Pacific Standard Time Sets Us Apart
California is a lot—for a lot of reasons. Its geography covers a wide variety of environmental and climate conditions. It has a large and diverse population. In fact, California is the most diverse state, culturally, linguistically, racially, and ethnically.
And there is plenty to prove that California is an innovation hub, with very big ideas and products in film, food, fashion, lifestyle, tech and even governance, like environmental legislation that exceeds federal standards. It is the fifth largest economy in the world, and a critical part of that is the “Creative Economy.” First published in 2007, the Otis College of Art and Design’s annual Creative Economy Report analyzes the influence and impact of creative sectors on the overall economy of California. Its 2003 report shows that of the $3.4 trillion California grp, over $500 billion of it comes from the creative sector.
This is where Bentley lives—geographically and economically. The creative sector is core to who we are and what we do. As we celebrate our 45th anniversary in 2024, our product development studio has been thinking about how to express the unique influence California has on us as designers and makers, and how it sets us apart as a brand.
There is definitely a creative current running through this place. For me, here in Los Angeles (LA), the juiciest part is the extraordinary art scene. There is always something to see—in addition to the many galleries, including world-class ones, exhibits and shows, the majority of the art museums are FREE to all.
But the fact of this was apparently not well known…or at least not well known enough to satisfy the Getty Foundation. So they set out to change that.
Enter Pacific Standard Time.
Funded by the Getty Foundation, Pacific Standard Time (PST) is an unprecedented collaboration of more than 60 cultural institutions in Southern California. There were three goals for the inaugural PST: rescue an endangered history of LA art, making it accessible to future generations; create broad recognition of the international significance of art in LA; and create a new model for large-scale collaboration.
The first in what is now a series opened in 2011. PST: Art in LA 1945–1980 documented the roots of LA’s post–WWII art scene and how it became a major new force in the art world. Because of its historical importance and resonance with audiences, PST has become a mainstay of Getty grantmaking and programming, with subsequent iterations taking place in 2013 and 2017. The Getty Foundation has already awarded more than $17 million in research and planning grants to institutions across the Southland for 2024 PST ART: Art & Science Collide, an exploration of the intersections of art and science, launching September 15.
Giving a name to the creative and artistic legacy and leadership of Southern California allows us all to more easily express the innovative spirit of this very special place. Pacific Standard Time truly sets us apart.