Both AHJN and Bradford will be celebrated at the annual Getty Prize dinner on May 13, 2024, at the Getty Center in Los Angeles.
“AHJN is an extraordinary organization whose efforts directly impact change within the juvenile justice system,” says Mark Bradford. “With the Getty Prize, I am proud to support the important work AHJN is doing to transform young people’s lives through the power of arts education and look forward to seeing everything they will be able to accomplish as a result of this generous grant.”
Founded in 2012 and formerly called Arts for Incarcerated Youth Network, AHJN’s mission is to provide alternatives to incarceration, build resiliency and wellness, increase community health, eliminate recidivism, and center arts as a change strategy for young people, communities, and systems. From artworxLA to Versa Style Dance Co., AHJN works with several community-based arts education organizations that serve system-impacted youth in Los Angeles County. AHJN’s collaborative model ensures a continuum of interdisciplinary support and engagement for youth served, leading to rich programming, improved outcomes for youth, and more efficient re-directing of public dollars to community in a more equitable way.
“AHJN has proven that we are stronger together. Our members come to the table with a shared core value of collaboration—and a shared north star of supporting young people while leveraging our collective power to dismantle harmful systems,” says Elida Ledesma, executive director for Arts for Healing and Justice Network. “This award will allow us to strengthen our infrastructure, give us the capacity to continue and deepen our work, and enhance our ability to continue supporting the work of our members.”
Established in 2013 and formerly called the “Getty Medal,” the Getty Prize is the institution’s highest honor and recognizes leaders in the cultural fields whose work expands human understanding and appreciation of arts and culture. Starting with this iteration, the Getty Prize is awarded to a single person who can then recognize the work of a non-profit with a $500,000 grant from Getty. Nominations are reviewed and awardees determined by the Getty Trust Board of Trustees.
Past awardees include Frank Gehry, Ellsworth Kelly, Ed Ruscha, Lorna Simpson, Agnes Gund, Yo-Yo Ma, Kwame Anthony Appiah, Richard Serra, and more. The first recipients were Harold M. Williams and Nancy Englander, who were recognized for their leadership in creating Getty as it exists today.