DTLA Arts & Culture Report

ARTS & CULTURE

Walt Disney Concert Hall

How the Creative Economy Shapes Downtown Los Angeles DowntownLA.com/DTLAArts

ARTS & CULTURE ABOUT DTLA ALLIANCE Founded in 1998, the DTLA Alliance has been a catalyst in Downtown Los Angeles’ transformation into a vibrant 24/7 mixed-use destination for over 25 years. A coalition of more than 2,000 property owners in the Downtown Center, the DTLA Alliance is committed to enhancing the quality of life in Downtown LA. The mission of the Economic Development team is to ensure that DTLA remains the premier choice for office, residential, hospitality, retail, and cultural investment. We provide services to support and promote investment and development in DTLA, including: •

Market & Research Reports

•

Tours & Events

•

Development Consulting

•

Requests for Information

•

Press & Media Inquiries

Whether you need information on construction and development, insights on the DTLA market, finding a location for your business, or you just want to learn more about Downtown’s market sectors and dynamics, we are your best source for information about DTLA To learn more about the Downtown LA and the DTLA Alliance, visit DowntownLA.com.

DOWNTOWN CENTER

DEFINITION OF DOWNTOWN LA The DTLA Alliance defines Downtown Los Angeles as the area bounded by the 110, 101 and 10 freeways and the LA River, plus Chinatown, City West, and Exposition Park. The projects contained in this report are within a portion of Downtown Los Angeles, shown on the map to the left.

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ARTS & CULTURE TABLE OF CONTENTS EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ....................................... 4 ECONOMIC & SOCIAL IMPACT ........................... 5 VISITATION INSIGHTS .......................................... 6 DTLA ARTS & CULTURE ECOSYSTEM .................. 8 ASSETS & CLUSTERS ......................................... 10

Grand Avenue Cultural District ...................... 10

13

South Park Sports & Entertainment Dist. ......... 14 Arts District ................................................... 16 Historic Downtown ........................................ 18 Little Tokyo ..................................................... 20 El Pueblo & Chinatown .................................. 21 Exposition Park ............................................. 22

24

Civic & Social Interest ............................................... 24 SECTOR IMPACTS .............................................. 26

Creative Industries ......................................... 26 Residential ..................................................... 28 Hospitality & Tourism .................................... 29 Retail & Experiences ...................................... 30 Dining & Nightlife ........................................... 31

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ARTS & CULTURE EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The world’s most popular and thriving cities are synonymous with globally renowned cultural landmarks and experiences that embody their unique identity and appeal. Bubbling beneath the visible surface of these highprofile cultural assets are creative ecosystems that make these cities desirable to residents, workers, and visitors – organizations, institutions, and investors.

Downtown Los Angeles is a prime example of this dynamic, with the creative economy having played a catalytic role in its renaissance over the last 25 years. From the organic growth of an artistic community drawn to Downtown’s authentic character to early investments in cultural infrastructure like The Music Center and Museum of Contemporary Art, arts & culture has helped to drive and shape DTLA into one of the world’s most compelling city centers.

DTLA is home to many of the nation’s top museums, galleries, and cultural institutions. On Grand Avenue alone, an unparalleled collection of assets draws millions of visitors to Bunker Hill and fuels new development, such as the expansion of The Broad and the Colburn Center. In addition to its major institutions, DTLA is a haven for independent organizations, with over 50 private galleries and studios and numerous performing arts venues and groups spread across multiple neighborhoods.

Finally, DTLA hosts a wide array of major arts events including PST/LA, a 4

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Walt Disney Concert Hall

76% of DTLA Visitors regularly attend arts and culture events.

2.5 million visit Grand Avenue arts annually 20 million visit LA LIVE 5+ million visit Exposition Park Museums* * projected

6-month celebration held once every five years that draws patrons from around the world; The LA Art Show, one of the biggest consumer art shows in North America; and DTLA Art Night, a monthly event where over 40 private galleries and studios open their doors to the public.

