Culver City Parks Task 8.1 Final Plan - Flipbook - Page 125
Arts Organizations and Support
Several organizations promote the arts in Culver
City. The Cultural Affairs Commission of Culver City
is a 5 member commission with 4-year terms and
a maximum number of 2 terms per commissioner.
All commissioners are residents of Culver City
who do not hold any other office or employment
by the city. The Cultural Affairs Commission advises
the City Council on matters related to arts in
Culver City and is also tasked with implementing
the city’s public art program.30
The Culver City Arts Foundation (Culver Arts) is an
all-volunteer organization that evolved out of the
Cultural Affairs Commission. Culver Arts has 11
board members serving 2-year terms, 4 officers,
and an advisory committee of 18-20 people.
Culver Arts often works with the Cultural Affairs
Commission as well as PRCS, and was created to
be able to cast a wider net into the city to obtain
funding and connect with more artists. Culver Arts
fundraising efforts have primarily been through
local corporate sponsors, and it continues to look
actively at grants and corporate as well as individual
funding opportunities.
Culver City appoints an artist laureate for a 2-year
position that is funded by the Cultural Trust and
Culver City Arts Foundation, and recognizes the
important role individual artists play in contributing
to a vibrant, equitable and healthy community and
improving quality of life for residents of all ages.
The current 2023-25 artist laureate is Katy Krantz,
whose multi-disciplinary practice includes ceramics
and community based public art.31 Other artists
can apply for this position in future years.
The Local Parks Grants Program through a state grant
called Arts in California Parks could be a funding
source to establish additional art installations and
programming in Culver City parks.32
There are currently no dedicated outdoor
performance spaces in the parks system. In addition
to a possible municipal facility in Culver City, there
could be mid-size outdoor community spaces
and small outdoor stages and seating areas for
more informal performances. The lack of these
spaces and facilities was emphasized in feedback
received from the Culver City Arts Foundation, in a
letter received from chair Jim Clark on May 6, 2024.
Further, there is an opportunity to expand fee-based
arts programming to provide a revenue stream for
Culver City. This can be done in addition to current
programming where the theater and potentially art
studios and galleries can be provided on a fee basis.
Culver City Cultural Affairs Commission
Advises the City Council on matters related to arts and
implements the city’s public art program.
Culver City Arts Foundation
All-volunteer organization created to cast a wider
net to obtain funding and connect with artists.
Arts Programming and Facilities
Some residents feel that demand for arts
programming within Culver City outpaces the
resources currently available. For example, El Marino
Park hosts a ceramics class which experiences
high demand and waitlists compared to the size
facility which is available. Currently there is no
municipal theater within the city. The Feasibility
Study for Veterans Memorial Park proposed a
cultural center that would include a 500-seat
theater. However, some of the feedback received
during the Feasibility Study for Veterans Memorial
Park and Culver City Park cited the decline in
usership of performance spaces in the city and
did not support the development of such facilities.
Art in Public Places Program
Program aimed at enhancing quality of life for residents
and visitors through 100+ public artworks.
Figure 116. Culver City arts organizations form the backbone of
current arts programming for the city. Source: OLIN, 2024.
CULVER CITY PARKS PLAN 125
