la forum history

Founded in January of 1987, the Forum plays a vital role in Los Angeles by initiating and supporting events, publications, and symposia in this city and beyond.

The Forum has produced lecture series, special events, a theory reading group, a quarterly newsletter, nine pamphlet-sized books, and initiated a number of book projects published with major presses.

The Forum has received financial support from the National Endowment for the Arts, the Graham Foundation for Advanced Studies in the Fine Arts, the California Arts Council, the Los Angeles County Music and Performing Arts Commission, the Los Angeles Cultural Affairs Department, and from many members over the years.

lecture series and symposia

The Forum's lectures series include Moving Targets, Fake Estate, Natural Productions, Out There Doing It, and Slippery When Wet. [details]

design competitions

The Forum's design competitions include Civic Innovations and the NEA-funded Dead Malls [details]

special events

The Forum's special events include visits to the top of city hall and freeway overpasses, a theory reading group, fax-in projects, debates, provocations, and collaborations with other communit groups particularly in the wake of the 1992 uprisings. [details]

publications

The Forum's publications include Craig Hodgett's Swimming to Suburbia, Douglas R. Suisman's Los Angeles Boulevard: Eight X-Rays of the Body Public, Experimental Architecture in Los Angeles, Everyday Urbanism, Wrapper, the Forum Newsletter, and Forum Issue. [details]

co-sponsorship

The Forum has a long history of cosponsoring events with other organizations. [details]