Broadening the focus beyond traditional cultural institutions, DTLA has also developed a thriving sports & entertainment district that welcomes millions of visitors to sporting events, concerts, and nightlife experiences at L.A. Live and Crypto.com Arena. Many of the area’s most popular public places, including Gloria Molina Grand Park and Pershing Square, have themselves become sites for arts & culture, with installations and activations making innovative use of Downtown’s welcoming spaces and walkable streets.

To appreciate the scale and scope of the social and economic impact arts & culture has on an urban center like DTLA, one must widen the perspective to capture the effect it has across a broad range of sectors: the myriad ways it attracts residents, workers, and visitors; supports restaurants, retailers, and hotels; and appeals to individuals and companies in creative industries.

Since LA’s founding, Downtown has been the region’s hub for arts & culture assets and activity. With its revitalization over the last 20+ years, DTLA has re-emerged as LA’s epicenter for innovation in culture and creativity. Recognizing the competitive advantage this represents and leveraging it with opportunistic investments, policies and programs will be critical aspects of Downtown’s continued success in the coming decades.

ARTS & CULTURE ECONOMIC & SOCIAL IMPACT Arts & culture has a distinctly positive impact on cities and is essential to its long-term vitality as a driver of tourism and catalyst for economic development across residential, workforce, and business sectors.

Significant studies have sought to better understand the role of arts & culture in supporting urban vitality.

For example, a 2010 white paper from the National Endowment for The Arts declares, “our research finds that through creative placemaking, arts & culture makes a substantial contribution to local economic development, livability, and cultural industry competitiveness.”1 Similarly, according to a survey conducted in 2023 by Americans for the Arts, 79% of Americans believe that the arts are “important to their community’s business, economy, and local jobs,” while 86% say “Arts & Culture are important to their community’s quality of life.”2 In terms of direct impacts, according to the US Department of Commerce,

UNITED STATES $1 Trillion annual economic value added by the arts LA COUNTY 90,000 Creative Economy jobs

The Music Center

the economic value added by the arts in the United States is over $1 Trillion annually, representing over 4% of gross domestic product.3 The arts also support over half a million jobs across the country. While these numbers are meaningful, they represent only part of the benefits provided by the arts.

Providers of arts & culture are just one element of the so-called “creative economy” which includes a range of industries and occupations

LA COUNTY CREATIVE ECONOMY JOBS 100K

Total Jobs

75K 50K 25K

Film/TV/ Sound

New Media

Creative Goods

Advertising

Architechture

that are connected by virtue of their production of creative assets and use of creative talent. A 2020 report from Arts Council England stated that “arts and cultural organizations are a core component of any strong creative cluster; where cultural institutions, arts venues, social enterprises, and individual artists operate alongside (and frequently in collaboration with) ‘commercial’ enterprises and, often, educational institutions.”4 The creative economy is especially relevant for California and Los Angeles. According to the 2024 Otis Report on the Creative Economy, creative industries employ over 825,000 people across California and almost 350,000 in LA County alone – representing 8% of total employment in the county.5 Unsurprisingly, Film, TV, and Sound is the largest such category in LA County with almost 90,000 jobs.

However, this represents only about 1/4 of all jobs in the creative economy. The remaining 75% come from a broad cross-section of industries including fashion, new media, creative goods & products, and architecture, all of which are strongly represented in Downtown Los Angeles. When combined with the critical mass of cultural organizations and the significant creative community that comprise the Downtown environment, it’s undeniable that arts & culture plays a definitive role in DTLA’s economy.

1: “Creative Placemaking”, National Endowment for the Arts, 2010 / 2: “Arts & American Prosperity 6”, Americans for the Arts, 2023 / 3: US Department of Commerce, Bureau of Economic Analysis, 2024 (data from 2022) / 4: “The Impact of Arts & Culture on the Wider Creative Economy”, Arts Council England, 2020 / 5: “California’s Creative Economy”, Otis College of Art & Design, 2024

Source: Otis College of Art & Design

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ARTS & CULTURE VISITATION INSIGHTS DTLA 2024 SURVEY

76%

OF DTLA VISITORS SAY “I REGULARLY ATTEND ARTS & CULTURE EVENTS SUCH AS CONCERTS, ART EXHIBITS, MUSEUMS, PLAYS, LIVE PERFORMANCES, ETC.”

