Los Angeles County Supervisor Janice Hahn pocketed an $8 million state grant to help establish the future Southeast LA (SELA) Cultural Center. The cash influx, courtesy of State heavyweights Speaker Emeritus Anthony Rendon and Senator Lena Gonzalez, is set to make a splash in LA's art scene. Hahn was on hand with the politicians and local artists Friday to showcase those fat checks — $5 million for the Arts and Culture Department and another $3 million earmarked for an advisory panel that will steer the center's development.
The SELA Cultural Center aims to be a creative haven right in Southeast LA, and it's got the design chops to prove it—none other than Frank Gehry is behind the blueprints. The sprawling 500,000-square-foot space is set to feature an amphitheater, galleries, theaters, and, for those with a culinary bent, a top-notch culinary arts facility. According to a bulletin released by the county, folks will be able to take in a play, enjoy live music under the stars, or sharpen their cooking skills all in one spot.
Janice Hahn is talking a big game, too. "LA County is the creative capital of the world. No one should have to cross the county to be part of it," she touted in the release. But it's not just talk; the proof is in the pudding, or, in this case, the state funds. "The SELA Cultural Center is going to be the creative home that artists, creators, and residents of Southeast LA deserve," Hahn said.
Hahn isn't the only one with an eye on the prize. Rendon made it clear this was about giving back to the community. “It was the residents and artists of Southeast Los Angeles that asked for a state-of-the-arts cultural center be built in our community and today we are seeing very positive progress happening with this check presentation of $8 million dollars," he said in the message dispatched by LA County. The sentiment is clear; Southeast LA asked, and the state of California answered—with a rather hefty check.
