About Our Residency Programs 

18th Street Arts Center values art making as an essential component of a vibrant, just, and healthy society. Its mission is “to provoke public dialogue through contemporary art making.” Founded in 1988, 18th Street Arts Center has fostered and supported the work of many of Los Angeles’ most engaging artists, and has built bridges to artist communities around the globe.

18th Street Arts Center’s residency programs help build and strengthen the creative community by working with local, national and international artists and curators. There are five types of residencies, including local organizations in residence, where arts organizations have their offices and activities on our campus; local artists in residence, where LA-based artist occupy either live/work or day work studios for 1 year or more; a visiting artist program that hosts international and national artists and curators from between 1 to 3 months; a curator in residence, who has studio space for one calendar year to conduct research and foster community engagement through ancillary programs, such as symposia, lectures, and artist talks; and the Artist Lab Residency program, structured as both a residency and an exhibition for an LA-based artist (by invitation).

18th Street Arts Center’s visiting artist residency program has hosted more than 500 artists from dozens of countries around the world since it first began in 1992. Their presence at the Center has enlivened the multicultural dialogue of Los Angeles. Over the past 29 years, more than 8,000 diverse visual and performing artists have participated in programs at 18th Street Arts Center ranging from group and individual exhibitions to special events and presentations.

Choose an option above to learn more about each program. We look forward to having you!