TOP 5 MOST VISITED VENUES 1

2

L.A. Live

66%

3

The Broad

62%

4

The Music Center

61%

5

Exposition Park Museums

Crypto.com Arena

60%

57%

Source: DTLA 2024 Survey, DTLA Alliance

TOP DTLA VISITOR CONSUMER GROUPS PERCENT OF VISITORS

VS. NATIONAL INDEX*

Power Elite: The wealthiest households in the US, living in the most exclusive neighborhoods and enjoying all that life has to offer.

16%

188

Singles and Starters: Young singles starting out and some starter families living a city lifestyle.

14%

136

Booming with Confidence: Prosperous, established couples in their peak earning years living in suburban homes.

11%

118

Flourishing Families: Affluent, middle-aged families and couples earning prosperous incomes and living very comfortable, active lifestyles.

9%

171

Significant Singles: Younger and middle-aged singles living active and energetic lifestyles in metropolitan areas.

6%

127

* National Index Average = 100 Source: Placer.ai, Experian Mosaic

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ARTS & CULTURE VISITATION INSIGHTS TOP 10 DTLA TRIP ORIGINATION LOCATIONS (NUMBER OF VISITORS) 7

Seattle: 69K New York: 182K

6 1

2.6 M

2

Sacramento: 79K

5

San Francisco: 276K 3

8

Silicon Valley: 113K

DTLA VISITORS FROM 250+ MILES AWAY

4

Chicago: 81K Washington: 57K

Phoenix: 98K Dallas: 57K

10 9

Atlanta: 57K

Source: Placer.ai

VISITATION HEAT MAPS This heat map shows the most popular locations for DTLA’s 17+ million visitors in 2023. Several noteworthy areas, identified in dark yellow, had between 1.2 and 2.5 million visits during the year, while the top three locations in red each saw over 2.5 million visits.

Financial District

Grand Ave. Arts

Figueroa St. and 7th St. Little Tokyo/Arts District

Historic Core

17+ M

TOTAL VISITORS TO DTLA

Crypto.com Arena/ L.A. LIVE Santee Alley

ROW DTLA

Source: Placer.ai

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ARTS & CULTURE DTLA ARTS & CULTURE ECOSYSTEM Visual Arts

Performing Arts

Museums

GRAND AVENUE CULTURAL DISTRICT 1

2 3 4 5

Ramon C. Cortines School of Visual & Performing Arts Center Theatre Group Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels LA Opera Gloria Molina Grand Park

Education

Public Space

32

Made by DWC

33

Los Angeles Theatre Center

34

Latino Theater Company

35

Orpheum Theater

36

United Artists Theater

37

The Mayan

38

The Belasco Theater

39

ASU California Center

Civic & Social Interest

6

LA Master Chorale

7

The Music Center

8

LA Philharmonic

9

REDCAT

40

The Broad

East West Players

10

41

Colburn School

The Geffen Contemporary

11

42

MOCA

Japanese American National Museum

12

43

Grand Performances

Japanese American Cultural & Community Center

13 14

Los Angeles Central Library

SOUTH PARK SPORTS & ENTERTAINMENT DISTRICT

LITTLE TOKYO

EL PUEBLO 44

Italian American Museum LA

45

Grammy Museum

Plaza Olvera

15

46

16

L.A. Live

LA Plaza de Culturas Y Artes

Peacock Theater

47

17

Chinese American Museum

The Novo

48

18

LA Metro Arts

19

Crypto.com Arena

CHINATOWN

20

ASU FIDM

49

Los Angeles State Historic Park

50

Chinatown Summer Nights

ARTS DISTRICT 21

Hauser & Wirth Los Angeles

EXPOSITION PARK

22

Art Share LA

51

USC

23

SCI-Arc

52

Lucas Museum of Narrative Art

24

Institute of Contemporary Art LA

53

Natural History Museum of LA County

54

California Science Center

55

California African American Museum

56

Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum

57

BMO Stadium

HISTORIC DOWNTOWN

8

Sports & Entertainment

25

Skid Row History Museum

26

Million Dollar Theater

27

The Smell

28

Piece by Piece

OTHER AREAS

29

Pershing Square

58

Inner-City Arts

30

UCLA Downtown

59

The Mistake Room

31

ArtCenter

60

LA Dance Project

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ARTS & CULTURE DTLA ARTS & CULTURE ECOSYSTEM Chinatown (Page 23)

