The City of Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs (DCA) Performing Arts Division (PERF) is proud to announce commissions in the disciplines of dance, music, theater, film/ media, and the visual arts through its Leimert Park Cultural Hub (LPCH).
Leimert Park Cultural Hub’s mission is to assist festival producers and local artists with funding for projects intended to help provide human and financial resources, as well as a supportive framework for local artists to create art in the disciplines of dance, music, theater and film. In addition, its mission is to enhance public spaces ensuring ongoing cultural vitality and creativity that delivers artistic benefit to the community. Leimert Park Festival support is meant to help advance, expand and incentivize the number of performing artists featured in culturally-specific festivals, community celebrations, gatherings, artistic and activations.
DCA’s Performing Arts Division serves as the heart of the City’s support of live dance, music, theater, film/digital media art forms and culture. At the core of its mission, PERF produces world-class local programming, as catalysts for economic development, community engagement, and civic education and pride. PERF uses an independent, peer-review panel and process to select artists that create and present programming across the City of Los Angeles.
Please find Request-for-Proposals (RFP) details below. Deadlines subject to change.
Call for Visual Artists
The Department of Cultural Affairs seeks to commission visual artist(s) to design and paint community-focused works on three surfaces: the Vision Theatre’s 40ft storage bin located behind the theater, and the roll-up security gate in front of the theater, and a lobby mural inside the theatre at $2,000, $3,000 and $5,000 awards respectively.
Design finalists will be voted on by the community. The winning design must then go through the Public Art Division review process, where it will be presented before the Cultural Affairs Commission for final approval.
Commission Award: $2,000.00
(9′ x 30′ roll-up security door)
Project Timeline:
May 5, 2025 – Application Deadline
May 12, 2025 – Peer-Panel Review Begins
May 19, 2025 – Community vote begins
May 30, 2025 – Finalists Announced
TBD – Cultural Affairs Commission Review
June/July 2025 – Project commences
Commission Award: $3,000.00
(8’ x 40’ parking lot storage bin)
Project Timeline:
May 5, 2025 – Application Deadline
May 12, 2025 – Peer-Panel Review Begins
May 19, 2025 – Community vote begins
May 30, 2025 – Finalists Announced
TBD – Cultural Affairs Commission Review
June/July 2025 – Project commences
Commission Award: $5,000
(10′ wide x 10′ 6″ tall lobby mural)
Project Timeline:
May 5, 2025 – Application Deadline
May 12, 2025 – Peer-Panel Review Begins
May 19, 2025 – Community vote begin
May 30, 2025 – Finalists Announced
TBD – Cultural Affairs Commission Review
June/July 2025 – Project commences
Photos courtesy of the City of Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs
APPLICATION GUIDELINES
FUNDING AND PAYMENT CONDITIONS
The City of Los Angeles does not front-fund projects. The commission will be paid in full after the conclusion of the project, and when all contractual requirements have been met. Please note that this may take up to six (6) to nine (9) months to complete.
Applicants receiving 2025/ 2026 grants from DCA’s Grants Division are not eligible for commissions.
The individual or organization receiving the commission payment must submit a copy of their Business Tax Registration Certificate (BTRC). For more information visit https://finance.lacity.gov/tax-education/new-business-registration/how-register-btrc.
Please forward questions to dca-perfom@lacity.org or call 213.202.5551.
SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS
Submission requirements and scoring below. To be considered, interested artists and/or arts organizations must submit following by the application deadline stated on the call:
Cover Letter (10 points)
Includes an introduction, artist statement, the specific call for which you are applying and why.
Proposal (10 points)
A paragraph describing the proposed work/ festival and use of the commission funds outlined in a budget. Visual artists, please submit your proposed design(s).
A Short Bio (10 points)
A brief biography detailing the applicant’s background, accomplishments and artistic statement.
Resume (10 points)
A comprehensive resume outlining your experience relative to the call.
Work Sample(s) (10 points)
Links to video/film samples (up to five minutes) showcasing the applicant’s work relative to the call for which you are applying. (Black Arts @ WAA, please submit a full-length archival video.)
Social Media and Press (10 points)
Provide any documents, links to social media, reviews, press coverage, or testimonials of previous projects.
BTRC (Business Tax Registration Certificate) (10 points)
The artist or organization receiving the commission payment must submit a copy of their BTRC.
The highest total score that can be reached by peer-panel review is 70 points.
Please forward your packet of materials to dca-perform@lacity.org with the heading (Your Last Name) RFP: (Name of Call), in the subject line by 11:59 p.m. on the deadline indicated.