Attendees at the Music Center Plaza's Dance DTLA event
In Spring of 2020, as the pandemic took hold, LA Commons devised the idea of “Creating Our Next LA.” Recognizing art as a powerful force at this time of transformation, we are tapping the power of artists, and the other super imaginers, youth, to help us envision a new, more just and equitable future. COVID-19 has given us an opening to step back to reflect and to recognize that we can not return to business as usual. For more than 20 years, we have brought artists and young people together with their fellow community members to recast local narratives into art and build the robust civic connections at the heart of every thriving community. Creating Our Next LA is an extension of this work.
This Summer and Fall, we are bringing the movement to the Music Center Plaza. Through a specially curated playlist, art activations and a daylong occupation as part of Grand Arts, we will invite Angelenos to construct their vision of the next LA. In partnership with local artists, we plan to collectively create a centerpiece that will come to life as patrons at Dance Downtown and other events, make art that will add to the sculpture. These events will lead up to our Grand Arts occupation on October 22, 2022.
In order to curate our Creating Our Next LA music playlist, we need YOUR voice! We’re reaching out to our community to gather 200 songs that reflect a vision of the next LA. Submit a song to fuel the movement by filling out this form.
We look forward to seeing all these parts come together to present a seamless whole that is a reflection of the voice of Angelenos and their collective creation of The Next LA.