Grand Avenue Cultural District

El Pueblo (Page 23)

(Page 10)

Little Tokyo

South Park Sports & Entertainment District

(Page 22)

(Page 16)

Historic Downtown (Page 20)

2 Miles Arts District (Page 18)

Exposition Park (Page 14)

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ARTS & CULTURE ASSETS & CLUSTERS

GRAND AVENUE CULTURAL DISTRICT A mix of soaring skyscrapers, internationally known cultural institutions, and world-class architecture, this area is also home to an increasing concentration of desirable residential properties. While bustling with office workers on weekdays, the success of MOCA, The Broad, and adjacent culinary destinations has established a broad appeal to both locals and visitors, and keeps the area active on evenings and weekends. Contributing to the area’s appeal is its architecture, which includes work by three Pritzker Prize winners, including what will be the largest collection of Frank Gehry buildings once Colburn Center completes construction and joins The Grand LA and the iconic Walt Disney Concert Hall.

THE BROAD

MOCA ANNUAL ATTENDANCE:

900,000

Home to the 2,000+ work collection of philanthropists Eli and Edythe Broad, which is among the most prominent holdings of postwar and contemporary art worldwide. The 120,000-square-foot, $140-million building, designed by Diller Scofidio + Renfro, features two floors of gallery space and offers free general admission. Building on its success, The Broad is undertaking a 55,000 square-foot expansion that will increase its gallery space by 70%.

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ANNUAL ATTENDANCE:

300,000

Boasting one of the most compelling collections of contemporary art in the world, comprised of nearly 8,000 objects, MOCA is the only artist-founded museum in Los Angeles. With a diverse history of ground-breaking, historically significant exhibitions, the museum hosts dynamic programming and installations at its main location on Bunker Hill, designed by Pritzker Prizewinning architect Arata Isozaki, and at the Geffen Contemporary in Little Tokyo.

ARTS & CULTURE ASSETS & CLUSTERS

GRAND AVENUE CULTURAL DISTRICT THE MUSIC CENTER ANNUAL ATTENDANCE:

1.3M

Hosts major performing arts in its iconic theaters, concert halls, and outdoor spaces including the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, Mark Taper Forum, Ahmanson Theater, and the iconic Walt Disney Concert Hall – one of architect Frank Gehry’s international masterpieces. Its resident companies include the Los Angeles Philharmonic, led by internationally renowned Music & Artistic Director, Gustavo Dudamel, the Los Angeles Opera, and LA Master Chorale, the largest professional chorus in North America. These are joined by the award-winning Center Theatre Group, one of the nation’s most influential non-profit theatre companies. The Music Center also hosts a robust program of public art and community events at Jerry Moss Plaza, the heart of its Grand Avenue campus.

THE COLBURN SCHOOL STUDENTS:

2,500+

Comprised of the Colburn Conservatory of Music, Colburn Community School of Performing Arts, Trudl Zipper Dance Institute, and Colburn Music Academy, Colburn provides students of all ages with topnotch performing arts education, including many performance opportunities in their state-of-the-art facilities. More than 2,500 students attend classes in Colburn’s four schools and the facility hosts over 500 performances each year. The institute has embarked on a $335-million expansion plan designed by Fank Gehry, his third project on Bunker Hill. Dubbed Colburn Center, it features new music and dance instruction and rehearsal space, alongside a new 1,000-seat auditorium that will present programming by the school as well as outside organizations.

