a new chapter for arts advocacy in l.a. county

the los angeles county department of arts and culture has announced randi tahara as the new president of its arts commission. this appointment marks a significant step in the county’s ongoing commitment to fostering a vibrant and equitable arts ecosystem. tahara, appointed by supervisor holly j.mitchell of the 2nd district, brings a wealth of experience and a deep connection to the arts community to this role.

the role of the arts commission

the arts commission serves as an advisory body to the l.a. county board of supervisors,providing guidance on arts-related matters. commissioners are diverse arts community leaders and staunch advocates for arts funding and resources for arts organizations, young people, and equity initiatives. their responsibilities include approving annual grant award recommendations that support nonprofit arts organizations and community-based arts projects throughout the county.

• advocacy: championing arts funding and resources.
• grant recommendations: approving annual grant awards.
• community support: supporting nonprofit arts organizations and community-based arts projects.

in the past year, the commission recommended over $5 million in grants, including a significant increase adopted by the board of supervisors in 2024 for the arts and culture’s organizational grant program. this demonstrates the commission’s commitment to bolstering the arts sector in los angeles county.

supervisor mitchell’s perspective

supervisor holly j. mitchell emphasized the importance of tahara’s appointment, stating:

it is time to lean in and show who we are as los angeles county, particularly in the creative world where we can fully express ourselves and powerfully resist the erasure of our diverse communities.
holly j. mitchell, los angeles county supervisor

mitchell further added, president tahara’s willingness to bring her lived experience to this role is very significant to the residents of the 2nd district and throughout l.a.county, and i am grateful for her willingness to serve.

director sakoda’s insights

arts and culture director kristin sakoda highlighted the commission’s role as a vital partner in advancing an equitable arts ecosystem:

the arts commission is an important partner in advancing our work in support of an equitable l.a. county arts ecosystem. commissioners are advisors, advocates, and ambassadors. they are appointed by the board of supervisors, and closely connected to the communities and organizations that they’ve engaged with for years. they each bring distinct arts leadership and expertise, and i look forward to working closely with randi tahara over the coming year in her new role as arts commission president.
kristin sakoda, arts and culture director

randi tahara’s background and vision

tahara’s deep roots in the south bay area, where she was immersed in japanese performing and visual cultural arts, inform her approach to this new role. trained in classical dance and shamisen, she later ventured into theater and film. she currently serves on the boards of a noise within theatre, the lapd museum, and nihon buyo kai of california.

tahara draws a parallel between a diverse cast mounting a play and the arts commissioners working together:

i draw the comparison of a diverse cast coming together to mount a play,with the common goal of entertaining the audience members,to the arts commissioners coming together with the common goal to make quality arts and culture available to all within los angeles county.
randi tahara, president of the los angeles county arts commission

she expressed her enthusiasm for collaborating with the arts and culture department staff and the other commissioners, noting their shared dedication to uplifting and supporting the arts.

tahara also acknowledged the contributions of outgoing commission president leticia buckley, ceo of l.a.plaza de cultures y arts, for her leadership and guidance.

buckley reflected on her tenure, stating:

it’s been an honor to serve the residents of l.a. county as president of the arts commission. over the last year, commissioners have successfully advocated for increased resources for artists, cultural workers, and arts organizations that provide critical social infrastructure for our region. i am proud of our collective work and look forward to continuing our efforts under the guidance of newly installed president tahara.
leticia buckley, outgoing president of the arts commission

department of arts and culture: advancing creativity

the department of arts and culture’s mission is to advance arts, culture, and creativity throughout l.a. county. it provides leadership, services, and support in various areas, including:

• grants and technical assistance for nonprofit organizations
• countywide arts education initiatives
• commissioning and care for civic art collections
• research and evaluation
• access to creative career pathways
• professional progress
• free community programs
• cross-sector creative strategies that address civic issues

for more data, visit lacountyarts.org.

faq: los angeles county arts commission

what is the arts commission?

it is indeed an advisory body to the l.a. county board of supervisors on arts-related matters.

how many members are on the commission?

15 members,each representing one of the five county districts.

what does the commission do?

it advocates for arts funding,recommends grant awards,and supports arts organizations.

how can i learn more?

visit lacountyarts.org.