The Department of Arts and Culture is utilizing a range of data sources to understand the full impact of the January 2025 wind and wildfires emergency. Our analysis shows the direct impacts experienced by artists, creative workers, and arts organizations and institutions located in or near the fire perimeters and evacuation zones. It also shows ripple effects through the arts ecology through indirect impacts experienced by those geographically distant from the fires.
This page will be updated periodically as information becomes available.
This page was last updated on 3.25.2025
Individual artists
32 percent of respondents are visual artists, 17 percent are musicians, and 15 percent are multidisciplinary. The rest include media arts (8 percent), theatre (6 percent), and design (6 percent) and seven other disciplines. On average, they have 24 years of experience working as artists, ranging from one year to more than 60.
Arts organizations
Of the arts organizations and institutions that have responded so far, half have headquarters locations in the City of Los Angeles and 20 percent in Pasadena.
Twenty-one of these organizations experienced physical damage from the winds and fires. Most were able to reopen at full capacity, but five of them were operating at reduced capacity and five were unable to provide any services at all.
This is not a complete report of all impact on the arts and culture community. Artists, creatives, arts organizations, and cultural institutions are continuing to respond to the surveys, and we will continue to keep them open for as long as needed.
On January 24, the Smithsonian Cultural Rescue Initiative published rapid reports that identified 189 cultural heritage sites potentially impacted by the Eaton Fire and 83 cultural heritage sites potentially impacted by the Palisades Fire. Each report includes a map of the sites at risk, and is available for download.
Other arts and culture organizations across LA County have been gathering information from their members. Their survey findings are helping us get a fuller picture of the impact of the wind and wildfires emergency. If you have survey findings you would like to share, please email research@arts.lacounty.gov.
Art Recovery LA launched the Los Angeles Cultural Heritage Fire Response Needs survey on January 23 to better understand conservation needs for local residents affected by the wildfires. Residents reported these five types of materials were most commonly damaged:
- Paintings
- Textiles or upholstery
- Furniture
- Works on paper
- Photographs
If your artworks or cherished belongings were damaged, there is still time to complete the survey.
For more information, read the full brief here.
Los Angeles Performance Practice surveyed artists in their network through their "Are You Okay?" initiative. They identified six key areas of need in the wake of the emergency:
- Basic necessities
- Housing and relocation
- Loss of income
- Mental health support
- Creative recovery
- Long-term stability
Read the full report
Theatre Commons LA surveyed theater companies across the county, and learned that
- Two theatres – Theatre Palisades and Public Display of Altadena – were completely destroyed
- Four theatres sustained some damage, including wind damage to Pasadena Playhouse and The Group Rep, and smoke damage to Lineage Performing Arts and Boston Court
- Ten theatres had to cancel shows
- 33 theatre community members across 16 companies have lost their homes
Read a one-page summary of their findings.
LA County Department of Public Works has released a map of Communities Affected by Los Angeles County Fires 2025.
The Los Angeles Conservancy is working with local partners to document and assess heritage sites affected by the fires. Their maps are not complete, but they are making them available and updating them as more information becomes available.
- Map of confirmed heritage losses due to the Eaton Fire
- Map of confirmed heritage losses due to the Palisades Fire
They also provide a list of preservation and design professionals and service providers who may offer discounted rates or pro bono services for those impacted by the wildfires.
For more information and resources, visit Recovery and Rebuilding After Historic L.A. Fires.
If you are looking for help to recover from the emergency, please visit our Recovery Resources page.