Long Beach Art League celebrates 72 years

The Long Beach Art League is celebrating its 72nd anniversary this year, marking more than seven decades of promoting the arts and enriching the local community.

Founded in 1952 by artist Leona Post and a small group of her friends, the league has grown from a handful of members into an organization of over 100 artists.

Its current president, Lissette Resnick, who has been involved with the organization for three years and took over its leadership in June 2023, said she had looked forward to celebrating this anniversary with the community.

“It’s an honor to lead an organization that has such a rich legacy in promoting the arts,” Resnick said. “It signifies the dedication and passion of many artists, volunteers and supporters who have contributed to fostering creativity over the decades. For the organization as a whole, this milestone highlights our enduring commitment to enriching Long Beach through the arts.”

The league held a special meeting on Sept. 4 to celebrate the anniversary, at which local leaders recognized the organization’s contributions to the community. State Sen. Patricia Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick presented a citation to the group, and Assemblyman Ari Brown reflected on the importance of art, and how it has influenced his family.

The meeting marked the start of a series of anniversary-related events, including plans for a retrospective exhibit in 2025. The exhibit, a collaboration with the Long Beach Public Library and the city’s Historical Society, will showcase the league’s history and artwork created by its members.

The organization has evolved over the years, growing in both size and artistic variety and ambition. It now boasts a diverse membership, and welcomes artists of many media.

“We now offer a wide range of exhibits — whether open, juried, themed or non-themed — which generates interest and helps us better support the diversity of our members and the broader community,” Resnick said. “Additionally, we’ve introduced many new programs, such as our scholarship for high school students, and we’re actively exploring more ways to give back.”

The league’s initiatives include arts and crafts workshops for seniors as well as children’s programs, ensuring that the organization continues to connect with and enrich the community through the arts. It would like to offer more, and is seeking funding so it can do so.

In addition to community programs, the league maintains a presence in the city’s art scene with monthly exhibits at the library, a central space that invites both residents and visitors to engage with visual arts, as well as the Mount Sinai South Nassau Pavilion. It plans to expand further with upcoming exhibits at the Allegria Hotel, and partnerships with Temple Emanu-El and its Betzalel Art exhibits.

“These galleries are more than just exhibition spaces, they’re cultural hubs that foster a deeper appreciation for the arts,” Resnick said. “They provide local artists with platforms to share their work, while also enriching the community by offering regular, accessible exposure to high-quality art. By supporting and maintaining these galleries, the league ensures that Long Beach continues to thrive as a creative, culturally enriched city.”

In addition to its retrospective next year, the organization is preparing for an event at the Allegria in October, the Long Beach Fine Art Expo, which will provide a platform for photographers, painters and mixed-media artists to showcase and sell their work. The league hopes to turn this into an annual event.

And it hopes to continue expanding its membership, recruiting more diverse and younger artists and strengthening its partnerships with local schools and other organizations. By offering new programs and collaborating with other local art groups, the league is actively working to ensure that the arts remain a vibrant part of the Long Beach community for years to come.