2008 LA Arts Funding Survey Results Released by Southern California Grantmakers

"Our region's nonprofit arts and cultural organizations are essential to a vibrant public sphere, freedom of expression and civic participation throughout LA's increasingly diverse communities," said Sushma Raman, President of Southern California Grantmakers (SCG). "While data for this most recent survey was gathered prior to the financial meltdown that hit the country in fall of 2008, funders who responded to the survey were already expressing increased pessimism about their financial situation, as well as their capacity for future funding of the arts. At the same time creative minds have a way of coming together with passion, inspiration and ingenuity. These qualities can be put to work by funders and the arts community alike to reinvigorate advocacy, forge new partnerships, develop innovative new organizational models and create networks along economies of scale, leading to increased opportunities for meeting the challenges that lie ahead."