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ARTS & CULTURE ASSETS & CLUSTERS

GRAND AVENUE CULTURAL DISTRICT THE ROY AND EDNA DISNEY/CALARTS THEATER (REDCAT)

A multidisciplinary arts center for innovative visual, performing and media arts. With performances, exhibitions, screenings, and literary events, REDCAT introduces diverse audiences to influential and experimental projects from around the world.

GLORIA MOLINA GRAND PARK

12-acre public space connecting the cultural institutions of Grand Avenue to the Civic Center, with year-round programming celebrating the cultural life of LA, including the city’s largest July 4th and New Year’s Eve events.

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GRAND AVENUE CULTURAL DISTRICT GRAND PERFORMANCES LA’s longest-running public concert series enlivens The Yard at California Plaza every summer with a showcase of local and global acts, inspiring community among LA’s diverse populations, and reflecting the range of culture across the region.

LOS ANGELES CENTRAL LIBRARY A state-of-the-art landmark of art and architecture fostering broad engagement through its extensive collection of resources. The library also hosts exhibitions, literacy programs, computer training, language learning, and events.

PUBLIC ART While there is great public art to be found throughout DTLA, the Grand Avenue/Bunker Hill area boasts a particularly impressive collection of artworks connecting the public realm and cultural institutions and providing an accessible and engaging experience for visitors and locals alike.

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ARTS & CULTURE ASSETS & CLUSTERS

SOUTH PARK SPORTS & ENTERTAINMENT DISTRICT Located in the South Park neighborhood of DTLA, the L.A. Live/Convention Center complex is one of the premier event and entertainment destinations in Southern California. The surrounding area has also experienced massive growth in both its residential population and hotel offerings over the past decade, making it a truly dynamic mixed-use center.

L.A. LIVE

LA LIVE ANNUAL ATTENDANCE:

20M

GRAMMY Museum

The Novo

A world-class sports and entertainment complex adjacent to the Los Angeles Convention Center, owned and operated by global entertainment giant AEG. The larger-than-life collection of venues is highlighted

by Crypto.com Arena, home to the LA Lakers, Sparks, and Kings, as well as high-profile concerts and award shows. The campus also includes the Peacock Theater, The Novo, and the GRAMMY Museum.

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SOUTH PARK SPORTS & ENTERTAINMENT DISTRICT LA CONVENTION CENTER ANNUAL ATTENDANCE:

2M

With over 700,000 SF of exhibit space, the convention center plays host to professional conferences, major regional events, and a variety of special events, including the annual LA Art Show and LA ComicCon. In 2024, the property received approval from LA City Council to undertake a major renovation and upgrade in preparation for the 2028 Olympic Games.

ASU FIDM

The Arizona State University Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising Museum & Library preserves and interprets fashion objects and support materials, fostering student and public engagement with access to the collections, exhibitions, and publications.

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ARTS & CULTURE ASSETS & CLUSTERS

ARTS DISTRICT Situated on the eastside of DTLA, adjacent to the LA River and railyards, the Arts District is famously home to galleries and cultural spaces, live/work lofts, and unique restaurants and retail in converted warehouses and former factories.

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ICA-LA

HAUSER & WIRTH

Formerly the Santa Monica Museum of Art, the Institute of Contemporary Art Los Angeles occupies a renovated manufacturing facility in the Arts District. For decades, the museum has been one of California’s leading non-collecting art institutions, with a long history of community and social engagement.

The international gallery’s flagship location in the Arts District extended its global presence to Los Angeles with a massive and multifaceted creative complex accommodating innovative museumcaliber exhibitions, an art-focused bookstore, fine dining, public gardens, and a robust schedule of public programs.

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ARTS DISTRICT SCI-ARC

One of the nation’s few independent architecture schools, and an integral part of the emerging cultural hub of the city, comprising two on-campus exhibition spaces in a quarter-mile-long, former freight depot in the Arts District.

ART SHARE LA

A pioneering non-profit, Art Share LA Provides emerging artists with space to create and exhibit their art as well as reside with on-site affordable housing, as well as professional opportunities — offering stability and support in an ever-changing landscape.

