This is a massive cultural initiative that transforms Los Angeles and its surrounding areas into a single, sprawling art platform. The event unites dozens of museums, galleries, and cultural institutions, offering residents and visitors an extensive program of exhibitions, performances, lectures, and educational projects. Read more at los-angeles.pro.
History of the Project
Pacific Standard Time (PST) first took place in 2011 as a large-scale series of exhibitions exploring the history of Southern California’s art scene from 1945 to 1980. The goal was to recover and preserve the region’s cultural memory, showing that Los Angeles and its neighboring cities played a significant role in shaping modern art.
The initiative was spearheaded and primarily organized by The Getty Foundation, one of the world’s most influential cultural institutions. The foundation not only funded research and restoration work but also supported the preparation of over 60 exhibitions that opened simultaneously in museums and galleries across Southern California. It was an unprecedented instance of so many cultural institutions working in sync on a single theme.
The success of the first PST cycle was astounding. The event was attended by hundreds of thousands of people, and the press dubbed it a “cultural earthquake” that firmly cemented Los Angeles on the map of global art centers.
Since then, Pacific Standard Time has become a recurring initiative, with each cycle having its own unique concept and research focus. For example:
- PST: LA/LA (2017) – Focused on the interaction between Latin American and Latino art and the culture of Los Angeles.
- PST: Art x Science x L.A. – Dedicated to the intersection of art, science, and technology, exploring how artists engage with the latest discoveries and global challenges.
The core idea of Pacific Standard Time is not just to display artworks, but to reveal the cultural, historical, and social context in which they were created. It’s a dialogue between the past and the present, between local stories and global processes, and between art and society.
What Can You See?
Pacific Standard Time isn’t a single exhibition in one museum; it’s a large-scale cultural marathon spanning all of Southern California. For several months, the city and its surroundings transform into a unified art arena where dozens of events take place daily:
- Exhibitions at major Los Angeles museums: Institutions like LACMA, MOCA, The Getty Center, and the Hammer Museum present large-scale exhibitions featuring painting, sculpture, photography, video art, and installations. These are often unique projects prepared specifically for PST, with works that were previously held in archives and not shown to the public.
- Exhibitions in independent and intimate galleries: These provide an opportunity to discover new names or learn about lesser-known periods in the region’s art history. For example, you might stumble upon an exhibition dedicated to émigré artists of the 1960s or projects by artists working at the intersection of art and activism.
- Street performances and installations: PST actively moves beyond traditional exhibition halls, turning the urban landscape into an open-air gallery. Giant light installations on building facades, temporary sculptures in parks, and live theatrical scenes right on the streets all become part of the city’s daily life.
- Discussions and public lectures: The program includes meetings with artists, curators, art historians, and scientists who explain how the exhibits were created, the context in which they emerged, and what they mean today. These events often take the form of open dialogues where visitors can ask questions and participate in the discussion.
Impact on the City’s Cultural Life
Pacific Standard Time has become one of the most powerful drivers of Los Angeles’s cultural transformation. While the global community once viewed the city primarily as the capital of the film and entertainment industry, PST has solidified its position as one of the major contemporary art hubs.
The scale and diversity of the program have changed the city’s cultural landscape:
- Increased attention for local artists: PST provides an equal stage for both established figures and emerging authors whose work might have previously been overlooked by major institutions. This stimulates the local creative ecosystem and fosters a new wave of projects.
- Audience expansion: The festival attracts not only art aficionados but also people who rarely visit galleries and museums. Interactive VR projects, street installations, and light shows make art accessible and exciting for a broad audience, including young people and tourists.
- Economic impact: An influx of visitors from other cities and countries boosts the hotel, restaurant, and tourism industries. Experts estimate that during PST, hotel occupancy rates rise and revenue from cultural tourism increases.
- Strengthening international ties: The project involves curators, artists, and researchers from around the world, which promotes cultural exchange and integrates Los Angeles into the global art discourse.
Who Attends the Event?
Pacific Standard Time is an event that goes beyond the scope of a typical art festival, combining exhibitions, performances, lectures, interactive projects, and even street installations. Therefore, it appeals to a diverse range of visitors:
- Lovers of modern and classic art: Here you can see works by global art stars alongside exhibitions of emerging artists, as well as discoveries dedicated to the region’s historical cultural phenomena.
- Students and cultural researchers: PST offers rich material for study, from artist lectures and public discussions to access to archives and special educational programs created in partnership with universities.
- Tourists who want to discover the artistic side of Los Angeles: Renowned museums, independent galleries, and art spaces offer unique itineraries that allow you to see the city through a creative lens.
- Artists and creative professionals: Exhibitions and workshops can be a source of new ideas, while numerous networking events help establish valuable professional contacts.
- Families with children: Many locations offer kids’ zones, interactive workshops, and scavenger hunts, making art interesting and accessible even for the youngest visitors.
Pacific Standard Time is held every few years and lasts for several months, transforming Los Angeles and all of Southern California into a single artistic hub. Its scope is massive—over 70 cultural institutions participate, including world-class museums, private galleries, university centers, and experimental art spaces. Events take place not only in Los Angeles but also in San Diego, Palm Springs, Santa Barbara, and other cities in the region. A significant portion of the exhibitions, performances, and lectures are free to the public, while others are accessible with standard museum admission, making art available to a wide audience. The festival typically runs for three to six months, so visitors can plan their trips in advance and have time to see as much as possible. PST attracts tourists and journalists from around the world, enhancing Los Angeles’s international image as the cultural capital of the U.S. West Coast.