LA Plaza de Cultura y Artes’ (LA Plaza) Eastside Arts Initiative (EAI) announces recipients of two grant funds totaling $75,000 supporting artists, public arts projects, and arts organizations serving Eastern Los Angeles County.

“Through their endurance and creative work, our grantees are keeping the arts alive in Eastern LA County. We are pleased to be helpful to them during these challenging times,” said Lupe Arriola, EAI Chair and LA Plaza board member.  “As COVID-19 continues to impact Los Angeles County, we are inspired and encouraged by the resilience of our local artists and arts organizations.”

A total investment of $75,000 was made for the relief grants to 43 individual artists and three arts organizations and for public artwork grants to two individual artists and one arts organization.

The Public Artwork Fund totaled $25,000 in grants for renovation and new permanent public art projects.  Public Artwork grants were awarded to:

• The dA Center for the Arts, Magu Tribute Mural, Pomona
• Tory DiPietro, The Light at the End of the Tunnel – Heart of LA Public Art Installation, Downtown Los Angeles
• Willie Herrón,La Doliente de Hidalgo Mural Restoration, City Terrace-East Los Angeles

The COVID-19 Relief Grant Fund totaled $50,000 for one-time relief grants of $1,000 to individual artists and $2,500 to arts organizations experiencing hardship due to loss of creative work during the pandemic.  Grantees range from musicians, visual artists, filmmakers, apparel artists, digital artists, visual artists, actors, comedians, photographers and others.

“I’m so humbled and thankful for the COVID-19 relief grant from the LA Plaza-EAI. I’m inspired by the generosity during these crazy times,” said grant recipient Raul Gonzalez. “This makes a big difference, and I sincerely appreciate the support so that I can continue creating art for our community.”

Among the recipients of the “Show Your Creativity” COVID19 Relief Grants are:

As reported by the Los Angeles Times, January 4, 2021: “Among the communities with the county’s highest coronavirus case rates are South L.A., the eastern San Fernando Valley, Boyle Heights, East L.A., and Southeast L.A. County.”

COVID-19 Relief Applicants were also invited to submit a “Show Your   Creativity” video as an opportunity to showcase how they are keeping their artistic spirit alive during the pandemic.  More than half of the grantees submitted videos; selected entries will be featured on En Casa Con La Plaza, LA Plaza de Cultura y Artes’ virtual programming sessions beginning in January 2021.

Since its establishment in 2015, the EAI has awarded more than $900,000 to artists and arts organization serving Eastern LA County.

For more information about the grantees or to reach them for arts-related services, please contact the EAI at [email protected].  For more information about future LA Plaza-EAI grant programs, please visit www.eastsideartsinitiative.org.