MURAL CONSERVATION AND

PRESERVATION IN LOS ANGELES

The Mural Conservancy of Los Angeles (MCLA) is a non-profit arts service organization dedicated to the conservation, preservation and documentation of the public mural art of Los Angeles. The Mural Maintenance Program includes a network of volunteers who regularly inspect many Los Angeles area murals and supports volunteer conservation sessions to help preserve selected public murals in the Los Angeles area. Under the Mural Rescue Program a selection of important Los Angeles murals receive ongoing conservation and preservation support.

Mural bus tours take the public to thematically selected murals in different parts of Southern California. The Mural Conservancy also publishes a quarterly Newsletter discussing mural related news and informational articles profiling mural-related issues and muralists.

The Mural Conservancy web site also offers a complete index to all of the murals of Los Angeles as well as each muralist.  Mural conservation and preservation is the cornerstone of MCLA's mission, however. The Mural Conservancy was formed in 1987, partly in reaction to the painting over of Kent Twitchell's celebrated local mural the Old Lady of the Freeway, on the premise that the larger issue of cultural preservation needed to apply to public mural art. The cost of preserving murals is actually quite low when preventative conservation measures are taken prior to the onset of serious deterioration or defacement. The Mural Conservancy helps the public invest in preserving the best quality public murals over the long term.