Awards approved by Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors represent
23% increase in arts funding by the County over the previous fiscal year.

LOS ANGELES, CA, July 25, 2001 -- The Los Angeles County Arts Commission has announced $2,352,000 in grants to 166 nonprofit arts organizations for fiscal year 2001-2002. The grants represent an 23% increase or $450,000 over the previous year when $1,902,000 was awarded to a total of 146 groups.

The Commission received 187 applications to the Organizational Grant Programs this year. The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors approved 65 grants in Organizational Grant Program I/Small Budget Organizations (groups with operating budgets less than $100,000). In the Organizational Grant Program II/Mid-Size Budget Organizations (budgets between $100,000 and $800,000), the Board of Supervisors awarded a total of 63 grants. Thirty-eight grants were awarded in the Organizational Grant Program III/Large Budget Organizations (budgets of more than $800,000).

Los Angeles County Mayor Michael D. Antonovich said, "The increased contribution of the County expands the number of arts organizations to be funded and broadens the range of artistic talent. The enhanced grant program as well as the internship program engage more and more young people both as participants and audience. The Arts is a quality of life issue for the County."

Grant funds support a wide range of arts organizations throughout the County. A cross-sectional sampling of the 2001-2002 awards includes: