Current information on the situation following the wildfires in Los Angeles

October 1, 2025, by VATMH Berlin

Nearly nine months after the devastating wildfires in Los Angeles, Villa Aurora remains closed due to the significant impact the fire has had on its surrounding neighborhood. Starting in the fall of 2025, and in collaboration with both long-standing and new cultural partners, it will resume its fellowship program on a smaller scale as an off-campus initiative.

Current Situation at Villa Aurora

Villa Aurora is still undergoing extensive fire remediation. A timeline for reopening has not yet been determined. For fellows whose stay cannot be realized due to the current circumstances, tailored options are being developed to reschedule their fellowship.

Starting in the fall of 2025, Villa Aurora will also introduce a reduced off-campus program where fellows will live and work on the premises of partner organizations of VATMH. These partner organizations include the Wende Museum, 18th Street Arts Center, Galka Scheyer House (Blue Heights Arts and Culture), and the Thomas Mann House.

Jakob Scherer, Managing Director of Villa Aurora & Thomas Mann House, said:
“We sincerely thank our wonderful partners in Los Angeles for enabling us to continue our fellowship program despite the ongoing closure of Villa Aurora. This ensures that we can continue to support a vibrant cultural and artistic community under considerable pressure.

During their stay, fellows will continue to receive full support from the Villa Aurora team. The off-campus program will feature the Villa Aurora’s standard program cycles as well as special program highlights involving the off-campus fellows.
The first two off-campus fellows to travel to Los Angeles will be Rebecca Racine Ramershoven at 18th Street Arts Center and Saskia Warzecha at Galka Scheyer House (both starting in October 2025).

Thomas Mann House Resumes Regular Operations

The Thomas Mann House fellowship program has returned to normal operations since June 2025. Several fellowships scheduled for the first half of 2025 had to be postponed due to the fire but will be rescheduled for the coming year. Given that there has been less damage in its neighborhood, the Thomas Mann House was able to complete all necessary testing, cleaning, repair, and maintenance work on schedule and to reopen in time for Thomas Mann’s 150th birthday.

Thank you for your support

The damage caused by the fires continues to be tangible. Countless friends, neighbors, and partners of both residency houses have been affected by the fires or lost everything. Our thoughts and most heartfelt sympathies are with all affected individuals and communities in and around Los Angeles.

Villa Aurora & Thomas Mann House e. V. thanks its partners – especially the Federal Foreign Office, the Federal Commissioner for Culture and the Media, the Goethe-Institut, and the German Consulate General in Los Angeles – for their valuable support and close cooperation during the crisis.