Uplifting MacArthur Park Through Live Music

Green Space, Park Access, and Trees

City of Los Angeles

Expand existing project, program, or initiative

Dating back to the 1880s, MacArthur Park is one of the city's most historically significant parks. Early on, it was considered an urban oasis for wealthy residents.? During the 1980s, the area began to experience a decline due to disinvestment and a lack of infrastructure for the influx of Central American refugees. Coupled with the fact the area surrounding MacArthur Park, one of the poorest areas of Los Angeles, suffered from widely reported crime rates, the park became known for crime and violence. Redevelopment efforts in early 2000 by the LA Police Department and business and community leaders have been leading to increased safety measures to once again make the park a desirable location for LA residents. Levitt LA is one of the leaders of this effort towards having MacArthur Park be once again considered a cultural gem that inspires civic pride, uplifts the cultural expressions past and present of Los Angeles and beyond.

Each summer, Levitt LA offers 30-50 free hybrid concerts at MacArthur Park. The programming reflects the many cultures of our city and beyond that have been a point of pride and celebration for this area, including over 20 different genres, 150+ artists annually, emerging, and established artists, and often co-curating with cultural groups. Levitt LA has a state-of-the-art, concert grade sound, lighting, and video system at the Levitt Pavilion with an audience capacity of up to 5000. All-ages programming enables parents to share their favorite music with their children who would be excluded from 21+ venues and a place for teens/young adults to attend shows, offering artists an expanded reach into youth and intergenerational markets. Key components of this work also include: -Convening a 20+ member Community Advisory Council comprised of local and citywide groups who want to build partnerships with Levitt LA and one another + offer Levitt LA a critical feedback loop from a diverse perspective - Advocating for infrastructure improvements at MacArthur Park as part of a public-private partnership with the City of Los Angeles- Department of Recreation & Parks, which have resulted in improved lighting, increased cleanliness, consistent maintenance, landscaping, plus capital improvements at the bandshell such as painting, structural repairs, vermin mitigation, clean and functional restrooms

The arts are fundamental to our humanity. They inspire us by fostering creativity, empathy, and beauty. The arts also strengthen our communities socially, educationally, and economically-benefits that persist even as the pandemic continues and shifts. Levitt LA's long-term commitment is to build community through music and the activation of a central public green space. The theory is that by removing barriers to accessing music and creating a safe environment, a warm welcoming atmosphere is cultivated where connection will happen easily. Activating MacArthur Park is key to the cultural fabric of Los Angeles given its central location, inherent diversity, connection to social justice movements, and significance to immigrant communities. Creating a vibrant public space using arts and culture improves quality of life in terms of public safety, infrastructure improvements, civic pride, and social cohesion.?

As part of the evaluation process, Levitt LA conducts surveys of its audiences to determine if there were educational takeaways and overall engagement. Audience testimonials are gathered and recorded to demonstrate impact and are shared across social media channels and other digital platforms. Levitt LA builds upon a co-curation model to ensure that creative choices are made by those who are closest and most knowledgeable of specific communities and cultural work. Artists who serve as programmatic co-curators are invited to share feedback in an anonymous survey that is also circulated to members of their production teams. Input from audience, community, and artistic participants is thoughtfully evaluated and leveraged when considering programmatic growth and enhancements. By incorporating the voices of attendees and artists, Levitt LA ensures is programming best meets the needs of the community.