The Arts for Healing and Justice Network (AHJN), a Long Beach, California-based non-profit that supports young people whose lives have been impacted by the juvenile justice system through arts education and programming, will receive the $500,000 Getty Prize grant.
The organisation was selected by the artist Mark Bradford, winner of the 2024 Getty Prize. Bradford described AHJN as “an extraordinary organisation whose efforts directly impact change within the juvenile justice system”, adding: “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.”
AHJN was founded in 2012 and seeks to reduce juvenile detention and recidivism and improve community health and wellness through arts activities. It often partners with other organisations active in Los Angeles County, including artworxLA and Versa-Style Dance Company. “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,” Elida Ledesma, AHJN’s executive director, said in a statement.
Bradford and AHJN will celebrate during a Getty Prize dinner event at the Getty Center in Los Angeles on 13 May.
The Getty Prize was launched in 2013 and previously known as the Getty Medal; this is the first edition under its new moniker. In addition to the name change, the prize now recognises one individual who then bestowes a $500,000 grant from the Getty to a non-profit of their choosing. Past winners of the prize include the artists Ellsworth Kelly, Lorna Simpson and Richard Serra.
In addition to his widely celebrated work as an artist creating materially rich paintings and mural-size interventions of layered materials, Bradford co-founded the organisation Art + Practice, which supports foster children and displaced youth.
