For decades, the revival of downtown Los Angeles has been replete with ambitious arts projects. Whether it is the construction of the midcentury modern Music Center in 1964 or Frank Gehry’s iconic Walt Disney Concert Hall in 2003, art in LA has been a consistent focus, transforming the city’s urban core into a vibrant cultural hub.
During the pandemic, downtown Los Angeles was dealt a heavy blow, similar to other major centers nationwide. Office vacancy rates surged to 25%, countless storefronts were vacant, and cultural institutions struggled to regain footing. Bustling streets became reflections of thwarted ambitions with the graffiti-covered skyscrapers and the darkened lights of the new Sixth Street Viaduct, where copper wire thefts symbolized the challenges the region was facing.
Amidst these struggles, a significant vote of confidence in the downtown area’s cultural future came as a ray of hope. The Broad, a contemporary art museum that opened across the street from Disney Hall in 2015, announced a $100 million expansion. This welcoming step highlighted the vision of its late founder, Eli Broad, who was instrumental in transforming Grand Avenue into the cultural epicenter of Los Angeles. Eli Broad passed away in 2021, leaving behind a legacy of belief in the power of the arts that became the city’s identity.
“As Eli said — and he said this when really almost no one agreed with him — downtown LA is the center and this region needs a cultural center,” remarked Joanne Heyler, the founding director and chief curator of the Broad. The museum’s attendance has increased to pre-pandemic levels now, showing how Broad’s vision continues to resonate with Angelenos and visitors alike.
Despite the success of the Broad, other downtown cultural institutions faced significant challenges during the onset of the pandemic. The Los Angeles Philharmonic has returned to nearly 89% of its pre-pandemic attendance, however, the Center Theater Group has not been so fortunate. Financial difficulties suspended productions at the Mark Taper Forum, one of the group’s three stages, as they have struggled to attract audiences to downtown venues.
The difficulties faced by these institutions are just a part of a bigger challenge for downtown Los Angeles. As office vacancy rates are growing and hotel occupancy rates are dropping, the area is becoming “hollowed out,” as described by Christopher Koelsch, president and CEO of the Los Angeles Opera. While the opera has seen an improvement in attendance that reached 75% capacity this season, it still fails to meet the pre-pandemic levels.
Traffic congestion and safety concerns have also complicated the efforts to draw audiences. Some galleries and arts organizations have expanded into other areas with the hope of meeting audiences where they are. Hauser & Wirth and François Ghebaly, both prominent galleries downtown, recently opened new spaces in West Hollywood. While these expansions have brought convenience and accessibility to collectors, gallery owners insist on not abandoning downtown LA.
Despite these challenges, some signs of progress can be seen. The Grand LA development, designed by Gehry, was recently completed across from Disney Hall. It aims to bring the lost glory back into the area with its mix of restaurants, shops, a hotel, and residences. However, the LA Grand Hotel, located a few blocks away has now turned into a shelter for the homeless.
Government officials are already making efforts to revive downtown LA. Governor Gavin Newsom recently announced plans to expedite the construction of the $2 billion Fourth & Central development, billing it as “the New Gateway to DTLA.” Karen Bass, Mayor of Los Angeles, is attempting to address the city’s homeless crisis while the City Council has approved nearly $4 million to remove graffiti from abandoned skyscrapers and restore the buildings.
Arts administrators are still optimistic about downtown LA’s future. The Mark Taper Forum is offering some programming and the Los Angeles Tourism Board has launched its largest ad campaign so far, focused on the city’s arts and culture scene. The Colburn School for Music and dance has also come up with a Gehry-designed expansion to its downtown campus, supporting the arts scene of Los Angeles.
As downtown Los Angeles struggles to recover from the aftermath of the pandemic, the arts continue to be its identity. The resilience and creativity of the city’s cultural institutions are working to revive downtown as a cultural hub for the city.
