The Music Center announced Jan. 19 that it received more than $1.5 million in grants designed to further its work in arts engagement programming, an important focus of the performing arts organization for more than 12 years.

The “Sleepless: The Music Center After Hours” event was developed during phase two of funding. (photo courtesy of The Music Center)

The James Irvine Foundation awarded The Music Center a three-year grant of $1.2 million as part of the final phase of the foundation’s New California Arts Fund (NCAF).

The Getty Foundation recently announced a new $300,000 grant that, together with a previous planning grant, brings the total to $365,000 to support The Music Center’s participation in Pacific Standard Time: LA/LA in fall 2017.

Funds from The James Irvine Foundation will help The Music Center create and optimize new and existing spaces for arts engagement on The Music Center campus; enhance its delivery of compelling, relevant arts experiences to continue to engage Los Angeles’ ethnically diverse young adult population; and build on the success of programming such as “Sleepless: The Music Center After Hours,” which was developed during the NCAF’s first phase.

“The Music Center is honored to be the recipient of these two prestigious grants, which acknowledge our commitment to delivering arts experiences that are reflective of and responsive to the communities we serve,” said Rachel Moore, president and CEO of The Music Center. “This funding makes it possible for us to provide even more access to arts experiences that reach across boundaries of age, race, ethnicity, gender and beyond with the goal of encouraging audiences to discover new cultures and build greater understanding for each other.

“With the help of The James Irvine Foundation and the Getty Foundation, The Music Center is poised to ensure the performing arts remain relevant in 21st century America and that our programming continues to reflect the world in which we live.”

“The James Irvine Foundation is pleased to continue its long-standing partnership with The Music Center and to help the organization sustain its vital work in arts engagement,” said Josephine Ramirez, portfolio director of The James Irvine Foundation.

She added that the grant supports the development of community programming and the organizational capacities necessary to help ensure arts engagement remains central to The Music Center’s role for the longterm.