Hey friends! A+D Architecture + Design Museum has officially launched “CROWDFUND OUR FUTURE”, our first Crowdfunding Campaign! We are asking you, our A+D audiences, to get involved and ensure the vitality of our organization by helping us meet our 2024 fundraising shortfall.

In 2020, news outlets covered the physical closure of our Arts District space, making many aware of the very real impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on our institution. As was the case with so many arts organizations, people were convinced A+D was going to close permanently. 

Steadfast, the Museum’s supporters stepped up. Funds poured in from industry firms, nonprofits and individuals, allowing us to persevere with such offerings the online “Designing Worlds” exhibition, the Silver Lake pop-up “Smell. Print.”, "Hip-Hop Architecture curated by Sekou Cooke, and the launch, in the midst of a worldwide pandemic, of our esteemed Design Awards program.

The Museum reopened at 170 South La Brea in early 2024, a critical step in our Rebuilding Strategic Plan. As one of a small number of Los Angeles organizations that survived COVID-19, A+D continues to hit significant institutional, public outreach and exhibition milestones:

• Hired full-time and part-time staff

• Steadily increasing attendance, evidenced by a 56% opening night increase and a 17% increase in museum visitors, show-over-show  

• A record 33% increase in Design Awards submissions in 2024 versus 2023, reviewed by a curated jury of 38 individuals from wide cross section of design disciplines

• Hosted our first pop-up exhibition with Analog_Mannequin, a virally known Spotify + Visual artist with 112K Instagram followers 220K TikTok followers and 50 MIL+ streams across major music platforms

• Presented over 13 programming events in the form of panel discussions, screenings, walkthroughs, lectures, and tours

• Participated in a grant-writing training intensive, and awarded the Los Angeles County Department of Arts & Culture grant 

• Received over $30,000 in tech donations by Riot Games targeted for the A+D Museum educational workshop relaunch

• Featured on Archinect

• Assembled a team of volunteers ready and dedicated to supporting the Museum in exhibitions, public programming, and general operations

These extraordinary rebuilding achievements aside, the Museum’s fundraising has been upended by an uncertain US economy, which has hit the business of architecture and design particularly hard. When a fundraising goal isn't met, institutional priorities must be reevaluated such as staff, hours of operation, number and nature of exhibitions, community outreach programs and more. In other words, it would be dire for our institution to cut programs just as we are regaining our momentum and audience. 

This is where CROWDFUND OUR FUTURE comes in. From now through November 7th, your contribution to our crowd-sourcing campaign will ensure our ability to provide the great benefit that has come with A+D as a beloved museum since our founding in 2001.

Where will your donation go?

• Pay for a part-time grant-writing and/or philanthropic consultant to help our team secure funding and build sustainable solutions to keeping our museum as vital as ever

• Exhibition Needs which include but are not limited to Fabrication Materials, Installation hardware, Graphics and Decals

• To receive seed money for our annual Celebrate event so that our annual fundraiser is as festive and effective 

• Cover the expense of additional staff to ensure basic Museum hours and access

How can I donate today?

• Using GiveButter will help best so we can all see the goal be reached together!

• Using Paypal Giving Fund works with us too! https://www.paypal.com/US/fundraiser/charity/1740365

What has been made quite apparent in looking over our achievements, though budgetary limitations hold an extreme presence over us at this time, the Museum’s outreach has been more effective than ever and our prominence on La Brea continues to grow. Our $30,000 target will help get through the end of this year, but please keep in mind that we would like to surpass that goal to start out 2025 with a solid foundation.

During this critical period of rebuilding every penny counts, every reshare counts.