Kamlager-Dove Hosts Museum Directors Roundtable and Arts Funding Convening Alongside NEA Chair Jackson to Increase Access to Resources for Arts and Culture in LA

LOS ANGELES, CA — Today, Congresswoman Sydney Kamlager-Dove (CA-37) hosted a museum directors roundtable and arts funding convening with Maria Rosario Jackson, Chair of the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), to increase access to local and federal resources for arts and culture organizations in Los Angeles. Representatives from the National Endowment for the Humanities, U.S. Copyright Office, City of Los Angeles’ Department of Cultural Affairs, and Los Angeles County’s Department of Arts and Culture were also in attendance to bridge gaps between local stakeholders and federal, city, and county resources. 

Congresswoman Kamlager-Dove and Chair Jackson joined eleven local museum directors for the museum roundtable, which focused on museum priorities and how federal agencies such as the NEA can offer support. During the roundtable, Congresswoman Kamlager-Dove, Chair Jackson, and the museum directors also discussed challenges facing local museums and how to capitalize on upcoming sporting events hosted by Los Angeles, including the 2026 World Cup, the 2026 NBA All-Star Game, Super Bowl LXI, and 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games. 

The arts funding convening connected local arts organizations with federal funding and resources. Panelists and representatives from local and federal agencies helped over 100 participating organizations navigate the grant application process and shared current art-related grant opportunities available to Los Angeles organizations. 

"Los Angeles is a city known for its dreamers, risk-takers, and innovators, whose work not only inspires our city but also the world. Today's events and visit by NEA Chair Jackson provided an opportunity to showcase our vibrant creative economy and amplify the needs of our community,” said Congresswoman Kamlager-Dove. “Coming from a family of artists and having worked in art nonprofits, I know those who aim to enrich our community through arts and culture sometimes lack the necessary resources. I was proud to host today’s events to connect LA museums, artists, and arts organizations with the funding they need to continue enriching our communities." 

“Arts and culture are critical to building healthy and thriving communities,” said NEA Chair Maria Rosario Jackson, PhD. “I was pleased to join Representative Kamlager-Dove and share the many ways the NEA supports artists, arts professionals, and arts organizations to help strengthen local arts ecosystems and transform local communities through the power of the arts.” 

“The National Endowment for the Humanities is committed to ensuring that all Americans have access to humanities institutions, resources, and programs that enrich their lives, deepen their understanding of the past, and help them meet the challenges of the 21st century,” said NEH Chair Shelly C. Lowe (Navajo). “NEH-supported films, exhibitions, podcasts, books, web resources, and curriculum projects bring humanities information and experiences directly to individuals across the nation. Los Angeles County is home to an extraordinary number of excellent and diverse cultural and educational organizations serving the needs of a wide range of communities. NEH is proud to be a funder of numerous museums, archives, historical societies, and colleges in the region and is eager to extend our work in California to reach even more of its communities and residents.  We look forward to opportunities to work with organizations and institutions that have yet to apply for NEH funding, particularly those serving historically underrepresented populations or help tell undertold aspects of the American story.”

“The LA cultural-arts nonprofit sector is a powerful force that builds social-wellness for local residents, families, and regional visitors,” said Lisa Davis, Community Arts Director at the City of Los Angeles’ Department of Cultural Affairs. “The sustainable activities funded through the Department of Cultural Affairs' Grant portfolio provide free and low-cost experiences that foster belonging, connection, and refreshment. As a government funder of projects that supports local artists, the City invests in the arts and cultural sector to increase creativity and opportunity and decrease urban stress.”

Tomorrow, Congresswoman Kamlager-Dove and Chair Jackson will tour the new facility of Street Poets, an organization working to break the cycle of violence in the lives of at-risk and incarcerated youth through art programming. Earlier this year, Street Poets secured a $40,000 NEA grant to support poetry writing workshops for local youth. 

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