The next edition of Getty Foundation’s PST ART initiative will examine cultural exchanges between Los Angeles and the wider Pacific Rim. The program will unfold across institutions throughout Southern California, with exhibitions scheduled to open in September 2030.
Meanwhile, planning for the fourth edition has already begun under the leadership of Justine Ludwig, who became the initiative’s inaugural creative director last October. Even before formally starting the role, Ludwig consulted artists, curators and institutional leaders across Los Angeles to gather feedback on future directions.
According to Ludwig, those discussions repeatedly highlighted the importance of examining transpacific cultural exchange. “All of our conversations were pointing to this as being the right time to address transpacific exchange and thinking about how the larger Pacific Rim has really been integral in forming culture in Southern California.”
She also emphasized the initiative’s broader intellectual framework. “A core tenant of PST since its founding has been, how do we reorient art history? How do we look at opportunities to shift the canon and think from a different perspective and more expansively?”
Historical connections between Los Angeles and Asia
Organizers expect participating institutions to explore historical interactions between Los Angeles and Asian cultural networks. For instance, potential themes include the arrival of Chinese porcelain in Spanish mission communities and artistic exchanges that developed after the end of World War II.
Furthermore, curators may examine how Japanese visual culture influenced modern architecture and design in Los Angeles. In addition, contemporary cultural flows, including the global reach of Korean popular culture, will likely shape exhibition research.
Clara Kim highlighted the relevance of the theme for the region’s cultural identity. “As someone who grew up in SoCal, my reality has always been living a diasporic existence—straddling and negotiating multiple languages, cultures, and customs.”
She added that the program could encourage new global perspectives. “I am excited about how the theme for the next edition and the opportunity to cast our gaze across the Pacific, where new developments in art, culture, and institution making are brimming, will allow us to reflect on our own existence from a broad global view.”
Initiative expands research and institutional collaboration
Since its launch in 2002, PST ART—formerly known as Pacific Standard Time—has played a central role in expanding scholarship on the Southern California art scene. Through research grants and exhibition funding, the initiative has distributed nearly $50 million to museums, archives and cultural organizations.
Ann Burroughs emphasized the broader social role of cultural programming. “Art creates powerful entry points into shared histories and collective futures.”
She continued: “Art is one of the most effective ways to shine a light on racism and injustice, to create connections among people, and to inspire a more just future.”
The first PST edition opened in 2011 under the theme “Art in L.A., 1945–1980,” while the 2017 edition explored exchanges between Los Angeles and Latin America. More recently, the 2024 edition, Art & Science Collide, examined intersections between creative practice and scientific research.
Meanwhile, the research cycle for the 2030 program has already begun. Cultural organizations located across Southern California’s eight counties may submit funding proposals by June 1, 2026, with the first group of grant recipients expected to be announced later that year.