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ARTS & CULTURE ASSETS & CLUSTERS

HISTORIC DOWNTOWN With its classic buildings, vintage vibes, and creative energy, this area boasts many of the things that originally put LA on the world stage – ornate movie palaces, iconic art deco and beaux arts architecture, and the bustling Broadway corridor. It is also where visitors can experience DTLA’s contemporary reputation as a one-of-a-kind art, food, nightlife, and entertainment destination.

PERSHING SQUARE

This iconic public space offers free outdoor concerts, movies, special events, and public art installations that transform the park into a cultural showcase, from holiday ice skating and Oktoberfest festivities, to DTLA Proud - Downtown’s own LGBTQ celebration.

ArtCenter

GALLERY ROW

DTLA Art Night

This satellite location of the prestigious ArtCenter College of Design serves as a platform and venue for collaborative engagement, partnering ArtCenter’s campus and Los Angeles communities through programs that contribute to a culture that is diverse, inclusive and relevant.

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Designated as a neighborhood by LA City Council in 2003, this area, bounded by Hill and Los Angeles, has been the heart of Downtown’s grassroots arts & culture scene for over 20 years. Today, more than half of all the private art galleries and studios in Downtown are found here, and it is home to the monthly DTLA Art Night, which has 27 participating galleries.

ARTS & CULTURE ASSETS & CLUSTERS

HISTORIC DOWNTOWN HISTORIC BROADWAY THEATRES

The Historic Broadway Corridor brings entertainment back to its local birthplace, with the nation’s largest collection of historic theatres on one street. The Broadway Theatre Group has restored several of these regal movie palaces as versatile venues for contemporary performing artists and cultural events. The United Artists Theater is a revitalized gem that hosts large-scale concerts, movie premieres, and other performances. Just up the block, the renovated Globe Theatre is an elegant multi-story venue for music, burlesque, nightlife, and unique events.

UCLA DOWNTOWN

The historic Trust Building, purchased by UCLA in 2023, has come to life as a collaborative hub to partner with community members and organizations on a range of academic, research, arts-related, and outreach initiatives. Among the 31 selected occupants of UCLA Downtown are several arts & culture programs including the Department of Theater Faculty Collaborative Research Studios, where spaces are earmarked for the development of new research and creative activity by theater faculty, and UCLA Arts DTLA, which will offer free, year-round public arts programming curated by UCLA’s world-class arts organizations.

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ARTS & CULTURE ASSETS & CLUSTERS

LITTLE TOKYO

Japanese American National Museum

Japanese American Cultural Community Center

Japanese Village Plaza

Nisei Week

Once the largest Japanese community in the United States, the area has retained its cultural roots. Arts and cultural entities, such as the Japanese American National Museum and Japanese American Cultural Community Center, are the pillars that keep it thriving today, with Nisei Week drawing thousands for an annual cultural celebration.

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EL PUEBLO

Plaza Olvera

LA Plaza de Cultura y Artes

The birthplace of Los Angeles, El Pueblo is lined with museums highlighting the area’s Mexican origins as well as other cultures that have called Downtown home, such as LA Plaza de Cultura y Artes, Italian American Museum LA, and the Chinese American Museum. At its center is Plaza Olvera, with regular programming reflecting Latino traditions.

CHINATOWN

Chung King Road

An eclectic mix of Chinese-American businesses and restaurants alongside culturally-inspired architecture and local galleries on Chung King Road, Chinatown’s cultural impact extends to the wider public during Chinatown Summer Nights, a series of evening festivities drawing together artists, musicians, restaurateurs, and local businesses.

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EXPOSITION PARK Founded as an agricultural park in 1872, Exposition Park is home to some of LA’s most significant cultural attractions and welcomes 4 million visitors per year. Adjacent to the park is the main campus of the University of Southern California, one of the largest and most prestigious private universities in the country, awarding over 1,000 degrees every year in arts & culture disciplines.

