The Guardian article titled "Casualties in Trump’s war on the arts: the small museums keeping local history alive" details the significant impact of the Trump administration's arts funding cuts on small museums and cultural organizations across the United States. One notable example is Clockshop, a Los Angeles-based nonprofit that had been documenting the oral histories of communities along the LA River. Their project, a cultural atlas highlighting the area's transformation, faced uncertainty when a $150,000 grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) was terminated 17 months early, leaving $20,000 in unpaid funds. This sudden loss threatens their mission to preserve local narratives amid rapid gentrification. Now, executive director Sue Bell Yank says their mission to preserve the stories of residents ousted by gentrification could lead to “erasure of the past, of cultural self-determination, and a lack of understanding about how communities can successfully advocate for the kinds of neighborhoods we deserve.” Read the full article here: (fb)

This year, we invited artist Sterling Wells to capture the spirit of the Kite Festival with a live plein air painting demonstration. Throughout the event, Wells painted the vibrant scene as thousands of kites filled the sky. Attendees were encouraged to watch his process in real time and experience the festival through the eyes of an artist. The inspiration for this commission came from past festivals, where many of you brought your own plein air setups to paint the day. Your creativity sparked this idea and we’re grateful for it. We can’t wait to share the finished painting with you. Photographs by Gina Clyne and Mathew Scott #ClockshopLA #SterlingWells #PeoplesKiteFestival (fb)