Upward Together took part in the State of the Arts Summit, convened by Arts for LA. This year’s theme, People, Power & Cultural Equity, asked how Los Angeles’s arts, culture, and entertainment sector can keep building power through advocacy, community organizing, and sustained work in a tightening funding climate.
Our founder, Sya Warfield, spoke in the session “Designing Meaningful Participation: How Creative Practice Builds Connection and Contribution.” It’s a theme at the heart of our work: arts experiences are most powerful when they connect people, build community, and support wellbeing.
Much of the day unfolded at shared tables under an open-air tent, where participants mapped the many roles that make up the arts ecosystem, from arts educators and designers to producers, administrators, and community organizers. Those conversations reflected the summit’s breakout format, led by leaders from across the community.
Thank you to Arts for LA for bringing this community together, and to every speaker and participant who shared ideas and kept the work of Los Angeles arts moving forward.
To learn more about Upward Together’s teaching artist residencies and programs, visit upwardtogether.art.
