Small Arts Groups Struggle in Southern California

Grant makers disproportionately favor large nonprofit arts groups over smaller organizations, a study conducted by the UCLA Center for Civil Society has found, reports the Los Angeles Times.

Small and midsize arts groups with annual budgets under $800,000 tend to rely heavily on government grants—and that is a problem as such grants have become more scarce, the report says.

Additionally, a survey of 51 private foundations found that 91 percent of grants were awarded to groups with budgets of more than $800,000.

The report, which was commissioned by the Southern California Grantmakers association, notes “a disconnect between the local nonprofit arts community and the for-profit entertainment industry,” and one arts executive quoted in the study called Hollywood “a local economic machine that takes ideas from the arts community but doesn’t give back.”

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