History

Established in 1939, The League of Allied Arts is a non-profit 501(c) (3) organization. As a young man, the Harlem Renaissance poet and playwright, Langston Hughes came to Los Angeles to visit two very good friends of his- Loren and Juanita Miller. He wanted to present a play but at the time, there was no theatre space where an African American could present a play. Fortunately Juanita Miller and her friend Dorothy Vena Johnson pooled their resource, created a theatre space on the then famed- Central Avenue, and Langston was able to successfully present his play - Don’t I Wanna Be Free. Loren Miller, an attorney became Langston’s first literary agent and their friendship lasted a lifetime. However, out of this experience and friendship with Langston Hughes, Juanita Miller and Dorothy Vena Johnson established an organization- The League of Allied Arts to support artists and the arts.

Purpose

The League of Allied Arts supports and advocates for artists and arts, presents cultural enrichment programs in the community, raises funds and annually awards scholarships to Los Angeles-area, African American high school seniors and college freshmen- arts students in all forms of the arts. In recent years- The League has developed an outreach program to at-risk kids, to offer them constructive, creative opportunities for expression in order to help deter destructive behavior and gang violence.

The League appreciates its supporters and believes that now more than ever, we must contribute to help the arts survive and thrive in our community for future generations and to create in the City of Los Angels an intercultural fellowship through the medium of creative arts. All contributions are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law.