The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors has unanimously approved the recognition of the Grand Avenue Cultural District (GACD), positioning Downtown L.A. (DTLA) as a premier global arts and culture hub. Spearheaded by The Music Center in collaboration with over 18 cultural organizations, the initiative aims to foster public engagement in the arts, boost tourism, drive economic growth, and create workforce opportunities.
A Milestone for Arts and Culture in Los Angeles
The motion, introduced by Los Angeles County Chair Pro Tem and Supervisor Hilda L. Solis, highlights the GACD as a key cultural and economic driver for the region. Aligned with Los Angeles County’s Arts Month in April 2025, the recognition underscores the arts’ vital role in shaping the community’s cultural identity and economic vibrancy.
“The arts are more than just a reflection of society; they are the heartbeat of a community,” said Solis. “By formally recognizing the Grand Avenue Cultural District, we are creating a dedicated space where creativity can thrive, collaboration can grow, and cultural expression can flourish.”
A Collaborative Vision for the Future
The GACD emerged from a multi-year collaboration between The Music Center, the Colburn School, and MOCA, supported by a roadmap developed with Boston Consulting Group. The initiative unites major arts and cultural institutions, including The Broad, Center Theatre Group, LA Opera, LA Phil, Metro, and the Library Foundation of Los Angeles, among others.
In its first iteration, the GACD will reach along Grand Avenue from the Los Angeles Central Library in the south to Los Angeles Unified School District’s Ramon C. Cortines School of Visual and Performing Arts (Grand Arts High School) to the north. In addition to The Music Center, supporters and anticipated members of GACD include The Broad, The Broad Foundation, Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels, Center Theatre Group, the City of Los Angeles, Colburn School, the County of Los Angeles, DTLA Alliance, Gloria Molina Grand Park, Grand Performances, LA Opera, LA Phil, the Library Foundation of Los Angeles, Los Angeles Central Library, the Los Angeles Master Chorale, Metro, MOCA, Ramon C. Cortines School of Visual and Performing Arts (Grand Arts High School) and REDCAT.
Economic and Cultural Impact
A DTLA Arts & Culture report by the DTLA Alliance revealed that in 2023, over 2.5 million of DTLA’s 17 million visitors explored the Grand Avenue cultural corridor, with 76% attending arts and culture events.
“Los Angeles has emerged as one of the world’s premier destinations for arts and culture,” said Los Angeles Tourism President & CEO Adam Burke. “The establishment of the Grand Avenue Cultural District strengthens Downtown L.A. as one of the region’s most dynamic neighborhoods for arts lovers.”
Inspired by the success of the Dallas Arts District, which tripled economic output in five years, the GACD seeks to foster a vibrant, safe, and walkable arts community, reinforcing its role as a center for creativity and innovation.
Next Steps for the GACD
Ultimately, the GACD will develop an identity that offers the public a way to recognize the District’s offerings and provide an imprimatur of the quality of the experiences offered there; create a strategic plan to help improve the comfort and safety of visitors to the region, including wayfinding, informational tools and collaborations with partners such as the Los Angeles Tourism & Convention Board and Central City Association of Los Angeles; and work to enhance accessible and culturally relevant programming by exploring partnerships with fellow arts organizations located in DTLA but off Grand Avenue, such as the Japanese American Cultural & Community Center and LA Plaza de Cultura y Artes, among others.
Next steps for the GACD include the hiring of an executive director, creation of a brand identity, and development of a website, along with other tasks. The Broad Foundation provided initial seed funding to support the creation of the District.
For more information, contact [email protected].
