• For many artists and creatives, homes are also their places of work. Recovery planning should take into account that loss of or damage to a single structure can have double the economic and social impact.
• Arts organizations well beyond the perimeters of the disaster zone will feel its effects. Full recovery for the sector requires resources – including money – adequate to meet all losses, not only direct physical losses.
• The arts ecology is funded by a complex network of earned and contributed revenue sources, each of which is vulnerable to disaster in a different way. Calculations of financial impact – and therefore need – should take all those vulnerabilities into account.
• The people who make up the arts and culture field want to support their communities in recovery, even as they struggle to manage their own losses. Create opportunities to pay them to engage directly in recover activities.

This is not a complete report of all impact on the arts and culture community. Continue reading below for more.

On January 24, the Smithsonian Cultural Rescue Initiative published rapid reports that identified 189 cultural heritage sites potentially impacted by the Eaton Fire and 83 cultural heritage sites potentially impacted by the Palisades Fire. Each report includes a map of the sites at risk, and is available for download.

Other arts and culture organizations across LA County have been gathering information from their members. Their survey findings are helping us get a fuller picture of the impact of the wind and wildfires emergency. If you have survey findings you would like to share, please email research@arts.lacounty.gov.  

Art Recovery LA launched the Los Angeles Cultural Heritage Fire Response Needs survey on January 23 to better understand conservation needs for local residents affected by the wildfires. Residents reported these five types of materials were most commonly damaged:

• Paintings
• Textiles or upholstery
• Furniture
• Works on paper
• Photographs

    If your artworks or cherished belongings were damaged, there is still time to complete the survey.

    For more information, read the full brief here.

Los Angeles Performance Practice surveyed artists in their network through their "Are You Okay?" initiative. They identified six key areas of need in the wake of the emergency:

• Basic necessities
• Housing and relocation
• Loss of income
• Mental health support
• Creative recovery
• Long-term stability

    Read the full report

Theatre Commons LA surveyed theater companies across the county, and learned that  

• Two theatres – Theatre Palisades and Public Display of Altadena – were completely destroyed 
• Four theatres sustained some damage, including wind damage to Pasadena Playhouse and The Group Rep, and smoke damage to Lineage Performing Arts and Boston Court 
• Ten theatres had to cancel shows 
• 33 theatre community members across 16 companies have lost their homes  

    Read a one-page summary of their findings.

LA County Department of Public Works has released a map of Communities Affected by Los Angeles County Fires 2025.

The Los Angeles Conservancy is working with local partners to document and assess heritage sites affected by the fires. Their maps are not complete, but they are making them available and updating them as more information becomes available.

• Map of confirmed heritage losses due to the Eaton Fire
• Map of confirmed heritage losses due to the Palisades Fire

       They also provide a list of preservation and design professionals and service providers who may offer discounted rates or pro bono services for those impacted by the wildfires. 

    For more information and resources, visit Recovery and Rebuilding After Historic L.A. Fires.

If you are looking for help to recover from the emergency, please visit our Recovery Resources page.