Brief

The Department of Cultural Affairs has submitted a grant application to the National Endowment for the Arts for a "Spirit of Sports" initiative that combines athletics and the arts to increase global awareness in Los Angeles. The application was referred May 20 to the Arts, Parks, Libraries, and Community Enrichment Committee and the Budget and Finance Committee for review and approval. The file remains pending in both committees.

Full summary

The Department of Cultural Affairs, led by General Manager Daniel Tarica, is seeking City Council approval to accept a $30,000 grant from the National Endowment for the Arts under its "Spirit of Sports" Chair's Extraordinary Action program. The NEA invited all 11 cities hosting 2026 FIFA World Cup games to apply for the funding, which is intended to support arts programming that celebrates American creativity and highlights local cultural traditions in connection with World Cup events. There is no City matching funds requirement. The grant would fund live performing arts programming — including dance, music, acrobatics, and cultural performance — at FIFA World Cup Watch Parties held at LA parks during June and July 2026. The Department of Cultural Affairs plans to partner with Council offices, the Mayor's Office of Major Events, and the Department of Recreation and Parks to produce these events. Each watch party site is envisioned as a cultural gathering space where audiences engage with the artistic and cultural traditions of the countries competing on the field, with a particular focus on reaching young people, families, and historically underrepresented artists. Because the NEA published its funding notice less than 61 days before the application deadline, City Administrative Code allowed DCA to apply without prior Council approval. The department is now seeking retroactive authorization to have submitted the application, along with authority to accept and spend the funds. The Council is asked to authorize a new appropriation account within the Cultural Affairs Grants fund, labeled "NEA FIFA FY25/26," to receive and disburse the $30,000. The file was referred on May 20, 2026, to the Arts, Parks, Libraries, and Community Enrichment Committee and the Budget and Finance Committee, where it remains pending. Given that the programming window is June through July 2026, the committees face time pressure to act if the grant funds are to be used as intended.

Activity (2)

• 2026-05-20 Department of Cultural Affairs document(s) referred to Arts, Parks, Libraries, and Community Enrichment Committee; Budget and Finance Committee.
• 2026-05-19 Document submitted by Department of Cultural Affairs, dated May 19, 2026.

Documents (1)

• 2026-05-19 Report from Department of Cultural Affairs · report