JACCC Named One of "America's Cultural Treasures" by the Ford Foundation and Awarded $2M Grant from the LA Arts Recovery Fund
Contact: Helen H. Ota at hota@jaccc.org
Los Angeles, CA (May 20, 2021) — The Japanese American Cultural & Community Center (JACCC) is deeply honored to be designated as one of “America’s Cultural Treasures,” and selected as the recipient of a $2 million grant over three years through the LA Arts Recovery Fund. This visionary fund, initiated by the J. Paul Getty Trust and administered by the California Community Foundation, is the first award of its kind to select jurors from across LA’s vast artistic community, rooted in the principles of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.
“We accept this award with immense gratitude to all funders of the LA Arts Recovery Fund, including the funders of ‘America's Cultural Treasures,’ for entrusting these funds to our organization and acknowledging our cultural significance to Los Angeles,” said Patricia M. Wyatt, JACCC President & CEO. “JACCC has proudly served the Japanese, Japanese American and neighboring communities for more than 40 years, committing its purpose to uplift our shared history and affirm these many diverse voices. This groundbreaking award will solidify a robust future for JACCC, where we’ll continue to be a vital place to build connections between people
and cultures, locally and internationally.”
With over twenty generous contributors, the LA Arts Recovery Fund was created to provide flexible general operating support for small and medium-sized organizations. “Los Angeles’s arts organizations embody the diverse cultures of our region and are critical to making us one of the most vibrant, innovative, and collaborative arts communities in the nation,” said Joan Weinstein, director of the Getty Foundation, an operating program of the Getty Trust.
Recipient organizations were selected based on applications that demonstrated excellence in artistic impact, community engagement, diversity of cultural expression, leadership and vision, and financial condition. Leaders from across LA’s arts community were called upon to serve as jurors for the selection panels that identified awardees, in a peer-review process crafted to uplift peer decision-making. “JACCC is thrilled to be part of this seminal effort by local leaders and national funders to center community wisdom within the grant-making process,” said Wyatt. “The philosophical underpinnings of this award will be honored in our mission, as we nurture the next generation of innovative artists, culture-bearers, and thinkers in Los Angeles.”
The Ford Foundation’s “America’s Cultural Treasures” is a national initiative honoring the diversity of artistic expression and excellence in America, specially designed to support Black, Latinx, Asian, and Indigenous arts organizations in response to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. America’s Cultural Treasures Regional Initiative delivers targeted grants through partnerships with local funders to such organizations that have made measurable impact, despite historically limited resources. Named one of “America’s Cultural Treasures,” JACCC is deemed to have made a significant and lasting imprint on America’s cultural landscape.
Supporters of the LA Arts Recovery Fund include The Ahmanson Foundation, Vladimir & Araxia Buckhantz Foundation, California Community Foundation, Ford Theatre Foundation/LA County Department of Arts and Culture, J. Paul Getty Trust, Jerry and Terri Kohl, Robert Lovelace and Alicia Miñana, The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, The Music Man Foundation, The Ralph M. Parsons Foundation, Perenchio Foundation, Snap Foundation, and Sony Pictures Entertainment & Sony Global Relief Fund.
Supporters of the “America’s Cultural Treasures” initiative include The Ford Foundation, Abrams Foundation, Alice L. Walton Foundation, Bloomberg Philanthropies, Tom and Lisa Blumenthal, and Barbara and Amos Hostetter. Regional foundation partners include The Barr Foundation (Massachusetts), Getty Foundation (Los Angeles), Heinz Endowments (Pittsburgh), Houston Endowment (Houston), John D. & Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation (Chicago), Joyce Foundation (Chicago), McKnight Foundation (Minnesota), The Ralph M. Parsons Foundation (Los Angeles), Terra Foundation for American Art (Chicago), and William Penn Foundation (Philadelphia).
The California Community Foundation (CCF) has served as a public, charitable organization for Los Angeles County since 1915. Its mission is to lead positive systemic change that strengthens Los Angeles communities. CCF manages 1,700 charitable foundations, funds, and legacies.
Founded in 1971, Japanese American Cultural & Community Center (JACCC) is one of the largest ethnic arts and cultural centers of its kind in the United States. A hub for Japanese and Japanese American arts and culture and a community gathering place for the diverse voices it inspires – JACCC connects traditional and contemporary; community participants and creative professionals; Southern California and the world beyond. Follow us on social media @jaccc_la.