#1 Art, Design & Fashion Event
Last year, Lacma hosted just its sixth annual gala, but the event is already a heavy-hitting fund-raiser and a huge A-list draw: The most recent event honoring artist Robert Irwin and filmmaker Kathryn Bigelow, co-chaired by Lacma trustee Eva Chow and Leonardo DiCaprio, raised more than $3.6 million. The event drew about 550 guests in all, with sponsorship support from Gucci. Next: Fall
#2 Art, Design & Fashion Event
About 700 international guests came to the Geffen Contemporary at MOCA last May to honor Ed Ruscha at the museum’s annual celebrity-studded gala. The 37th annual event raised more than $3 million, in keeping with the previous year’s Louis Vuitton-sponsored gala, which had represented an uptick in fund-raising. Next: Spring 2017
#3 Art, Design & Fashion Event
Having just wrapped its 22nd edition, the art show is the most prominent in the region, and it is also one of the world’s largest and longest-running. New downtown neighbor the Broad lined up alongside other prominent institutions like Lacma and the Getty to contribute programming in a dedicated 50,000-square-foot public space. The opening-night premiere benefiting St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital exceeded projections, more than doubling its proceeds for the hospital from the previous year. Next: January 10-14, 2018
#4 Art, Design & Fashion Event
Last October, the Hammer Museum drew more than 600 cultural and civic leaders, artists, collectors, patrons of the arts, and entertainment-world names to its 14th annual gala. The benefit raised $2.5 million to support the museum’s exhibitions and programs, which are free to the public. Returning for the third year, Bottega Veneta partnered with the Hammer to present the gala. Next: October 14, 2017
#6 Art, Design & Fashion Event
Last year’s version of the prominent Orange County social event, presented by Louis Vuitton, raised $535,000. This year’s program in the spring will combine what was previously an after-party with the main event. It’s the museum's most important fund-raiser. Next: May 20, 2017
#7 Art, Design & Fashion Event
The weekend-long event for Lacma donors happens each spring. Last year’s event, the 30th annual, featured a weekend of curator-led art presentations, private dinners at the homes of major supporters, and a gala, including a live auction where members voted on artwork to add to the museum’s permanent collection. The 79 voting members raised more than $6.4 million, breaking records for the event. Next: April 21-22, 2017
#8 Art, Design & Fashion Event
A spring tradition, the event is going into its 36th year. It offers more than 100 floral interpretations created by top local and national designers. This year marks the return of three-time rotunda-designer Carlos Franco of Green Fresh Florals, who will transform the John M. and Sally B. Thornton Rotunda with botanicals. Last year, more than 11,000 attendees participated, and the event raised more than $1.2 million. It also involved more than 200 volunteers. Next: April 27-April 30, 2017
#9 Art, Design & Fashion Event
Pacific Design Center’s spring market is billed as the West Coast’s major showcase for global design. The two-day event introduces offerings from among 2,200 product lines presented by 100 international showroom manufacturers. About 4,000 trade professionals from around the world come for the series of programs and events featuring shelter publications, editors, and tastemakers. Next: March 22-23, 2017
#10 Art, Design & Fashion Event
Under new leadership as of last year following Informa’s acquisition, the event takes over the Los Angeles Convention Center with three full days of exhibitions, educational opportunities, technologies, 40 onstage programs, more than 60 speakers, and more than 2,000 furnishings and products. The event also includes three days of home tours. Next: June 23-27, 2017
#11 Art, Design & Fashion Event
The photo show just wrapped its 26th year and draws an average of about 10,000 guests. The event takes over the Reef in downtown’s L.A. Mart building. An opening-night event benefited the Wayne Cancer Foundation and the Lucie Foundation. Next: January 2018
#12 Art, Design & Fashion Event
This year’s pageant, with a theme of “The Grand Tour,” includes a stage show made up of real people posing exactly like their counterparts in original artwork. The accompanying festival includes work from 140 local artists and, now celebrating its 85th anniversary, it’s one of the country’s oldest juried fine art shows. The event’s proceeds support arts in Orange County. Next: July 7-August 31, 2017
#13 Art, Design & Fashion Event
Venice Family Clinic’s signature silent art auction showcases top names in contemporary art, as well as up-and-comers. On the same day, guests set out on studio tours to meet local artists and get a behind-the-scenes look at their creative processes. Back at Google’s Venice headquarters, attendees come for live music, live art exhibitions, and a community celebration including artisan booths, a kids' station, and food. The event raises about $750,000 annually for 23,000 low-income, uninsured, and homeless patients of the clinic. Next: May 21, 2017
#14 Art, Design & Fashion Event
The show just wrapped up its eighth year. Held at the Barker Hangar in Santa Monica, the fair presents top established and emerging galleries from around the world, emphasizing local L.A. galleries as well. Attendance hovers around 15,000. Next: January 2018
#15 Art, Design & Fashion Event
The event, with title sponsorship from Mission Federal, takes place each spring in San Diego’s Little Italy District, covering 17 city blocks of the region. More than 300 fine artists show and sell their work at the festival, which is gearing up for its 33rd year. Next: April 29-30, 2017
#16 Art, Design & Fashion Event
Each year, the black-tie gala presents what it bills as Los Angeles's largest fashion runway show, with more than 70 models in more than 175 fashion designs. About 800 guests from the worlds of fashion and entertainment come to see the work of Otis students. This year’s event, which raises money for student scholarships, marks its 35th edition annual. Next: May 6, 2017
