Loiter Galleries — the community-rooted art space known for championing emerging and underserved Long Beach creators — is facing a financial cliff this season after a key source of funding disappeared.
Co-founder Vinny Picardi shared that the gallery recently applied for a general operating support grant from a state arts agency that has historically funded them year after year. While the application was positively reviewed, Picardi said, the gallery’s grant was denied due to widespread budget cuts.
“We typically receive funding annually,” Picardi said, “but this year our application was well received and we were denied due to budget cuts. And generally speaking, there are less grants available to us than usual.”
The result of these cut backs is fairly sobering: Loiter Galleries needs to raise $30,000 to sustain its work. Without it, the long-running mission of amplifying local artists could be eliminated.
Monica Fleming (left) and Vinny Picardi (right), co-founders of Loiter Galleries. (Photo courtesy of Loiter Galleries).
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Monica Fleming (left) and Vinny Picardi (right), co-founders of Loiter Galleries. (Photo courtesy of Loiter Galleries).
And programs built around activating vacant storefronts with art, something Loiter Galleries has been celebrated for in downtown Long Beach, would be drastically reduced or wiped out entirely.
For a gallery that has spent years transforming empty windows into creative beacons, offering walls to artists who often don’t get them, and keeping culture visible in the urban core, the loss wouldn’t just be internal — it would leave a noticeable silence in the city’s arts ecosystem.
Despite the uncertainty, Loiter Galleries is still dreaming. Plans for 2026 are already taking shape, including an ambitious reimagining of the historic 30-foot Recreation Mural in downtown Long Beach that will use projection mapping to animate its people, landscape and history before, during and after the Olympics.
“Our goal,” Picardi said, “is to make it the second most popular attraction in our city.”
Loiter Galleries stands today as a reminder that art is essential, not optional. The community now has a chance to return the favor.
Supporters, Picardi says, can help directly and immediately. Donations are being accepted through their GoFundMe page at gofundme.com/f/support-loitergalleries, or through their website, loitergalleries.com.
LBCC
Long Beach Community College will turn up the heat this week with back-to-back big (jazz) band energy
On Thursday, Dec. 11, the LBCC Jazz Combos will take over DiPiazza’s from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m., followed by the LBCC Big Band from 9 p.m. 10 p.m.
Special guest Ernie Watts, a heavyweight in the saxophone world, will join our local musicians and make a thrilling addition to the lineup.
The best part? Tonight’s show is free.
On Thursday, Dec. 11, the LBCC Jazz Combos will take over DiPiazza’s from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m., followed by the LBCC Big Band from 9 p.m. 10 p.m. (Photo courtesy LBCC).
On Sunday, Dec. 14, the Long Beach Big Band will settle into Roscoe’s Jazz Lounge, joined by opening jazz ensembles from Long Beach Polytechnic High School. (Photo courtesy LBBB).
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On Thursday, Dec. 11, the LBCC Jazz Combos will take over DiPiazza’s from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m., followed by the LBCC Big Band from 9 p.m. 10 p.m. (Photo courtesy LBCC).
Consider it a gift-wrapped night of blistering horn lines, groove-heavy rhythm sections and fun (and smart) musical improvisation.
If you want more, keep the momentum going into the weekend.
This Sunday, Dec. 14, the Long Beach Big Band will settle into Roscoe’s Jazz Lounge, joined by opening jazz ensembles from Long Beach Polytechnic High School, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
LBBB will be “exploring some interesting, inventive, even insane music for big band,” writes Patrick Sheng, LBCC’s Instrumental Jazz Studies director, in a recent press release.
There will be a $15 general cover and $5 cover for students to hear these powerhouse musicians.
And if you still need a last-minute holiday gift, LBCC Music T-shirts will be on sale at both events.
For more information about music ensembles at LBCC and more upcoming events, head to lbcc.edu/music-ensembles.