EXPOSITION PARK MUSEUMS ANNUAL ATTENDANCE:

ANNUAL ATTENDANCE:

2.2M

California Science Center

1M

Natural History Museum

PROJECTED ANNUAL ATTENDANCE:

ANNUAL ATTENDANCE:

1M

African American History Museum

1M

Lucan Museum of Narrative Art

Three of the largest museums in Los Angeles will soon to be joined by a fourth when the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art opens in 2025. In addition to the new museum, major renovations are underway at the Natural History Museum, which will unveil 75,000 SF of new and refreshed spaced at NHM Commons in late 2024, and at the California Science Center, where the $400-million Samuel Oschin Air and Space Center, future home of the Space Shuttle Endeavor, is on track to open in 2025. At the same time, the park itself is undergoing an overhaul, which includes approval of $350 million to relocate surface parking to belowground and add six acres of new green space.

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EXPOSITION PARK THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA

One of the nation’s leading educational institutions and one of the region’s largest employers – with two campuses just to the north and south of Downtown, and a high-rise campus location in the city center. USC has five schools dedicated to arts & culture disciplines, including Architecture, Cinematic Arts, Dramatic Arts, the Glorya Kaufman School of Dance, and the Roski School of Art & Design. USC also operates the Fisher Art Museum alongside numerous higher education and cultural research institutes on campus and around Downtown.

LA MEMORIAL COLISEUM

BMO STADIUM

Celebrating its centennial anniversary, the Coliseum seats 77,500 and is home to the USC Trojans Football team. It underwent a $315-million renovation in 2019 and in 2028 will become the first stadium in the world to host the Olympic games for the third time as the venue for track and field competition.

Built in 2018 at a construction cost of $250 million, BMO Stadium was the first new openair stadium built in the City of LA since Dodger Stadium in 1962. It is home to MLS soccer teams LAFC and Angel City FC and seats 22,000.

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ARTS & CULTURE ASSETS & CLUSTERS

PUBLIC ART & SOCIAL IMPACT LA METRO

Historic Core

Grand Ave Arts

Metro Art enhances its customer experience with innovative, award-winning visual and performing arts programming that encourages ridership and connects people, sites, and neighborhoods throughout Los Angeles County. As the hub of the region’s public transit network, Downtown reflects LA Metro’s investment in the arts. Union Station, one of LA’s most iconic landmarks, is a dynamic destination for cultural activity, forging connections to the arts through installations, performances, concerts, screenings, and more.

More recently, the new Regional Connector stations opened in 2023 with a curated art program that seeks to reflect the neighborhoods around the stations. Metro Arts also engages Downtown communities through a range of activities, such as art-making workshops, artist talks, events at local schools, and public performances that connect to the artwork.

INNER-CITY ARTS

An oasis of learning, achievement, and creativity in the heart of Downtown LA’s Skid Row and a vital partner in creating a safer, healthier Los Angeles.

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PUBLIC ART & SOCIAL IMPACT PIECE BY PIECE Offers low-income and formerly homeless residents free mosaic art workshops using recycled materials, supporting them with marketable skills, selfconfidence, earned income, and an improved quality of life.

MADE BY DWC A purpose-driven social enterprise run by the Downtown Women’s Center with the goal of empowering women creates products for sale including handmade, all-natural soaps, soy candles, bath salts, cards, and journals.

NXT ART

A nonprofit organization that activates, inspires, and advocates for public art projects, including the annual Luminex projection festival and the Liquid Shard sculptural installation.

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ARTS & CULTURE SECTOR IMPACT

CREATIVE INDUSTRIES One of the strongest connections between culture and commerce is found in companies that rely on creative output produced by creative professionals. As DTLA has grown into a world-class destination for both experiencing and producing cultural products, it has also become a draw for these kinds of people and companies. Where DTLA’s office spaces were once dominated by traditional firms in fields such as finance services, insurance, real estate, and legal services, it is now home to a diverse range of innovative companies in creative industries, such as technology, media, and design. Among these, none has played a bigger role in DTLA than architectural services, with over 50 firms calling the area home. The connection between architecture and the arts is a long one, with architects both incorporating artistic principles into their work and incorporating artistic works into their projects.

