A Celebration of California Women Who Shift Culture • April 29 – May 4, 2025

The City of Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs (DCA) Performing Arts Division’s (PERF) EMPOWERMENT project returns for its third year. Honoring women artists and activists who have impacted and redefined the human experience.  EMPOWERMENT is a six day festival-style week of performances, social action, creative workshops, and documentary screenings. In 2025, EMPOWERMENT will honor the work of Academy Award winner Edith Head and Grammy Award winner Etta James. Both American born and rooted professionally in Los Angeles, Edith Head is considered to be one of the greatest and most influential costume designers in the film industry while Etta James is an American singer songwriter famous for her deep and earthy voice bridged the gap between rhythm and blues and rock and roll is considered to be one of the greatest voices of her century.

The EMPOWERMENT: Edith + Etta celebration will include six days of performing arts celebration for all ages at DCA’s Lankershim Arts Center, located in the heart of the NoHo Arts District at: 5108 Lankershim Boulevard, North Hollywood, CA 91601. All festival events are free and open to the public. For more information, please call: (213) 270-8200.

The Six Day Line-Up:

Edith Head Film Fest

Tuesday, April 29, 8:00 p.m. • All About Eve(1950)
Wednesday, April 30, 8:00 p.m. • The Emperor Waltz (1948)
Friday, May 2, 9:00 p.m. • To Catch a Thief (1955)

Live Music

Thursday, May 1 and Saturday, May 3, 7:30 to 8:00 p.m.
Sunday, May 4, 3:30 to 4:00 p.m.

Sips & Sounds: PopUp Music Coffee House

Friday, May 2, 7:00 to 9:00 p.m.

Youth Activities

Saturday, May 3
2:00 to 2:30 p.m. • Etta James Sing-a-long
2:30 to 4:00 p.m. • Designing a Superhero Costume
4:00 p.m. • Afternoon Animation Association: The Incredibles (2004)

Documentaries with Talk Backs

Saturday, May 3, 12:30 p.m. • ETTA
Sunday, May 4, 2:00 p.m. • EDITH

Live Dance & Spoken Word

Saturday, May 3, 8:00 p.m.
Sunday, May 4, 4:00 p.m.

Learn more about the 2025 Commissioned Artists performing the LIVE DANCE & SPOKEN WORD performances on DCA’s Initiatives page, click here!

In 2019, Lawson answered more than 1,000 questions in his Story File so that future generations can continue conversing with him to learn about his legacy. What would you like to ask Lawson?

Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday, 11:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.,
Thursday, 12:00 noon – 8:00 p.m.
Adults – $16, Seniors and Youth – $9, Members and Children under 5 – Free

A Celebration of California Women Who Shift Culture • April 29 – May 4, 2025

The City of Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs (DCA) Performing Arts Division’s (PERF) EMPOWERMENT project returns for its third year. Honoring women artists and activists who have impacted and redefined the human experience.  EMPOWERMENT is a six day festival-style week of performances, social action, creative workshops, and documentary screenings. In 2025, EMPOWERMENT will honor the work of Academy Award winner Edith Head and Grammy Award winner Etta James. Both American born and rooted professionally in Los Angeles, Edith Head is considered to be one of the greatest and most influential costume designers in the film industry while Etta James is an American singer songwriter famous for her deep and earthy voice bridged the gap between rhythm and blues and rock and roll is considered to be one of the greatest voices of her century.

The EMPOWERMENT: Edith + Etta celebration will include six days of performing arts celebration for all ages at DCA’s Lankershim Arts Center, located in the heart of the NoHo Arts District at: 5108 Lankershim Boulevard, North Hollywood, CA 91601. All festival events are free and open to the public. For more information, please call: (213) 270-8200.

The Six Day Line-Up:

Edith Head Film Fest

Tuesday, April 29, 8:00 p.m. • All About Eve(1950)
Wednesday, April 30, 8:00 p.m. • The Emperor Waltz (1948)
Friday, May 2, 9:00 p.m. • To Catch a Thief (1955)

Live Music

Thursday, May 1 and Saturday, May 3, 7:30 to 8:00 p.m.
Sunday, May 4, 3:30 to 4:00 p.m.

Sips & Sounds: PopUp Music Coffee House

Friday, May 2, 7:00 to 9:00 p.m.

Youth Activities

Saturday, May 3
2:00 to 2:30 p.m. • Etta James Sing-a-long
2:30 to 4:00 p.m. • Designing a Superhero Costume
4:00 p.m. • Afternoon Animation Association: The Incredibles (2004)

Documentaries with Talk Backs

Saturday, May 3, 12:30 p.m. • ETTA
Sunday, May 4, 2:00 p.m. • EDITH

Live Dance & Spoken Word

Saturday, May 3, 8:00 p.m.
Sunday, May 4, 4:00 p.m.

Learn more about the 2025 Commissioned Artists performing the LIVE DANCE & SPOKEN WORD performances on DCA’s Initiatives page, click here!

In 2019, Lawson answered more than 1,000 questions in his Story File so that future generations can continue conversing with him to learn about his legacy. What would you like to ask Lawson?

Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday, 11:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.,
Thursday, 12:00 noon – 8:00 p.m.
Adults – $16, Seniors and Youth – $9, Members and Children under 5 – Free

A Celebration of California Women Who Shift Culture • April 29 – May 4, 2025

The City of Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs (DCA) Performing Arts Division’s (PERF) EMPOWERMENT project returns for its third year. Honoring women artists and activists who have impacted and redefined the human experience.  EMPOWERMENT is a six day festival-style week of performances, social action, creative workshops, and documentary screenings. In 2025, EMPOWERMENT will honor the work of Academy Award winner Edith Head and Grammy Award winner Etta James. Both American born and rooted professionally in Los Angeles, Edith Head is considered to be one of the greatest and most influential costume designers in the film industry while Etta James is an American singer songwriter famous for her deep and earthy voice bridged the gap between rhythm and blues and rock and roll is considered to be one of the greatest voices of her century.

The EMPOWERMENT: Edith + Etta celebration will include six days of performing arts celebration for all ages at DCA’s Lankershim Arts Center, located in the heart of the NoHo Arts District at: 5108 Lankershim Boulevard, North Hollywood, CA 91601. All festival events are free and open to the public. For more information, please call: (213) 270-8200.

The Six Day Line-Up:

Edith Head Film Fest

Tuesday, April 29, 8:00 p.m. • All About Eve(1950)
Wednesday, April 30, 8:00 p.m. • The Emperor Waltz (1948)
Friday, May 2, 9:00 p.m. • To Catch a Thief (1955)

Live Music

Thursday, May 1 and Saturday, May 3, 7:30 to 8:00 p.m.
Sunday, May 4, 3:30 to 4:00 p.m.

Sips & Sounds: PopUp Music Coffee House

Friday, May 2, 7:00 to 9:00 p.m.

Youth Activities

Saturday, May 3
2:00 to 2:30 p.m. • Etta James Sing-a-long
2:30 to 4:00 p.m. • Designing a Superhero Costume
4:00 p.m. • Afternoon Animation Association: The Incredibles (2004)

Documentaries with Talk Backs

Saturday, May 3, 12:30 p.m. • ETTA
Sunday, May 4, 2:00 p.m. • EDITH

Live Dance & Spoken Word

Saturday, May 3, 8:00 p.m.
Sunday, May 4, 4:00 p.m.

Learn more about the 2025 Commissioned Artists performing the LIVE DANCE & SPOKEN WORD performances on DCA’s Initiatives page, click here!

In 2019, Lawson answered more than 1,000 questions in his Story File so that future generations can continue conversing with him to learn about his legacy. What would you like to ask Lawson?

Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday, 11:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.,
Thursday, 12:00 noon – 8:00 p.m.
Adults – $16, Seniors and Youth – $9, Members and Children under 5 – Free

In 2019, Lawson answered more than 1,000 questions in his Story File so that future generations can continue conversing with him to learn about his legacy. What would you like to ask Lawson?

Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday, 11:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.,
Thursday, 12:00 noon – 8:00 p.m.
Adults – $16, Seniors and Youth – $9, Members and Children under 5 – Free

The NEA Big Read: Los Angeles celebrates storytelling, books and readers at the 30th anniversary of the popular Los Angeles Times Festival of Books. The Festival of Books is largest gathering and presentation of all things book-related in the United States. Join book lovers to learn, taste, be inspired, make art, shop and explore on Saturday, April 26, from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., and Sunday, April 27, from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., on the campus of the University of Southern California (USC).

Stop by the Department of Cultural Affairs (DCA) booth # 721 in the Orange Zone for information about DCA’s cultural resources and citywide services. Booth activities will include drop-in art activities, such as poetry, zine-making, artists demonstrations, and limited edition giveaways, while supplies last.

This event is free and open to the public!

For more information about the DCA booth and/or NEA Big Read: Los Angeles booth at the Festival of Books, call 213-202-5567, or email elizabeth.morin@lacity.org.

For more information about the Festival of Books, visit: events.latimes.com/festivalofbooks/.

In 2019, Lawson answered more than 1,000 questions in his Story File so that future generations can continue conversing with him to learn about his legacy. What would you like to ask Lawson?

Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday, 11:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.,
Thursday, 12:00 noon – 8:00 p.m.
Adults – $16, Seniors and Youth – $9, Members and Children under 5 – Free

 Boyle Heights Arts Conservatory, in collaboration with the NEA Big Read: Los Angeles initiative, invites you to a two-part workshop that brings together literature, creative writing, photography, and an exploration of the neighborhood of Boyle Heights.

On Saturday, April 19, the first day of the program, a discussion of selected chapters from The House on Mango Street showcase how Sandra Cisneros painted a picture of the story’s protagonist, Esperanza’s, life and neighborhood, which was  informed by her own culture, through vivid imagery in her writing.

Participants will then be invited to walk around the neighborhood of Boyle Heights to capture examples of scenes reflecting their own upbringing and cultural identity through photography.

Cameras will be supplied for participants.

Then on Saturday, April 26, the second day of the program, the photos from the previous week will be printed for participants to view. Discussion and a guided writing exercise will prompt personal reflection of their own life experiences and upbringing. Participants will consider the topics of cultural and personal identity in storytelling through words and images. Participants will share their work with the group and take their personal writing and photos home with them.

For more information, please contact Julian Montenegro, at julian@bharts.org or visit bharts.org