Mission Statement
Grand Performances presents free performing arts that reflect the best of global culture and inspire community among the diverse peoples of Los Angeles.
From the Executive Director
As Grand Performances enters it’s 24th season of presenting some of our city’s and the world’s finest performing artists, I am reminded that for over two decades Grand Performances has been serving as one of Los Angeles’ powerful cultural change agents.
In a city that is considered to be the diversity and creative capital of the world, Grand Performances plays a significant role unleashing cultural creativity to bridge the city's many diverse communities. Many of you already know that Grand Performances' evenings are magical, not only because of the free performances and the outside venue often attended by as many as 5000 people, but because it brings together the most diverse audience in America.
And you are proving, too, that Angelenos love gathering together. At a time when it is easy to stay home and enjoy great performances via iPods, the internet, television and rented DVDs, your attendance at our performances proves that people – often with entire families - want to share great cultural experiences with other people – friends and strangers. People like discovering not only what is on the stage but how others in this community respond to the art being presented.
Grand Performances plays a powerfully significant role for many communities when it presents artists of importance to those communities. People, particularly from recent immigrant communities, gain a strong sense of inclusion in the broader Los Angeles community when they see artists representing their culture on a stage known to serve the mainstream Los Angeles community. When people from different communities see their artists and see that people from many other Los Angeles communities care enough to attend their concerts, they gain a strong sense of cultural confirmation and inclusion in the broader community.
The current recession, the constantly changing demographics of our city, and growing realizations that arts and culture can play a significant role in civic life, make Grand Performances all the more important as a leader in the cultural life of our community. This is where you, our audience come in. Without your support in these times of tighter government arts budgets (less than 7 % of our budget), tighter private sector support and growing presentation expenses, we need you to join with your neighbors from throughout the city by contributing to our program. Our collective future as the Grand Performances community depends on it!
I look forward to seeing you often this summer,
Michael Alexander