LA Museums Launches $12M Fire Emergency Fund; The Felix Art Fair is still active

As the wildfires in Los Angeles approach 50 percent containment, the city is beginning to look at the devastation that took place last week – 180,000 people were forced to evacuate, twenty-four lives were lost and entire communities were left in ruins. In response, the city's major museums immediately launched a $12 million emergency relief fund to support artists and cultural workers affected by the disaster. The LA Arts Community Fire Relief Fund, managed by the Center for Cultural Innovation—a San Francisco-based nonprofit organization focused on financial security for artists—has seen a flurry of donations. The Getty led the charge with a major donation, forming the backbone of the fund alongside the Mohn Art Collective (a partnership between the Hammer, LACMA and MOCA). The momentum didn't stop there; Major private foundations and institutions across the US and beyond—including the Mellon Foundation, the Helen Frankenthaler Foundation, the Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts, the Qatar Museums and the Ford Foundation—quickly followed suit, pushing the highest fund total.

“LA is a vibrant culture in the arts—we don't want it to be put down, we don't want artists who have lost things to get up and leave, and we don't want people to forget about them,” he said. Katherine E. Fleming, chief executive officer of J. Paul Getty Trust, in a statement. The urgency of the situation also spurred action in the commercial sector, with heavyweight galleries such as Hauser & Wirth and Gagosian announcing their contributions to the relief effort.

Meanwhile, Frieze has joined, although uncertainty still clouds the fate of its Los Angeles show, which is scheduled to take place in just two weeks. With people dead and many survivors losing everything and being displaced, the question remains: is it foolish—so obvious—to continue an art exhibition under these conditions? Even if editors push ahead, who would really be in a position to buy art? And given that Santa Monica, the site of the fair, sits on the edge of this apocalyptic landscape, would collectors from outside of LA even be willing to make the trip?

While Frieze's America director Christine Messineo was remarkably quiet, the store's satellite show Felix spoke freely. During an online conference organized by the Gallery Association Los Angeles, Felix confirmed that it will continue as planned – as did Chris Sharp, the founder of both the replicas of the anonymous gallery and the new exhibition that has just been launched, the Santa Monica Post Office. The three-day event, which will take place near Frieze's location at the Santa Monica Airport, aims to provide an additional platform for galleries during this crisis.

“I believe that the LA arts community has proven itself to be incredibly organized and resilient. Now more than ever, it needs to come together and prove itself. “Postponing or canceling the upcoming art week and related exhibitions will exacerbate the economic hardship caused by the fires,” Sharp told the Observer. “In addition to contributing to many fundraisers, the arts community as a whole can and most importantly come out to LA and actively support them in these difficult times.” It is reported that Messineo was present at the call but chose not to make a public statement.

BREAKFUT: Counting the Devastation: Calculating the Impact of the 2025 Wildfires on LA Artists

“We are committed to moving forward with Felix Art Fair and look forward to welcoming the art community to Los Angeles next February,” the fair announced in an Instagram post today. “As citizens, we understand the deep impact of last week's wildfires. The decision to move forward with the exhibition was based on many conversations with artists, galleries, collectors, curators and institutions—inside and outside of Southern California.” The post also emphasized the fair's role in “amplifying the voices of local and international artists and galleries that make up our cultural fabric,” while emphasizing Los Angeles' resilience as an important cultural and economic hub for the art world. “The community is united quickly as we collect funds and provide assistance where assistance is needed while maintaining a normal situation in the unaffected areas. With this same energy and determination, we are deeply committed to maintaining the health and stability of the arts ecosystem.”

The 2025 edition of the Felix Art Fair is expected to host sixty-four exhibitors at the famous Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel, which has spent the past week providing temporary accommodation to those fleeing the fires.

Major galleries such as David Kordansky and Lisson voiced their support for Felix's decision, joined by many local retailers who believe moving forward with the city's art week is not only important to the industry but also a sign against the continued disruption of LA's cultural fabric. Echoing this sentiment, Nicodim Gallery director Ben Lee, commenting on Artnet, likened this period to post-9/11 New York where the Yankees played, proving that the city is still open for business. Speaking to the Observer, he added, “Most of the art community here is back to work, even those who have lost everything. Los Angeles continues to be one of the best places in the world, especially in the winter. No one helps the other by staying away. Let's work together and showcase our artists in this beautiful city.”

There's an undeniable drive to get back to normal and keep the art business moving, but concerns remain. Rebuilding will take time, and air quality problems may not be resolved for several weeks. The Dealers Observer spoke to at the New York opening this week – most of whom had planned to exhibit at Frieze next month – were very skeptical. For them, going ahead with a major trade show because of widespread losses is not just a question of sensitivity; it is a financial risk. If collectors pull out, the event could be a fiasco, deepening the struggles of galleries already emerging from a difficult year.

Regardless of Frieze's final decision, the Felix Art Fair, the Santa Monica Post Office and dozens of local galleries seem determined to move forward, ensuring that LA will still have its art week. Whether Frieze follows suit—and how he might plan to balance success with respect for affected communities—remains to be seen.

UPDATE, January 17, 5 pm ET: Frieze has announced its 2025 LA show will go ahead as planned

In an email, the fair announced that “after careful consideration and extensive discussions with galleries, partners, and stakeholders throughout the city, we can confirm that the sixth edition of Frieze Los Angeles will go ahead from February 20-23, 2025.”