The Annenberg Space for Photography will not reopen, officials announced Monday about the dedicated exhibit space in Century City that closed its doors to the public in mid-March in compliance with coronavirus stay-at-home rules.
“It’s been a joy to share my favorite art form with the Los Angeles community for these 10 wonderful years,” Annenberg Foundation Chairman and CEO Wallis Annenberg said about the first cultural destination in Los Angeles to be dedicated solely to the art of photography.
“A great photograph does much more than capture what’s in front of us — it captures what’s deep inside us, the trials and the triumphs the naked eye rarely sees.
“That’s why the Annenberg Space has been so meaningful to me, and to everyone who’s been a part of it. We’ve staged some extraordinary exhibits; we’ve showcased some astonishing work; we’ve highlighted some critical issues. As hard as this moment is, I’m proud that we made so much stirring work so accessible.”
Given mandated social distancing restrictions on public cultural spaces, it was unknown when the space at 2000 Avenue of the Stars would have been able to accommodate guests again.
Officials announced Monday it will remain permanently closed in order for the Annenberg Foundation to further focus its philanthropy on the coronavirus recovery as well as building out its commitment to social and economic justice issues.
“Over the past decade, nearly a million visitors have experienced ASP’s distinctive and socially relevant exhibitions and programs,” according to the Annenberg Foundation.
Past exhibits included “Who Shot Rock & Roll,” “Contact High: A Visual History of Hip-Hop,” “National Geographic’s Photo Ark,” “Refugee,” “Generation Wealth,” “Identity: A Study of Race, Gender, Class, Sexuality and Ethnicity in America,” and “WALLS: Defend, Divide and the Divine.”
Its most recent exhibit, “Vanity Fair: Hollywood Calling,” was on pace to become one of the space’s most popular and well-attended showcases, along with acclaimed in-person and online programming that attracted people from all over the world, organizers said.
Past exhibits, archives of interviews, and audio tours will remain online through social media and www.annenbergphotospace.org.
“The goal of the Annenberg Space for Photography was to inform and inspire the public by connecting photographers, philanthropy, and the human experience through powerful imagery and visual storytelling,” ASP Director Katie Hollander said. “I’m proud that we have accomplished that through our thought-provoking and diverse exhibits, original films, education programs and panel discussions.”
The Los Angeles-based Annenberg Foundation is a global nonprofit with a 30-year history of providing support to the arts, public health, social justice, education and education reform, underserved communities, criminal justice reform, and racial equity, addressing critical issues of our time since 1989.