| A cultural locus, Los Angeles, CA is known | | | | |
| the world over for its vibrant arts & crafts | | | | The City of Los Angeles also supports a |
| scene. In the downtown area, the arts | | | | public arts program, which compels area |
| district was founded in 1976. Many artists | | | | builders to contribute one percent of their |
| gathered at the location, from nearby cities | | | | construction-related costs for new structures |
| like Venice, Santa Monica and Long Beach. | | | | to a public art fund. |
| Professional and amateur artists sought and | | | | |
| found large affordable spaces in previously | | | | Los Angeles is famous for its mural art, and |
| abandoned downtown buildings. | | | | the thousands spread throughout the city are |
| | | | thought to be greater than in any other city |
| In the past, artists were compelled to hide | | | | in the world. Native Mexican muralists like |
| their living status. Frequently, the local | | | | Diego Rivera and Jose Orozco have painted |
| fire department would conduct unscheduled | | | | noted murals in the area. |
| fire inspections. Fortuitously, artists | | | | |
| dwelling in the many lofts typically had a | | | | Around the 1960's and 1970's, the Chicano |
| few hours warning, and would rush to conceal | | | | arts & crafts movement began in the city. A |
| any signs of living there. | | | | lot of the material produced was in the |
| | | | tradition favored by Mexican muralists. |
| To provide assistance to the denizens, the | | | | Murals created in this era by artists and |
| Artists In Residence ordinance was enacted. | | | | crafters still exist in East Los Angeles. The |
| This code allowed artists and craftsmen to | | | | Chicano arts & crafts in Los Angeles also |
| legally live in buildings which conformed to | | | | spawned the internationally known D?a de los |
| established safety requirements. The | | | | Muertos annual festival. |
| popularity of the downtown lofts raised rents | | | | |
| from about 30 cents a square foot to above | | | | In conclusion, many of the most widely-known |
| one dollar per square foot. During the 1980's | | | | art museums on the globe are located in Los |
| arts & crafts localities were so plentiful | | | | Angeles. Among them are the Los Angeles |
| that people made money by conducting bus | | | | County Museum of Art, the Getty Center, and |
| tours of the district. | | | | the Hammer Museum. Less prominent arts & |
| | | | crafts museums in the city include the Craft |
| Currently, greater than twelve hundred | | | | and Folk Art Museum, the California African |
| artists and craftspeople live and work in the | | | | American Museum, and numerous sculpture |
| arts district, and hundreds more in the | | | | gardens. |
| surrounding areas. | | | | |