Produce Holidays On Broadway in DTLA

Access to Creative Industry Employment (sponsored by Snap Foundation)

Expand existing project, program, or initiative

Racism and the narrow reframing of the American experience are systemic issues in the professional theater industry. The central repositioning of historically precluded voices in American theatrical arts, including directors, playwrights, and subject matter, has been a strategic priority of Broadway West since its inception and is the priority around which all other priorities, like restoration of historic vaudeville theaters, are purposed. Broadway West is realizing its priorities through several tactics: 1. Providing direct entertainment job opportunities to DTLA and surrounding areas such as Skid Row and underserved communities of color. 2. Amplifying the voices of indigenous and LGBTQIA+ cultures through our programming investments, storytelling and organizational leadership.

DTLA and the arts industry has been hit especially hard by COVID-19 and the racial reckoning within our industry. The Broadway West 'Holidays on Broadway' Street Fair will provide over 100+ artists employment opportunities during the most important and slowest time of the year for performers, the holidays. We will employ all positions at the festival and in the production with locals hired from Los Angeles and will focus our efforts on employing a 100% ethnically diverse workforce. We will also provide local vendors and small businesses of color the opportunity to sell their goods at the fair to provide more financial opportunity during their difficult 4th quarters. Downtown Los Angeles has been hit particularly hard during the pandemic and providing opportunities for our restaurants to thrive is also an opportunity our festival provides.

The 4th quarter of the year is always difficult for the entertainment and retail industries. Since COVID-19 ravaged the live theater and event industries, it has been difficult for local businesses, restaurants, and artists to get off their feet. The Holidays on Broadway street fair will provide critical financial resources to the most struggling communities at the right time. We hope to gather between 5,000-7,000 attendees for the event. This will provide a windfall for our "Santa's Village" vendors and a local tax windfall for the City of Los Angeles. We will give over 100 artists an extra opportunity to make an income through performing their art over the holiday. We will also provide what will hopefully be an annual opportunity for our community to thrive after one of the worst financial periods in a generation.

The early-stage project will have it's first time operating at this scale. We will be able to measure our success by our attendee number, but also by just completing the event, which will provide many with financial opportunities that weren't there before. Here are some metrics of success: 1. At least 5,000 attendees 2. Hire at least 100 arts 3. Provide at least 50 Vendors ability to sell their products 4. Provide at least 20 restaurants/food spots to local small restaurant businesses.