L.A. Conservancy Selected for WPA-Inspired “Artists at Work” Program
ANNOUNCEMENT
L.A. Conservancy Selected for WPA-Inspired “Artists at Work” Program
LOS ANGELES, June 2, 2025—The Los Angeles Conservancy is pleased to announce its selection as one of four 2025 community partners in the prestigious Artists at Work program. This groundbreaking national initiative places artists in salaried positions within community-focused organizations, spotlighting the transformative role of the arts in social and civic life. In Los Angeles, AAW is partnering with the Los Angeles County Department of Arts and Culture to facilitate the program, with the theme of recovery and resilience from the devastating 2025 wildfires.
From June 1, 2025, to November 30, 2026, the Conservancy will host resident artist Alma Cielo and collaborate on an arts public-facing project in Altadena designed to support and strengthen community identity, cultural preservation, and civic memory.
“As an Altadenan, it certainly feels raw to live and work in our fire-ravaged town, but THIS is the time to be present,” says Cielo. “Altadena is an extraordinary place whose essence is worth fighting to preserve.”
Cielo, who lost her home in the Eaton Fire in January 2025, is a multi-disciplinary artist and educator focused on community art projects and earth wisdom. She has a passion for teaching integrated arts with mindfulness, music, movement/dance, and the sharing of personal stories, and believes that the arts are an important path for healing, developing resilience, recovering from trauma, and building community. Cielo is a graduate of Yale University in Anthropology with heritage studies in the Philippines.
“Preservation is so much more than just protecting historic places, says Adrian Scott Fine, president and CEO of the Los Angeles Conservancy. “Fundamentally, it is about people and how places connect to them, and honoring their contributions, memories, and resilience. We’re especially honored to work with artist Alma Cielo, whose experience of losing her home in the Eaton Fire brings a powerful personal lens and perspective to this collaboration. Together, we look forward to exploring how art and preservation can come together in helping Altadena recover, rebuild, and keep important community stories and traditions alive.”
Artists At Work is a national workforce resilience program, in the spirit of the Works Progress Administration, that supports artists and their communities through artistic civic engagement. AAW leverages the creativity of artists to address pressing issues in their local communities—from substance abuse to youth welfare to public health, among others—and fosters new economic models of support for artists. It provides artists with W2 employment, health benefits, and access to retirement benefits; and supports local cultural and community organizations to host and work with those artists as key contributors to the well-being of their local communities.
AAW was recently able to grow thanks to $2 million in new funding this year from the Mellon Foundation to work with 20 artists in five urban centers, and a partnership with Herbert Simon Family Foundation to support four additional artists in Indianapolis. Artists At Work is also funded by the Hearthland Foundation, Fresh Sound Foundation, and the WLS Spencer Foundation.
About FreshGrass Foundation
FreshGrass Foundation, a 501(c)(3), is an award-winning, nonprofit organization focused on sustainable solutions for the artistic community. They support artists by cultivating their creativity and sharing their creations with the world and partner with world-class institutions to bring innovative performing arts experiences to life. More information is available at freshgrassfoundation.org.
About THE OFFICE performing arts + film
THE OFFICE performing arts + film is an independent performing arts and film curator and production company based in New York and London that works in ongoing partnerships with festivals, venues, and institutions to create cultural programming that is unique and mission specific. They produce events locally, nationally, and internationally, and consult on programming with organizations ranging from museums to universities to libraries to performing arts centers to philanthropies. THE OFFICE works in both the non profit and commercial arts worlds, and has a special focus on making art happen that has a positive impact on society. More information is available at theofficearts.org.
About the Los Angeles Conservancy
The Los Angeles Conservancy is a nonprofit membership organization that works through education and advocacy to recognize, preserve, and revitalize the historic architectural and cultural resources of Los Angeles County. What began as a volunteer group in 1978 has nearly 5,000 member households, the largest membership of any local preservation organization in the U.S.
MEDIA CONTACT
Lisett Chavarela
Director of Communications
Los Angeles Conservancy
lchavarela@lacoservancy.org