ARCHITECTURE FIRMS

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Gensler

DLR Group

HOK

SOM

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CREATIVE INDUSTRIES CREATIVE COMPANIES

Spotify

TubeScience

WC+A

Warner Music

Be Social

Buck

Magnopus

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ARTS & CULTURE SECTOR IMPACT

RESIDENTIAL LIFE While there are many factors driving residential development in DTLA, the appeal of urban living plays a significant role. The presence of arts & culture – not just in museums and theatres, but in the public realm – is a key aspect of that appeal. So too is the opportunity to be surrounded by creative people engaged in creative activities. The urban lifestyle has drawn a wide range of creatives, professionals, and innovative businesses to the area, supercharged by a fast-growing residential community and complemented by robust offerings in arts & culture and sports & entertainment.

The most impressive evidence of Downtown’s cultural allure has been the rapid growth of its residential communities. What was once a place where many worked but few lived has become one of LA’s most sought-after residential areas thanks in great measure to the pioneering artists, art spaces, and cultural entities that demonstrated the appeal of the city’s urban center.

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Eighth & Grand

Beaudry

888 at Grand Hope Park

Perla

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ARTS & CULTURE SECTOR IMPACT

HOSPITALITY & TOURISM DTLA’s hospitality sector has experienced tremendous growth in recent years, with the number of hotel rooms doubling since 1999, and arts & culture has been both a major draw for visitors to the area and a key part of its identity and appeal. Unique cultural assets, alongside a rapidly evolving industry mix and a booming residential population, are attracting millions to not just visit, but stay in DTLA. Whether it is cultural tourists travelling for the museums and performances, sports fans coming for major spectator events, or conventioneers attending multi-day conferences, Downtown is rich with activity and experience for visitors from across the spectrum and around the world.

Omni

Westin Bonaventure

Hotel Figueroa

E-Central

LA Athletic Club

The Hoxton October, 2024 I DTLA Alliance

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ARTS & CULTURE SECTOR IMPACT

RETAIL & EXPERIENCES As DTLA has built its reputation as a cultural destination, unique, high-visibility retailers – from national brands to independents – have flocked to the Downtown scene, many with the goal of opening a signature location that leverages the area’s identity as an incubator of creativity.

Signature locations are more than shopping destinations. They serve as brand representatives in key markets that communicate and reinforce their cachet. As the Harvard Business Review describes, “when a company intentionally uses services as the stage, and goods as props, to engage individual customers in a way that creates a memorable event.”It is hardly surprising that brands seeking to create such experiences would choose to associate themselves with creative communities like those in DTLA. At the same time, Downtown is home to a variety of bespoke boutiques that reinforce the area’s unique character and authentic heritage. It is no surprise that many such retailers have chosen to locate in two areas defined by their connection to culture – Arts District and the Historic Downtown.

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The Bloc

FIGat7th

Grand Central Market

Santee Alley

DTLA Alliance I October, 2024

ARTS & CULTURE SECTOR IMPACT

DINING & NIGHTLIFE There is no better way to understand local and global cultures than through food, as culinary culture is both deeply primitive and bursting with new means of expression. Los Angeles has been hailed by GQ Magazine, Sharp Magazine, and the LA Times as “the most exciting food city in the world”, an evolution that is particularly pronounced in DTLA, which has gained its own recognition around the world for its eclectic culinary scene, boasting some of the top restaurants of Southern California.

However, DTLA’s “foodie” reputation also comes from its “street food” roots, with many of its current stars having launched their careers with a stall or food truck. The success of DTLA’s food scene comes in part from these young entrepreneurs who bring deep community engagement to their restaurants, bars, specialty shops, and coffee houses. In addition to serving an increasing demand for locally produced, wholesome foods, they are highlighting Downtown’s culture and culinary creativity on a national stage.

Bottega Louie

Perch

Wyman Bar

Level 8 October, 2024 I DTLA Alliance

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CONTACT US Nick Griffin, Executive Vice President (213) 416-7522 I ngriffin@downtownla.com Elan Shore, Director of Economic Development (213) 416-7518 I eshore@downtownla.com