The Beverly Hills Arts and Culture Commission tackled Olympic and World Cup cultural planning, recognized a student artist, and heard updates on the city's public art collection at its Tuesday, Aug. 11, meeting in City Hall.
Recreation Services Manager Matthew Brown briefed commissioners on the World Cup and Olympic programming work plan, a project in development since January when proposals were first presented to Council liaisons Councilmember John Mirisch and Councilmember Mary Wells. The city is building arts programming around both the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which drew more than 560,000 fans to SoFi Stadium and generated a projected $892 million in economic impact across L.A. County, and the 2028 Olympics, which staff project will bring more than five million visitors to the region.
At a May 7 joint session of the LA28 Standing Committee and FIFA Ad Hoc Special Meeting, council liaisons backed soccer ball displays at Beverly Gardens Lily Pond and Two Rodeo Drive, game streaming at Roxbury Park, and distribution of 200 FIFA-branded youth soccer balls. Staff was directed to return with updates on the Olympic torch run route and development of a city festival around the Games.
The stakes are high. City staff told the LA28 Standing Committee on June 29 that Beverly Hills hotels are expected to be fully booked during the 2028 Games, with the Olympics projected to produce between $13 billion and $17 billion in regional economic impact.
Brown also recognized Janice Moon, the student winner of the 2026 Summer Soccer Poster Contest, for her piece "Golden Hour Kickoff." The contest, held in April and May, drew nearly 50 entries across student and adult categories. Francisco Orellana won the adult category for "Global Motion: The Spirit of Beverly Hills." Both winning posters have been displayed at locations including Beverly Gardens Park, Greystone Mansion, the Beverly Hills Farmers' Market and at Concerts on Cañon.
Arts and Culture Program Associate Brandy Scott presented three items: a fine art acquisition update, developer-owned art inspections and the ArtWalk Guided Tour program. The fine art agenda carries recent history. In April 2025, the developer at 136 El Camino Drive rescinded an offer to donate the Alex Israel sculpture "Fin," triggering a $100,000 in-lieu fee payment to the city's Fine Art Fund.
The ArtWalk program, a $10 guided tour at Beverly Gardens Park Lily Pond featuring sculptures by Yayoi Kusama, Jaume Plensa, Tom Friedman and Ringo Starr, had its June 28 date cancelled. The city's website notes fall dates are coming soon.
Full minutes from Tuesday's meeting have not yet been posted. The meeting recording will be available at beverlyhills.org, and the next regular commission meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, Sept. 8, at 10 a.m.
As we reported Aug. 6, the commission has been developing its Olympic cultural framework for months. Residents can watch the full meeting recording online once posted.
Upcoming community events:
- Greystone in the Movies, Thursday, Aug. 13: "There Will Be Blood," 6:30–8:30 p.m., Greystone Mansion, 905 Loma Vista Drive
- Concerts on Cañon, Thursday, Aug. 13: The Brat Pack (80s tribute), 6–8 p.m., Beverly Canon Gardens
- Theatre 40 at Greystone, Wednesday, Aug. 19: Play reading, 6:30 p.m., Greystone Mansion
- Concerts on Cañon, Thursday, Aug. 20: The Tokens (60s/70s tribute), 6–8 p.m., Beverly Canon Gardens
- Greystone in the Movies, Thursday, Aug. 20: Film screening, 6:30–8:30 p.m., Greystone Mansion
- Theatre 40 at Greystone, Wednesday, Aug. 26: "Sherlock Holmes and the Adventure of the Elusive Ear," 6:30 p.m., Greystone Mansion
- Greystone in the Movies, Thursday, Aug. 27: Film screening, 6:30–8:30 p.m., Greystone Mansion
- Concerts on Cañon series finale, Friday, Aug. 21: 6–8 p.m., Beverly Canon Gardens
