Council approves Getty Foundation grant to fund 2024–25 undergraduate internships in Department of Cultural Affairs

At a special meeting, the Los Angeles City Council approved acceptance of a Getty Foundation grant to support the Getty Undergraduate Internship program for 2024–25 in the Department of Cultural Affairs.

The grant, presented to the council by Lisa Davis, the artistic director of the Department of Cultural Affairs, will fund paid internships aimed at undergraduate students who live, study, or work in the county and is open to applicants from all backgrounds, with outreach focused on students underrepresented in the arts. "Esta es una oportunidad... La elegibilidad es para todos los que están haciendo licenciatura que residen o atienden las universidades del condado," Davis said.

The program will place interns with the Los Angeles Municipal Gallery and other city partners. Davis told the council that hires funded by the Getty grant will be engaged as temporary employees under the city's classification system and that the department will carry out standard application, interview and hiring steps. "La aplicación llegan al supervisor, que es el curador, Hugo Cervantes, y todas las solicitudes llegan a él. Él va a ir por el proceso normal... entrevistas y luego contratación," she said.

Councilmembers asked about the dollar amount and how the funds would be applied. Davis said the grant funding comes from the Getty Foundation and that the interns will be hired as temporary employees, but she did not confirm a precise dollar allocation to individual interns. A question from the dais referenced "siete mil novecientos" (about $7,900) but the council record on the floor did not resolve whether that amount refers to per-intern support, a portion of staff time, or another line item. The transcript records the funding amount as unclear.

Votes at a glance: the council approved acceptance of the Getty Foundation internship grant (agenda item 4) on a recorded roll call with Councilmember Jurado voting yes, Councilmember Hernández voting yes and Councilmember La Sagan absent; items 1, 3 and 5 were taken and approved by consent earlier in the meeting.

The Department of Cultural Affairs said it will publicize the internship through the city personnel channels, the department and gallery websites, Getty internship listings and social media, and Davis noted she would also share opportunities through her personal networks to broaden outreach. The council did not set additional conditions or amendments on the grant acceptance during the meeting.

The council then adjourned the special meeting.