11.5 “1% for Arts” Program

Revised on 03-11-2025

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PURPOSE

The purpose of this section is to help the Project Manager comply with the “1% for Arts” program contained in the City of Los Angeles’ Administrative Code.

REFERENCES

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RESPONSIBILITIES

  • Project Manager (PM): It is the responsibility of the PM to ensure that the project complies with the applicable code sections. The PM should use the expertise of the project team to assist in this. 

  • Project Engineer (PE): On large or complex projects the PM may bring in a PE to assist the PM with his/her responsibilities.

PROCEDURE 

The City of Los Angeles’ Administrative Code Section 19.85 requires that 1% of the construction budget for City buildings must be set aside for artistic and cultural amenities, facilities, or services. In the Municipal Facilities Program, the customary practice is to use the 1% by incorporating artwork into the project design. In other programs where the building will not be seen by the public, such as a maintenance facility within a sewage treatment plant, the 1% can be transferred to the Cultural Affairs Commission for their handling and use. The decision will largely rest on what is considered the best use of the money, what achieves the greatest cultural benefit, what approach reaches the most people, and so on. Section 22.118 also requires most private commercial and industrial developments over $500,000 in value, to include an artistic component equal to or greater than 1% of its construction budget or 1% of the project cost be given to the City’s Cultural Affairs Commission.

Upon the determination by the PE, designer, or project design team that the project requires an art component, it should be included in the submittal to the Cultural Affairs Commission. If there is any question regarding the art component of a project, the PM should contact the PE, designer, or project design team and the Program Manager directly.

If the project is required to invest a percentage of the construction budget in art or art amenities, and the art component is intended to be on site, it should be treated as an integral part of the overall design rather than unrelated objects. The art component should be art developed by an artist and not just a part of the architecture. This does not mean that the art cannot be part of the architectural plan.

RELATED PROCEDURES

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LINKS / ATTACHMENTS

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Attachments

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