As the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games in Los Angeles approach, the Cultural Olympiad faces unaddressed funding and coordination issues. This arts and culture program measures a host city’s dedication to creative arts, impacting the region’s artistic legacy.
In comparison, the 2024 Paris Olympics featured over 2,500 projects spanning three years. Meanwhile, Los Angeles arts groups are active, but critics highlight the absence of a formal plan. During a legislative hearing at the California Science Center, lawmakers sought clarity on financial support for the Cultural Olympiad and its timeline.
Zev Yaroslavsky, former Los Angeles County Supervisor, criticized the delay in cultural planning since 2017. Artists often plan years ahead, complicating arrangements. Despite setbacks, the Cultural Olympiad still holds potential.
Yaroslavsky cited the 1984 Olympic Arts Festival as a cultural catalyst for Los Angeles. Sofia Klatzker from Santa Monica outlined an independent cultural plan, “Land and Water Here and Now,” including performances, exhibitions, and international exchanges.
About 100 officials, LA28 Cultural Olympiad leaders, and arts advocates attended the hearing, revealing scattered efforts seeking coordination and funding. Sen. Benjamin Allen chaired the event.
A report places LA28’s budget at $7.263 billion. Dwayne Jones, LA28’s vice president, did not specify the cultural budget but aims to raise tens of millions through donors and partners.
Sen. Lola Smallwood-Cuevas questioned resource distribution to artists. Jones and Nora Halpern, LA28 Cultural Olympiad Executive Director, updated plans including a program mark and a digital platform launching in 2028. Official posters will debut in July 2027.
Jones described free film screenings, local food, and music events, with dance and theater plans to be announced in 2027.
Daniel Tarica, GM of Los Angeles’ Department of Cultural Affairs, allocated $15 million from existing funds to core programs, completing 19 events this year. Future initiatives rely on new funding.
Los Angeles County’s Arts Director Kristin Sakoda focuses on youth programs, art partnerships, and collaborations with the Olympic Museum. Efforts include a Year of Creative Youth and broad community outreach.
Local initiatives in Long Beach and West Hollywood began, with Long Beach investing $135,000 in cultural projects and West Hollywood implementing a creative plan. Gustavo Herrera’s Mosaic LA aims to sustain cultural investment post-2028 with various proposals.
Federal involvement includes $1 billion for Olympics-related security and $94.3 million for transportation, separate from cultural fundraising.
Assemblymember Christopher M. Ward emphasized federal financial and moral support. Dr. Tawny Paul cautioned that Olympic visitor numbers don’t guarantee museum attendance. Local audience engagement remains crucial.
State support depends on clear, coordinated requests. Smallwood-Cuevas called for a facts-based approach.
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