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.
Arts Fest in Grand Park brings together schools from across LAUSD
Listen
• 0:52
Students in the steel drum class at Venice High School practice for a performance at the Grand Arts Festival.
(
Priska Neely/KPCC
)
Film screenings, live music and art shows are a regular occurrence in downtown Los Angeles' Grand Park. Stop by this Saturday and all the work on display will be brought to you by students from Los Angeles Unified School District.
The district's Grand Arts Festival will feature the work of more than 2,000 students – performances on four different stages, as well as a film festival and a visual art show. The LAUSD Arts Branch is aiming to showcase student talent from across the district – students of all ages are coming in from all six of the local districts within LA Unified.
Theater teacher Mark Brodie is bringing high schoolers down from ArTES Magnet (part of the Cesar Chavez Learning Academies) in San Fernando to perform scenes from their upcoming production of "The Addams Family."
"That’s one thing that everyone’s gonna be impressed with is how diverse LAUSD is and how much talent there is within LAUSD," said Brodie.
Support for LAist comes from
About 100 student groups are set to perform, including ensembles like Mariachi bands from Magnolia and Haddon Avenue elementary schools, an African dance troupe from Loyola Village Elementary, Cahuenga Elementary's Korean choir and Venice High School’s steel drum band.
This week, the steel drum band was hard at work practicing their set, which includes the songs "Don't Worry Be Happy" and "La Bamba" on the Caribbean instruments.
"It sounds amazing when we’re all performing together," said Karen Perez, a senior at Venice High. "There are so many people who don't know what steel drums are so I feel like if we're able to perform, they'll get into it."
The students will also share the stage with some professional performers, including the female tap dance group Syncopated Ladies who recently had a Youtube viral hit with their routine set to Beyonce's "Formation."
You can find a schedule of the performances here.
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
(
LAist
)
Trending on LAist
-
The union representing the restaurant's workers announced Tuesday that The Pantry will welcome back patrons Thursday after suddenly shutting down six months ago. -
If approved, the more than 62-acre project would include 50 housing lots and a marina less than a mile from Jackie and Shadow's famous nest overlooking the lake.
-
The U.S. Supreme Court lifted limits on immigration sweeps in Southern California, overturning a lower court ruling that prohibited agents from stopping people based on their appearance.
-
Censorship has long been controversial. But lately, the issue of who does and doesn’t have the right to restrict kids’ access to books has been heating up across the country in the so-called culture wars.
-
With less to prove than LA, the city is becoming a center of impressive culinary creativity.
-
Nearly 470 sections of guardrailing were stolen in the last fiscal year in L.A. and Ventura counties.
Best of LAist