‘Are You Okay?’ Artist Survey Findings

Methodology

LAPP surveyed 1,372 artists in our network through an outreach initiative titled ‘Are You Okay?’ to assess the impacts of wildfires on their well-being. The respondents, primarily contemporary performance makers from recent programs and a county-wide fellowship initiative, represent a community often overlooked in disaster relief efforts. As of February 2025, we have received 191 responses.

We have both lost thousands of expected dollars from work that fell through due to the fires, and each day we are uncertain where to go or what to do next.

Impacts Overview

The majority of surveyed artists have experienced significant disruptions due to the wildfires, affecting housing, finances, health, and professional livelihoods. Key challenges:

Housing + Displacement 

Loss of homes, studios, vehicles, and belongings; prolonged evacuations; long-term instability due to damage and contamination.

Financial Loss

Canceled gigs, closed venues, and lost income; unexpected expenses; destruction of essential tools and materials critical to creative work.

Health + Well-Being

Respiratory issues from poor air quality; emotional distress, grief, and trauma; exhaustion from ongoing crisis management—often compounded by preexisting challenges such as financial instability, housing insecurity, and healthcare barriers.

Artistic + Professional Disruptions 

Canceled or delayed projects, performances, and rehearsals; loss of workspace and materials; missed opportunities and career setbacks.

Community + Social Impact 

Loss of shared infrastructure, decreased arts event attendance, and redirected efforts to support displaced peers.

Broader Industry Impact 

Reduced freelance work, declining client engagement, and long-term strain on the creative ecosystem.

I lost a vehicle in the Eaton Fire

Severity

Artists rated the wildfire’s impact on a scale of 1 (low) to 5 (severe), with most selecting 5 or 3, reflecting widespread disruption and varying degrees of hardship. Many reported feeling “okay” only because their homes remained intact, while still facing significant challenges—financial strain, health complications, and work disruptions—that they were hesitant to acknowledge compared to peers who lost everything.

I had to evacuate for a week and I’ve been cleaning ash and wind debris for the last three days.

I can’t even pay rent this month […] I’m scrambling to find some type of work to not get evicted this month.

Key Areas of Need

Basic Necessities 

Food, groceries, medical expenses, utility bills, air purifiers, and masks.

Housing + Relocation 

Rent, temporary lodging, smoke damage cleanup, and support for those facing high housing costs or long-term displacement.

Loss of Income 

Financial aid for canceled work to bridge gaps for freelancers and gig workers.

Mental Health Support 

Therapy, counseling, and community resources to address stress, trauma, and grief

Creative Recovery

Funding to replace lost materials, tools, and equipment; support for studio rent; and project-based income opportunities.

Long-Term Stability 

Advocacy for affordable housing, investment in community infrastructure, universal basic income, and sustained financial support for rebuilding.

Please do what you can to support broader, more racially and economically diverse communities! Also please use your institutional pull to encourage wealthier patrons, investors, and supporters to match local community fundraising efforts.

Comments + Specific Needs

Artists expressed gratitude for outreach alongside urgent needs for financial, housing, and emotional support. Key concerns and suggestions include:

Mental + Emotional Health 

High levels of stress, anxiety, grief, and PTSD; calls for therapy, stress management, and tailored mental health resources.

Advocacy + Structural Concerns

Rising rents and displacement risks; demands for tenant protections, affordable housing, and sustainable building practices; concerns about inadequate government responses.

Support for Vulnerable Communities

Priority aid for those who lost homes or belongings; equitable relief for marginalized groups; streamlined grant applications and direct cash assistance.

Creative + Professional Needs

Frustration with delayed relief and career disruptions; calls for work opportunities, commissions, and targeted support for performance makers and non-visual artists.

Community + Collaboration

Gratitude for collective efforts; emphasis on rebuilding the arts community through collaborative advocacy and support.

Immediate + Long-Term Recovery 

Recognition that recovery will take years; calls for bridging gaps between immediate crowdfunding and slow-moving institutional aid.

Key Themes

Artists emphasized the need for both immediate assistance and sustained recovery strategies, including systemic changes to address housing, healthcare, and creative infrastructure vulnerabilities. Emotional support and rebuilding community connections were also deemed critical.

I lost my home, my rehearsal space and my safe connection to the Land and Animals I cultivated over time. Everything has been burned and will not be the same. I had to leave Altadena and relocate and am starting over.

Red-tail’s home burned down in Altadena. They are emblematic of the artists from our programs. They began with dance residencies as part of our RESEARCH + DEVELOPMENT  program in 2017 and then again in 2021. They followed with Dance for the Hawks: Observing & Dancing in Nature, a WORKSHOP they led. Most recently Red-tail participated in our ACCELERATOR program to resource an ensemble dance performance at REDCAT. Red-tail was undergoing cancer treatment when the Eaton fire hit.

Identified Gaps in Available Funding

Despite efforts like CCI’s LA Arts Community Fire Relief Fund, many artists remain without adequate support due to structural limitations in efforts. Key gaps include:

Artists Affected by Fires Without “Qualified Disaster” Status

Wildfires such as Bert, Hurst, Lidia, Sunset, Sunswept, Kenneth, and Hughes were not federally recognized as “qualified disasters,” making impacted artists ineligible for many emergency funding programs.

Displacement Due to Health Vulnerabilities

Artists outside mandatory evacuation zones were forced to leave due to chronic health conditions (e.g., asthma, respiratory issues) but do not qualify for official relief programs.

Missed Deadlines for Relief Grants

Artists who missed the February 18th deadline for the CCI Wildfire Relief Fund or the January deadline for the Grief and Hope GoFundMe effort remain in urgent need of assistance.

Gaps in Rent Assistance

Many artists face financial shortfalls for April rent and beyond, especially those reliant on gig-based income, which was disrupted by the fires. With CCI’s fund likely administered by March, there is concern about ongoing support beyond that timeframe.

Expenses Not Covered by FEMA or Insurance

Essential costs such as temporary housing, transportation, lost materials, smoke damage cleanup, and medical bills often fall outside FEMA and insurance coverage, leaving artists without critical aid.

Freelance + Gig Workers Excluded from Relief

Arts workers who were not under an active contract as of January 7th—including those whose contracts ended just before the fires but had new work lined up—were deemed ineligible for relief despite experiencing significant income loss.

Conclusion

These funding gaps highlight the urgent need for LAPP’s BRIDGE THE GAPS — Wildfire For L.A. Artists Initiative to support a broader range of artists affected by wildfires.

About Los Angeles Performance Practice

Los Angeles Performance Practice is a non-profit organization devoted to the production and presentation of contemporary performance by artists whose work advances and challenges multi-disciplinary artistic practices. Our mission is to support a unique and diverse constellation of artists and audiences through the active creation and presentation of groundbreaking experiences that use innovative approaches to collaboration, technology and social engagement. Anchored in Los Angeles, our artists and projects have national and global reach. Across a range of platforms and partnerships, we build an active network of contemporary practitioners—curators and producers, artists and designers, audiences and patrons—all leveraged in service to the ideas and issues of our time.

Staff + Board