Let Chicago’s loss be Los Angeles’ gain, in particular South LA’s gain.
Earlier this year, Chicago snubbed the opportunity to become the home of the future Lucas Museum of Narrative Art, forcing the prolific movie director George Lucas and his wife Mellody Hobson to consider other locations, namely, Treasure Island in the Bay Area and Exposition Park in South LA.
Lucas and Hobson, as well as their museum board of directors and staff, have met with numerous elected officials, park representatives, and University of Southern California leadership to explore the possibility of locating their museum in South LA. They also met with leaders of various community-serving agencies, many of them members of the newly formed South Los Angeles Transit Empowerment Zone (SLATE-Z) – a federally designated Promise Zone anchored by Los Angeles Trade Tech (LATTC).
Most recently, the SLATE-Z coalition joined the LA City Council and the LA County Board of Supervisors in publically expressing their support for Lucas and Hobson to locate their museum at Exposition Park. The coalition has submitted a petition that includes more than 23 leaders’ signatures of endorsement. According to LATTC President Larry Frank, “The SLATE-Z coalition is enthusiastic about the potential of the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art to do good in our South LA community. We stand ready to partner with the museum and local community residents to ensure its success for all Los Angeles.”
The petition cites the potential of the museum to be a transit-friendly, community-oriented multi-billion dollar investment in South LA that will not only create an accessible place for residents and visitors to enjoy the vast collections of art in all forms but that will benefit children and families in the surrounding communities. The members look favorably on construction and operations of the museum that will generate economic opportunity through the potential of local hire agreements on temporary and permanent jobs. They also note that the proposed facility will carefully balance the construction of a modern museum, significant green space within and outside of the museum, and the conversion of two asphalt parking lots into 600 additional parking spaces underground. The museum would also add to the educational programming for LA children and youth – particularly those who attend the more than 100 elementary, middle, and high schools in the South Los Angeles Transit Empowerment Zone. Furthermore, the Lucas Museum is committed to providing opportunities and pathways for young people to pursue careers in art, design, film-making, and technology.
Nolan Rollins, President of the Los Angeles Urban League says, “Combined, the proposed museum would offer benefits with inestimable positive effects and value to the lives of residents – the most significant assets in South Los Angeles – and further elevate Exposition Park as the nucleus of culture, art, history, and science for the broader LA community.”
Lucas commissioned two sets of design plans by architect Ma Yangson in October. The museum represents a possible investment in excess of $1 billion when accounting for just the construction of the facility and the endowment. A decision is expected on which of the two locations will be selected in the coming weeks.
Below is a letter and the list of 23 stakeholders and leaders serving South Los Angeles residents that support the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art locating in South Los Angeles’ Exposition Park.
As a stakeholder and leader serving South Los Angeles residents, I support the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art locating in South Los Angeles’ Exposition Park.
The proposed Lucas Museum is a transit-friendly, community-oriented philanthropic investment in South LA that will not only create an accessible place for residents and visitors to enjoy the vast collections of art in all forms, but will also benefit children and families in the surrounding communities. The construction and operations of the museum will generate economic opportunity through potential local hire agreements on temporary and permanent jobs; provide meaningful gathering spaces in and outside the museum with the conversion of two asphalt parking lots into six acres of accessible green space; and add 600 additional parking spaces underground. As with other nearby museums, the proposed project will add educational programming for children and youth – particularly those that attend the more than 100 elementary, middle, and high schools in the South Los Angeles Transit Empowerment Zone (SLATE-Z), a federally designated Promise Zone in which Exposition Park is located. Furthermore, the Lucas Museum is committed to providing opportunities and pathways for young people to pursue careers in art, design, film-making, and technology. Combined, these benefits would have inestimable effects and add value to the lives of residents – the most significant assets in South Los Angeles – and further elevate Exposition Park as the nucleus of culture, art, history, and science for the broader LA community.
We are enthusiastic about the potential of the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art to do good in our South LA community. Those undersigned stand ready to partner with it to ensure its success for all Los Angeles.
Jonathan Zeichner, Executive Director, A Place Called Home
Charisse Bremond-Weaver, President & CEO, Brotherhood Crusade
Benjamin Torres, President & CEO, CDTech
Kimberly Ramsey, Interim President / CEO, Community Build, Inc.
Alberto Retana, President & CEO, Community Coalition
Paul Vandeventer, President & CEO, Community Partners
Keshia Sexton, Director of Organizing, LA Neighborhood Land Trust
Veronica Melvin, President & CEO, LA Promise Fund
Gary Toebben, President / CEO, Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce
Tamika Butler, Executive Director, Los Angeles County Bicycle Coalition
Veronica Hahni, Executive Director, Los Angeles Neighborhood Initiative
Larry Frank, President, Los Angeles Trade Technical College
Jill Lewis, Assistant Professor, Los Angeles Trade Technical College
Nolan V. Rollins, President / CEO, Los Angeles Urban League
Beth Steckler, Deputy Director, Move LA
Derrick Mims, District Director, Office of Assemblymember Reggie Jones-Sawyer
Anne Tremblay, Director, Gang Reduction & Youth Development, Office of Mayor Eric Garcetti
Cynthia Strathmann, Executive Director, SAJE
Nathan Arias, President & CEO, Soledad Enrichment Action, Inc.
Heddy Nam, Director, South Los Angeles Transit Empowerment Zone
Faye Washington, President & CEO, YWCA of Greater Los Angeles
Cynthia Heard, Vice President of Business Development & Communications, YWCA of Greater Los Angeles
Caroline Cho, Independent Consultant
