LOS ANGELES
VISUAL ARTS
COALITION

Established 2020, in a pandemic.

We are a coalition of small to mid-sized non-profit visual arts organizations dedicated to a culture of mutual support and ensuring each other’s welfare through fundraising, information and resource sharing, and collective advocacy.

Our organizations showcase new, experimental, and community-based contemporary art practices.

Collectively, we represent a vital sector of the Los Angeles arts scene and support a diverse range of creative communities within the county.

OUR WORK

The LAVA Coalition develops areas of collaboration and avenues for mutual support in response to shared structural challenges:

our collective commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility
fundraising initiatives
financial planning
advocacy for our sector among civic leaders, foundations, and arts patrons
programmatic collaborations
cross promotion and cross-pollination of our audiences
board cultivation and governance
resource sharing
professional development focused on leadership skills
staff training and best practices for our field

OUR SUPPORTERS

We send massive thanks to our earliest, boldest supporters who believe in the LAVA Coalition’s vision for collective infrastructure and community building.

Betsy Greenberg
Jerry and Terri Kohl Family Foundation
Krupp Family Foundation
Mellon Foundation
Metabolic Studio for the Annenberg Foundation
Ruth Foundation for the Arts
Teiger Foundation

OUR STATEMENT ON DIVERSITY, EQUITY, INCLUSION, AND ACCESSIBILITY

The LAVA Coalition commits to the ongoing work of assessing and responding to histories of exclusion and marginalization within our organizations and in the field of contemporary art more broadly. We share a dedication to anti-racist work, gender inclusivity, prioritizing access, and diversifying leadership within our organizations. Our network includes organizations with deep and important legacies of community-based art and activism, abiding commitments to social justice, and longstanding dedication to uplifting BIPOC artists and audiences. Collectively, we commit to sharing our resources, experiences, and insights in the interest of sustaining transformative practices of artists and arts organizations.

MEMBER ORGANIZATIONS

LAVA COALITION MEMBERS