Former LA museum director wins Getty Prize; NPR, LAist and KCRW to share grant

NPR has been picked to receive a $500,000 grant through this year’s Getty Prize, half of which will be shared with Los Angeles member stations LAist and KCRW.

Ann Philbin, director emeritus of the Hammer Museum, has been awarded the 2025 prize for her work in arts and culture, the J. Paul Getty Trust announced Wednesday. The honor comes with a $500,000 pay-it-forward grant from Getty, which was established last year. It allows the award recipient to recognize the work of an arts or educational nonprofit.

NPR will receive $250,000, while the other half will be split evenly between KCRW and LAist, with the stations receiving $125,000 each.

Philbin said she’s humbled to accept a prize that has honored so many agents of change in Los Angeles and beyond. Being able to award the grant to NPR is a “thrill,” she added.

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“In addition to their in-depth coverage of the arts and culture, they represent the epitome of fearless and essential journalism in a time when threats to free expression and the suppression of diverse voices is rampant,” she said in a statement.

“We love them and need them!”

What station leaders say

Katherine Maher, president and chief executive of NPR, said the grant supports one of the unique and founding purposes of public media — to provide Americans with free access to cultural programming.

“NPR and member organizations like KCRW and LAist exist to serve communities,” Maher said in a statement. “There is no greater recognition or validation of that work than when a member of the community chooses to give back to the mission of public media, and it is especially meaningful at this moment.”

Alejandra Santamaria, LAist president and CEO, said in a statement that the station’s mission to strengthen the civic and cultural bonds that unite Southern California’s diverse communities is deeply important to her.

Ann Philbin, winner of this year's Getty Prize, the institution's highest honor.

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Mark Hanauer

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Courtesy of the J. Paul Getty Trust

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“At this time when public media is being threatened, we at LAist are grateful for the generous support from Ann Philbin,” Santamaria said. “She understands the value of our coverage and the communities we aspire to serve.”

Jennifer Ferro, KCRW president, said reflecting the people and spirit of the communities that public radio serves is at the core of its mission.

“We’re so grateful for this support and thrilled for the opportunities it will create to further invest in public interest programming for the people of this city,” Ferro said.

Philbin, NPR, KCRW and LAist will be honored at the annual Getty Prize dinner in September.

The grant comes as Congress considers cutting $1.1 billion previously allocated for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting as part of President Donald Trump’s rescission package. The federal funding supports NPR and its member stations, including LAist, which receives about 4% of its budget — or $1.7 million — from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.

Congress has until midnight Friday to approve the rescission package. If the Senate passes it, the package will go back to the House of Representatives for a final vote.

About the award

The Getty Prize is the institution’s highest honor. It has recognized leaders whose work expands understanding and appreciation of arts and culture since 2013, including architect Frank Gehry and art curator Thelma Golden.

Katherine Fleming, president and CEO of the J. Paul Getty Trust, said Philbin is a powerhouse in the art world, having completely transformed the Hammer Museum into an internationally recognized institution.

Philbin was director of the Hammer Museum for 25 years, when the museum developed more than 300 free public programs, including film screenings and workshops for families, according to the trust.

A 2023 art installation at the Hammer Museum.

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Joshua White

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Courtesy of the J. Paul Getty Trust

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A 2023 installation at the Hammer Museum.

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Jeff Mclane

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Courtesy of the J. Paul Getty Trust

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“Having spent many years working in both Los Angeles and New York, and with longstanding relationships with artists and organizations around the world, she is widely known as a passionate advocate for the arts and a champion for the freedom of expression,” Fleming said.

Last year’s winner, artist Mark Bradford, chose the Arts for Healing and Justice Network for the grant.