Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa named Olga Garay, formerly a New York producer and arts consultant, to head the city’s Department of Cultural Affairs. In 2008, Garay will oversee the development of the city’s first “cultural master plan” since 1991. Then, the controversial plan masterminded by former culture chief Adolfo V. Nodal demanded the equitable distribution of arts funds among L.A.’s diverse ethnic groups. Now, the heady goal is to position L.A. as an international arts center.

Getty antiquities In August, the J. Paul Getty Trust agreed to return 40 long-contested ancient artworks to Italy, ending a cultural and legal battle that had plagued the institution for decades. Among the important works leaving Malibu’s Getty Villa: the Getty’s signature statue of Aphrodite. While the bulk of these objects were taken off display in the fall, visitors to Malibu’s Getty Villa will be able to see the Aphrodite until December 2010.

A collection grows While the Getty suffers depletion of its ancient art treasures, the Los Angeles County Museum of Art has seen the transformation of its holdings of modern art with a major gift from L.A.

art collectors Janice and Henri Lazarof, who have given the institution 130 works by major artists, including 20 works by Pablo Picasso, seven sculptures and a painting by Alberto Giacometti and two versions of Constantin Brancusi’s signature bronze, “Bird in Space.” While the museum would not disclose the value of the artworks, sales of similar pieces suggest the collection is worth more than $100 million.