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≡ “CULTURAL OLYMPIAD” ≡
“Spanning fashion, film, food, music, performance, and visual art, this is a program that grows from the city itself, connecting cultural institutions with local artists, community organizations and the neighborhood spaces where creativity already lives and breathes.”
Thursday’s LA28 announcement cites the “six disciplines” listed above as the building blocks of its “Cultural Olympiad,” noting clearly that the approach is not to mount an all-new program, but:
● “When Los Angeles welcomes millions from around the world for the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games, the LA28 Cultural Olympiad won’t import a celebration. It will surface one that’s already here.”
● “The Cultural Olympiad is also taking shape in collaboration with civic agencies in the Los Angeles region; each committed to the Games not just as a moment, but as a mandate.”
● “The Official LA28 Cultural Olympiad Mark ensures that the creative institutions and community organizations that already define this city’s cultural life are recognized, amplified and connected to the world’s biggest stage — regardless of their size or resources. Applications open across the region in early 2027.”
There were some specific program elements cited:
● An LA28 poster program with eight Olympic and eight Paralympic, created by local artists “through a jury-led process.”
● A “Sport on the Silver Screen” series of 28 films to be offered in free screenings at multiple locations, “some paired with local food vendors and curated performances.”
● “An underwriting program will reduce or eliminate ticketing and entrance fees for some cultural programming.”
A digital integration program via a “Cultural Olympiad Calendar and Mapping” application, will launch in January 2028.
The key to the breadth of the “Cultural Olympiad” will be the “Official LA28 Cultural Olympiad Mark” that will identify programs mounted by other entities – such as the City of Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs – “are recognized, amplified and connected to the world’s biggest stage.” Applications will open in early 2027.
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Several local governments have already begun planning, notably the City of Los Angeles, which filed a 21-page plan with spending levels at $15-30-40 million, depending on funding, last October. The levels of programming as shown in the plan:
Framework A: Base level ($15 million: 8 components):
● 15 Council District-specific cultural festivals
● Arts development fee projects
● Mural conservation and legacy enhancement
● Mural works: new-conservation-apprenticeships
● New community activation grant category
● Community arts celebrations and exhibitions
● Youth arts education and engagement
● Make Music LA
Framework B: Expanded level ($30 million) adds (7):
● New Olympic & Paralympic murals
● Community celebrations-activations-viewing parties
● Cultural/neighborhood hubs and activations
● Disability arts and Paralympic celebration
● LA-Brisbane cultural exchange
● Transit corridor cultural programming
● Games venue cultural activation
Framework C: Full level ($40 million) adds (3):
● Olympic-Paralympic arts festival (seven weeks)
● International artist exchange
● LA River cultural activation
The City’s Department of Cultural Affairs believes that it can fund Framework A with its existing allocations, which may yet be subject to severe future cuts from the City. It will need to fund-raise for the other two levels.
¶
Observed: LA28 is showing clear concern over spending. Asked in a Los Angeles City Council meeting if it would expand the $160 million commitment to the Parks & Recreation Youth Sports Partnership, the answer was no.
On spending more than $1 million on hiring a law school to monitor and promote human rights (which its plan noted has not been an issue at prior Games), the answer was no.
Now, the long-awaited LA28 Cultural Olympiad announcement is initially shown as a modest program that will mostly bestow approval badges on local programs, funded by cities, countries and institutions.
This is hardly bold, but it is fiscally conscious. The 1984 Olympic Arts Festival was expansive, also dealing with multiple co-producers, generally arts producers themselves rather than governmental entities. The then-Los Angeles Olympic Organizing Committee had the resources to support it, with direct spending of $11.5 million, about $37.5 million today, and additional services provided by other departments.
LA28 is locked in a struggle with the City of Los Angeles and the Federal government over City reimbursements and security funding for the Games, with the amounts in the billions of dollars. The competitions, athlete villages, transportation, security and more are required. Spending on anything else now is problematic.
Clearly, the organizing committee understands this.
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