ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT REPORTS FROM THE TIMES, NEWS SERVICES AND THE NATION’S PRESS.

THE ARTS Getty Commissions: The J. Paul Getty museum, best known for its rich collections and scholarly activities, has commissioned works by 11 L.A. artists for an exhibition, “Departures: 11 Artists at the Getty,” to be held Feb. 29 through May 7. Artists commissioned for the exhibition, which will feature works responding to the Getty’s collections, are John Baldessari, Uta Barth, Sharon Ellis, Judy Fiskin, Martin Kersels, John M. Miller, Ruben Ortiz-Torres, Lari Pittman, Stephen Prina, Alison Saar and Adrian Saxe. “For two centuries, museums have been a challenge to artists and sometimes an inspiration,” Getty director John Walsh said in announcing the commissions. “It seems a good idea to start the new millennium with an invitation for experiments.” The Getty has also commissioned a large-scale stainless steel and bronze sculpture by New York artist Martin Puryear that will be installed in late October in the Getty Center’s tram arrival plaza.

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Culture Study: The Pew Charitable Trust is embarking on a five-year multimillion-dollar project to address cultural policy issues and establish a “vital infrastructure” for American arts and culture. Called “Optimizing America’s Cultural Resources,” the initiative’s first grant is a $1.2-million award to the Santa Monica-based Rand Corp. to shepherd an 18-month study of the arts in America today that’s intended to “lay the research cornerstone” for the overall Pew culture initiative. “Art and culture are the second-largest export in America after technology,” said Marian A. Godfrey, director of the Pew’s Culture Program. “[Yet] we have no organizing framework for this remarkable cultural richness and no overall context in which to understand and nurture it. The main goal of this initiative is to usher in a new era of cultural policy development to ensure that the cultural heritage and artistic resources of the United States are appropriately sustained and supported.”

POP/ROCK

CMA Nods: Tim McGraw was nominated for seven Country Music Assn. awards Tuesday, including best entertainer, male vocalist, album (“A Place in the Sun”) and single (“Please Remember Me”). Vince Gill was next in the tally with five nods, including best male vocalist, album (“The Key”) and song (“If You Ever Have Forever in Mind”). In addition to McGraw, the nominees for best entertainer are Garth Brooks, George Strait, Shania Twain and the Dixie Chicks. The awards air Sept. 22 on CBS.

MOVIES

‘Wattstax’ Program: The International Documentary Assn. presents its Mentorship Award to David Wolper tonight before the screening of his documentary, “Wattstax,” at the John Anson Ford Amphitheater. The cult film features comedy narration from a young Richard Pryor and shows Isaac Hayes, the Staples Singers and others at a 1972 L.A. Coliseum performance in memory of the 1965 Watts Riots. The 7:30 program, part of the Hollywood Film Festival’s opening night, includes a performance by the First AME Choir.

QUICK TAKES

Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences President Robert Rehme has been appointed by Librarian of Congress James H. Billington to serve a four-year term on the National Film Preservation Foundation, which supports the preservation of “orphan films” not protected by commercial interests. . . . The Barry White and Earth, Wind & Fire concert at the Arrowhead Pond of Anaheim, originally set for Sunday, has been rescheduled for Sept. 28. Though White was initially said to be suffering from exhaustion, he has since been hospitalized for a blood pressure problem, the tour promoter said Tuesday. Tickets for Sunday’s show will be honored for the new date or may be refunded at point of purchase. . . . Spanish-language network Telemundo and Grammy-winning superstar Ricky Martin have entered into an exclusive alliance for coverage of his upcoming U.S. concert tour, beginning later this month. The partnership will include exclusive interview specials and ticket give-aways, as well as Spanish-language broadcast rights to Martin’s concerts.