400 artists and 80 arts organizations have received $2.7 million in total grants as part of a broad-based COVID-19 relief effort for the visual arts in the Los Angeles region, the J. Paul Getty Trust and the California Community Foundation announced this week.

"The arts are a source of expression, resistance, and healing,” said Joan Weinstein, director of the Getty Foundation in a statement. "But our creative artists and arts organizations, who do so much to advocate for social change, will not survive this pandemic and its economic fallout if we don’t take action now to support them."

Organizations that received aid include the A+D Architecture + Design Museum; the MAK Center for Art and Architecture, Los

Angeles; Inner City Arts; LAXART; the Los Angeles Conservancy; the Vincent Price Art Museum Foundation; and the Women's Center for Creative Work, among others

Many artists and arts organizations have struggled due to the economic impact of COVID-19. The more than $2 million in emergency relief grants awarded to the 80 visual arts nonprofits and museums will provide support to meet urgent financial needs over the next three months, including staff salaries, rent, and emergency supplies to comply with public health policies.

"We’re going to have to become semi-experts in how to manage spaces and arts experiences through a public health lens," said Betty Avila, executive director of the arts nonprofit Self Help Graphics & Art, which received an emergency grant.

The Relief Fund for L.A. County Visual Artists also provided grants of up to $2000 each to 400 local artists who work in all visual arts disciplines. When applying for the award, artists were asked to demonstrate their artistic practice through an online presentation of their work and to describe their financial needs.

"This crisis is a wake-up call to all Angelenos to support the organizations that provide access to the arts and the artists that inspire us to be resilient," said Antonia Hernández, president and CEO of the California Community Foundation in a statement. "The emergency grants will reach a wide array of arts nonprofits and dedicated artists, but more help is needed. The demand for funds was far greater than the supply. We welcome others to join us in this effort to ensure the arts continue contributing to the cultural vitality and wellness of our region for the benefit of all residents."