COMMUNITY PARTNERS AND MAYOR'S OFFICE ANNOUNCE CREATIVE LA INITIATIVE

Los Angeles, CA ? Tuesday, February 27, 2007 ? Town Hall Los Angeles President, Jon Goodman, will be one of several community partners to announce the Creative LA^SM initiative Wednesday morning, February 28, 2007 at the Getty Center's Museum Lecture Hall. Speakers include The Honorable Antonio Villaraigosa, Mayor of the City of Los Angeles; Los Angeles Architect, Frank Gehry; and Deborah Marrow, Director of the Getty Foundation.

Creative LA began as a public/private collaboration of entities involved in the creative industries of our region. The purpose of Creative LA is to celebrate the power of the imagination that transforms into tangible economic benefits for our region. Rather than defining creativity solely along the lines of the entertainment industry, Creative LA encompasses the worlds of art, design, science, biomedicine, aerospace, as well as entertainment.

When awards season winds down and fashion/design season ramps up, the world's focus is on Los Angeles. Therefore, Creative LA participants declare March "Creative LA" month. The announcement heralds the first year of an annual campaign designed to generate data that showcases Los Angeles as the creative capital of the world. Figures from the Los Angeles County Economic Development Corporation (LAEDC) indicate there are approximately 452,000 jobs in LA County as a result of the creative and scientific sectors; state revenues generated in these industries account for $4 billion annually, and tourism in LA County - a byproduct of these industries ? provides for 264,000 jobs and $13.5 billion in revenues for the county. Also available at the press conference is Chief Economist of the LAEDC, Jack Kyser.

Going forward, Creative LA affiliates will continue to collaborate on the coordination of calendars, sharing data and devising a strategy to inform Angelenos, Congress and the media about the strengths of our region.

Partners in Creative LA include: Art Center College of Design, CalArts, City of Los Angeles, Department of Cultural Affairs, Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising, the Getty Foundation, Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce, Los Angeles County Arts Commission, Los Angeles County Economic Development Corporation, Los Angeles Times Public Affairs, M&C Saatchi, NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Otis College of Art & Design, Paine PR, Sony Pictures, Town Hall Los Angeles, UCLA and USC.

Town Hall's mission is to encourage civic pride, participation, and awareness. Town Hall's first Creative LA event for March is a conversation on how the arts enhance civic engagement with National Endowment for the Arts Chairman, Dana Gioia, and award-winning actor, Annette Bening.

With its 70-year history of nonpartisanship and regional focus, Town Hall Los Angeles is coordinating efforts for participants. To become a part of the initiative, please contact Chamara Russo, Vice President of Marketing for Town Hall at 213.312.9460 or [email protected].

When: Wednesday, February 28, 2007, 10:00 ? 10:45 AM Press Conference, 10:45 ? 11:00 AM One-on-one Interviews

Where: The Getty Center, Museum Lecture Hall, 1200 Getty Center Drive, Los Angeles, CA? 90049

All members of the media are invited to cover this event. RSVP by Tuesday, February 27 at 4:00 PM. Contact Deborah Weinberg at Town Hall Los Angeles 213.312.9307 or [email protected].