L.A. Freewaves is a coalition of videomakers, artists, writers, educators, and community organizers commited to the exhibition and production of independent video. Freewaves is committed to empowering communities with control over their own images and access to the images created by other cultures. The coalition sees independent video as a medium uniquely expressive of the broadest spectrum of human aspirations while being financially, technically and conceptually accessible to many for personal, political and artistic expression.

As a growing democracy of 65 arts organizations, 68 schools, 32 cable stations, 35 programmers, 1000+ videomakers, L.A. Freewaves is an energetic multicultural network committed to empowering communities with control over their own images and access to the images created by other cultures.

L.A. Freewaves' mission is to make independent media an accessible tool for artistic and social expression, serving the needs of artists and audiences alike. To achieve it, the consortium produces festivals, workshops and an electronic network providing working situations wherein independent videomakers, artists, curators, programmers, cable managers, teachers and students from many sectors interface, thus becoming culturally aware of each other while producing a cogent, current reflection of Los Angeles' concerns for audiences in all parts of L.A. and neighboring areas.

The coalition produces a decentralized festivals throughout Southern California. Its 5th festival was at the Geffen Contemporary at the Museum of Contemporary Art in Los Angeles, in August, 1996.

LA Freewaves began in 1989 when representatives from the major regional video organizations met and identified the need for a democratically run, pluralistic festival, celebrating the diversity of independent video in Southern California. In November of that same year, L.A. Freewaves 1st Celebration of Independent Video took place, encompassing 35 different exhibitions and 31 repeat screenings of 185 tapes at 30 sites, plus 8 hours of programming on 19 cable systems. Screenings were held at galleries, museums, cafes, cable outlets and community centers in Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, and Ventura Counties. The Independent, in a feature article about the festival, called it "a valuable model for the media arts around the country." Its unprecedented scope and enthusiastic public reception coalesced individuals and organizations, from grass roots to high-profile, into an ongoing media alliance, representative of Los Angeles' social, cultural and economic diversity. With the need clearly identified and the working procedures established, refinement and preparation for a second, more ambitious festival began almost immediately.

In 1991, L.A. Freewaves 2nd Celebration of Independent Video doubled the audience, budget, venues and press coverage. 44 curated and carefully sited video programs appeared at art and media venues throughout Southern California. In addition, 28 schools with experimental video courses screened 150 tapes to each other over two weekends.

LA Freewaves 3rd festival in 1992 expanded to 81 exhibition, screenings and broadcasts. In 1994 the scope of the programming broadened in outreach and format; in 1994 L.A. Freewaves presented 5 intensely provocative shows at the long-standing American Film Institute National Video Festival and produced a series of hour long, highly accessible cable shows airing in a 4 county area. In addition, TV at Large was a spectacle event at the idyllic John Anson Ford Amphitheater where independent videos were projected on the large screen coupled with live music, comedy, and rap performances.

In addition to producing video events LA Freewaves also organized workshops and panel discussions, most recently about interactive and computer hardware and software. LA Freewaves also distributes exhibitions to LA's public libraries and public high schools.