CCF is proud to support MAC LA in bringing year-round arts and culture to MacArthur Park. Our contribution is one piece of a larger public and community effort to make this park a place where everyone feels welcome. When Angelenos have places to connect close to home, we all get closer to the promise of Los Angeles.”
Through MAC LA, the Bandshell will host an expanded calendar of free programming designed to support local artists and celebrate the cultural traditions that make MacArthur Park one of Los Angeles’ most iconic public spaces.
“Vibrant public spaces and community connections that are activated through arts and culture are part of what makes neighborhoods safer,” said Allegra Padilla, executive director and board member of MAC LA. “Westlake families and visitors deserve places to celebrate, create and belong. That’s what MAC LA is all about! With this partnership, we’re making that vision a year-round reality at MacArthur Park.”
The partnership’s next free, family-friendly Bandshell event will take place Sunday and Monday with community arts workshops in honor of Dia de Los Muertos, followed by a procession from the Westlake Theater on Nov. 1.