My primary goal for the Los Angeles Art Association (LAAA) is to provide purposeful opportunities, exhibitions and programming that explicitly impact emerging artists. I'm proud that our unique status as a non-profit organization provides for flexibility and risk taking unrealized within the commercial gallery system. Mindful of the huge impact that emerging artists make to all aspects of our shared quality of life, LAAA knows that emerging artists, even the most non-traditional talents require access to a professional exhibition space and career support to expand and realize their singular artistic visions. This goal is clearly manifest in our 2008 programming.

LAAA believes that artists flourish and gain confidence in their skills as a direct result of their work being acknowledged and validated by the larger arts community and the greater Los Angeles population. Towards that end, our unique status in the art community posits the organization as a driver of innovative content in Los Angeles. We routinely serve the most exciting non-traditional emerging artists by increasing their expressive opportunities (through exhibitions and exposure) and allowing them to share their ideas and talents with the larger community. LAAA's 83 year imprimatur of credibility and service to emerging artists positions us to provide the kind of high profile exposure that these innovative artists deserve.

A healthy arts community (such as the one we promote) is one of the several necessities for an economically and culturally healthy city. LAAA believes that continuation and expansion of authentic artistic expression will continue to result in Los Angeles maintaining its position as a world-class art center. Through our work LAAA has helped to ignite the careers of many artists including disadvantaged and underrepresented artists. In helping artists fulfill their creative promise, we ensure the possibility of their larger contributions to our social fabric and economic vitality. The recent national study: "Investing in Creativity: A Study of Support Structure for U.S. Artists" reports that the vast majority of arts dollars go to museums, with little support to emerging artists. The successes and expanded services we provide to local artists and art advocates are impressive, but require constant support. Please call 310.652-8272 to hear more about how you can help sustain LAAA and local emerging artists — LAAA's robust high-impact, artist centered programming is deserving of your support.

Sincerely,

Peter Mays
Executive Director