The Department of Human Resources (DHR) and the Department of Arts and Culture (Arts and Culture) are pleased to announce that the second Los Angeles County (County) Employee Wellness, Arts, and Culture Festival (Festival) will take place in partnership with the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County (NHM) on the afternoon of Tuesday, June 3, 2025. The event will run from 12:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Given the number of emergencies that our County employees have selflessly and compassionately responded to, this Festival offers activities and resources to promote healing. Invest in your wellness by joining us to foster connections, promote well-being, spark creativity, and encourage individual growth through the arts. Research has shown that engaging in arts and cultural activities contributes to positive health outcomes and a sense of belonging, all while providing opportunities for joy and learning. This is exactly what we need now.
The program will offer free admission to the NHM, which will be open exclusively to County employees that day.
Participating employees will enjoy:
- Art and wellness activities, including sound baths, creative expression stations, art-making activities, and performances by Mariachi Lindas Mexicanas and DJs.
- Self-guided tours of NHM for County employees to explore the museum and nature gardens.
- A complimentary commemorative Metro TAP card, pre-loaded with a Metro Day Pass valued at $5 (no cash value). The Metro Day Pass is good for unlimited rides on the day of use. TAP cards are available while supplies last.
- A copy of the anthology "Poems of the Living" featuring writing submissions from LA County employees.
Admission is open and FREE for Los Angeles County employees only.
Reservations are required. County badges are strongly recommended to be worn.
Agenda*
Activity times are 12:00 pm - 4:00 pm unless indicate below.
- DJs in the Nature Gardens
- Memory Map Activity and Creative Expression Stations & Rent Poet in the African Mammal Hall
- The Poetry of Cyanotype led by Niku Kashef in the Edible Gardens
Demonstrations at 2:00 pm and 3:00 pm - South LA Cafe & Food Trucks
- Sound Healing** with Onyi Love in the N. American Mammal Hall, Level 2
12:30 pm, 1:30 pm, and 2:30 pm - Performances by Mariachi Lindas Mexicanas in the N. American Mammal Hall, Level 1
12:40 pm - 1:00 pm - Speaking Program in the N. American Mammal Hall, Level 1
1:00 pm - 1:30 pm - Poetry Readings in the N. American Mammal Hall, Level 1
1:30 pm - 2:30 pm
*Agenda subject to change.
** The Sound Healing activity has limited capacity.
Frequently Asked Questions
No. Unfortunately not, however, see below for parking and transportation options:
- Go Metro! Two Metro stops are located near NHM: the Expo/USC station and Expo/Vermont station. Visit Metro for more information. Metro will provide a free, commemorative Metro card to each County employee who attends the festival, preloaded with one round-trip fare valued at $5.00. Availability is limited, while supplies last.
- Carpool and save!
- Blue Structure Parking Lot
700 Exposition Park Dr., Los Angeles, CA 90037
$20 flat rate per car. Payment can be made at the automated pay stations with exact cash or credit card (Mastercard or Visa only). The entrance to the Blue Structure is on Figueroa Street, at 39th Street. From there, it’s just a short walk to NHM.
- Blue Structure Parking Lot
Yes, you must obtain your supervisor's approval before making a reservation. Departments are encouraged to support an employee's request to attend this County-sponsored event if attending on County time.
You will be able to attend the festival on County time, provided you have obtained prior approval to attend from your supervisor or manager. Because you may attend on County time, you would not need to request vacation time to attend.
You can attend anytime between the hours of 12:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. The festival ends at 4:00 p.m.
If you have a County-issued badge and six-digit employee number (e.g., e123456 or c123456) you can attend the festival. However, you must obtain your supervisor’s approval prior to making your reservation.
Yes. This festival is only open to County employees whose badge has a six-digit County employee number (e.g., e123456 or c123456).
We encourage all participants to wear comfortable walking shoes and to bring a water bottle, along with your County ID/employee badge.
Yes! Food and beverage options will be available at the South LA Cafe, with additional selections provided by on-site food trucks.
You also have the option to bring your lunch and enjoy a picnic on NHM's beautiful grounds.
Background
The 2025 Employee Wellness, Arts, and Culture Festival is a partnership between the DHR and Arts and Culture, with NHM, and is part of the Los Angeles County Creative Strategist program.
Artist christy roberts berkowitz (who presents her name in lowercase, honoring the late writer bell hooks) began a Creative Strategist residency with the Department of Human Resources in July, 2023. As part of her residency, berkowitz has been working with DHR staff on the Employee Wellbeing Initiative, which DHR developed in response to the stressors and concerns in the workplace exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. berkowitz has been strategizing ways to transform County wellness efforts by developing new approaches to employee wellbeing that use the arts to embrace creative expression and contribute to a more cohesive, productive, engaged, and resilient workforce.
This project is part of the LA County Creative Strategist-Artist in Residence program. In the program, which emerged out of the LA County Cultural Equity and Inclusion Initiative (CEII), artists are placed in County departments to work alongside staff and community stakeholders in a collaborative process to develop, promote, and implement artist-driven solutions to complex social challenges. Administered by Arts and Culture, the Creative Strategist program supports the implementation of the Countywide Cultural Policy, which has three main goals: to invest in cultural infrastructure and access to arts and culture; advance arts and culture in every sector of civic life; and promote cultural equity, diversity, inclusion, and belonging.
Arts and Culture’s mission is to advance arts, culture, and creativity throughout the County. It provides leadership, services, and support in areas including grants for nonprofit organizations, countywide arts education initiatives, commissioning and care for civic art collections, research, and evaluation, access to creative pathways, professional development, free community programs, and cross-sector creative strategies that address civic issues.
HR’s mission is to attract, develop, and retain a talented, engaged, diverse workforce passionate about public service. The Department developed an Employee Wellbeing Initiative designed to promote a culture of wellness and support employee health, wellbeing, and personal growth among the County’s more than 111,000 employees. This is achieved by encouraging healthy habits and providing resources and a supportive environment to foster positive lifestyle changes and the ability to thrive in the workplace. Website: employee.hr.lacounty.gov
Questions
For questions, please contact Marina Alvarez, Senior Staff Analyst, Department of Human Resources, at malvarez@hr.lacounty.gov or Kim Glann, Arts and Culture Senior Manager of Cross-Sector Initiatives, at cross-sector@arts.lacounty.gov.