Support for LAist comes from
Local and national news, NPR, things to do, food recommendations and guides to Los Angeles, Orange County and the Inland Empire
Stay Connected
Listen

Share This

News

Museums Will Get Financial Relief, But Damage Could Be Long-Lasting

()

Congress has cut federal funding for public media — a $3.4 million loss for LAist. We count on readers like you to protect our nonprofit newsroom. Become a monthly member and sustain local journalism.

Congress has reached an agreement on a new coronavirus relief bill, including funding for cultural institutions and local museums that have been closed throughout the pandemic.

The proposal would send $15 billion in aid to live event venues, movie theaters and museums.

Many of L.A.’s indoor museums are in desperate need of the relief, having been closed since March. The shutdowns have prompted the institutions to find new ways to engage their communities.

Michael Govan, the director of the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA), believes the pandemic could have a lasting impact on the local and national art scenes.

Support for LAist comes from

“The loss of revenue, the loss of just being in touch with your audience for philanthropic sellers; a lot won't survive,” he said. “All of us are really suffering, and just trying to hold everything together through this.”

As Editor-in-Chief of our newsroom, I’m extremely proud of the work our top-notch journalists are doing here at LAist. We’re doing more hard-hitting watchdog journalism than ever before — powerful reporting on the economy, elections, climate and the homelessness crisis that is making a difference in your lives. At the same time, it’s never been more difficult to maintain a paywall-free, independent news source that informs, inspires, and engages everyone.

Simply put, we cannot do this essential work without your help. Federal funding for public media has been clawed back by Congress and that means LAist has lost $3.4 million in federal funding over the next two years. So we’re asking for your help. LAist has been there for you and we’re asking you to be here for us.

We rely on donations from readers like you to stay independent, which keeps our nonprofit newsroom strong and accountable to you.

No matter where you stand on the political spectrum, press freedom is at the core of keeping our nation free and fair. And as the landscape of free press changes, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust, but the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news from our community.

Please take action today to support your trusted source for local news with a donation that makes sense for your budget.

Thank you for your generous support and believing in independent news.

Chip in now to fund your local journalism
A row of graphics payment types: Visa, MasterCard, Apple Pay and PayPal, and  below a lock with Secure Payment text to the right
(
LAist
)

Trending on LAist