. >> rose: jeff kountze is your favorite artist. >> we are fortunate to have been able to collect jeff kountze for years, cindy sherman and others we met in the early '80s, whose work we can't afford today. >> rose: yes, you could afford it. ( laughter ) so what's the status? has it become the foremost center of art innovation? >> i think this is the center of contemporary art. we have great art schools, whether u.c.l.a., cal arts, u.s.c., arts inner college, and we've got great artists in los angeles. there was a time you couldn't make it unless you were arts new york. that's all changed now. >> rose: michael govan who you no well profiled in the "new york times" and he said l.a. can be a tough place to rally civic and finl philanthropic support. >> that's true we do not have the tradition of philanthropy as older cities, so it's tough. >> rose: but you have fantastic collectors out there. >> our grand avenue, for example. mayor dick reardon raised $200 million to get walt disney concert hall built. a lot of good things happening. on grand avenue, we now have an arts high school which