EL SEGUNDO (CNS) — The Los Angeles Lakers are launching a competitive art program to recognize and support a local community of minority artists, it was announced today.

Artist Charly Palmer is partnering with the team on the In The Paint program to benefit BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) artists. Palmer and a panel of three judges will select 15 up-and-coming and established artists of color to create original pieces of work that will be showcased at the inaugural 2022 In the Paint Art Exhibition at the Los Angeles Lakers' UCLA Health Training Center next spring.

In addition, Palmer and accompanying panelists will select 10 local artists to receive grants supporting their development as artists and mentorship opportunities.

In the Paint is an organizational initiative stemming from the Lakers' six-point Racial Equity Action Plan.

“We recognized that we needed to do more to support and shine a spotlight on all the amazing BIPOC artists in our local community,” said Lakers President of Business Operations Tim Harris.

“The In the Paint program will not only highlight the works of these talented artists but also provide them with the necessary tools, as well as mentorship, needed in order to succeed.”

For more information or to submit work for consideration, go to www.lakers.com/in-the-paint.

Submissions must be received by July 31.