Angels Gate Cultural Center

A nonprofit organization

0% complete

$20,000 Goal

Angels Gate Cultural Center (AGCC) is a nonprofit organization that elevates artists as integral and essential to a healthy and vibrant community; we support contemporary artists and their work through gallery exhibitions, studio artist residencies, in- and out-of-school arts education programming, and a year-round calendar of artist-focused public programs. Your support today will allow for us to continue expanding our programming year-round.

AGCC unites art, community, and culture through creative discovery, exploration, and enlightenment. The Center emerged from a group of San Pedro artists in the 1970s, who created artist studios and exhibition space within the 1940s-era Army barracks of Angels Gate Park. In addition to our Studio Artist program, which provides professional work-studio space for 52 artists of various mediums, AGCC provides the Southern California community with a year-round schedule of gallery exhibitions, arts & cultural events, and community classes.

Open Studios Fall 2023. Photo by Jordan Rodriguez

The core of the Center's education programming is our Artists-in-Classroom residency program, which places professional artists into schools for 12-weeks to provide enriched, skill-based arts education. In 2024, AGCC served a total of 113 classrooms in Los Angeles County, serving over 3,000 students. We also offer Arts + Exploration Field trips for 3rd graders, during which students are taken on a guided tour through our gallery followed by an art making workshop. For many of these students, this is their first contemporary art/gallery experience.

“The [AIC] program is wonderful. The art lessons were creative and new concepts for my kids. They were also encouraged to be themselves. The opportunity is invaluable. This area is low social-economic and these students would never have that opportunity without this [program],” a teacher shared.

Arts+Exploration Field Trip. Uplifting Tales and Eroded Histories. 2023

In 2024, we served over 14,000 on-campus visitors and 6,000+ virtually. AGCC hosted 35 events and were thrilled for the return of our three largest annual events: Spring and Fall Open Studios Days, Soundpedro, an annual ear-oriented multi-sensory sound art event, and the Many Winters Gathering of Elders (MWGOE), a four-day event, that brings together Indigenous community leaders and elders from across the country with the goal of fostering a greater understanding of traditional Indigenous knowledge, cultural beliefs, contemporary struggles and to provide culturally educational experiences.

The Center presented 10 exhibitions which reflected diverse themes and provided paid exhibition opportunities for 6 curators and 88 artists. Exhibitions included free auxiliary programming including artist talks, workshops, and performances, as well as virtual gallery walkthroughs for accessibility.

Open Studios Day Fall 2023. RED EARTH GAZE. Photo by Jordan Rodriguez

Angels Gate Cultural Center is thrilled to continue serving our community with innovative arts and arts education programming through your generous donation today.


Testimonials


"I’m so proud to be an artist at Angels Gate Cultural Center. AGCC is so dynamic in everything they do, it’s a unique force that I’ve never seen before. AGCC provides affordable and unique studios in this gorgeous setting. It’s just amazing, and there’s always a hum here of energy that’s alive. It’s great to be here.” —Regina Herod, AGCC Studio Artist

What do local elementary school teachers think about AGCC's Artists-in-Classrooms (AIC) program?

“My students showed high engagement and a great sense of accomplishment,” shared Ms. Carvajal. “The arts can change lives. The program changed my students' attitudes about coming to school, built relationships, confidence and trust!”

Ms. Van Sant says, “The [art] classes really helped the students learn how to work together, have fun, and create something bigger than their individual work.”

Giving Activity

Mission

Angels Gate Cultural Center's mission is to provide space for artists to work and to engage community through arts education, exhibitions of contemporary art, and cultural events. AGCC is committed to thoughtful cultural diversity, equity, and inclusion within all facets of the organization: leadership, artists, programming, and community engagement. We believe that when the arts are truly accessible and culturally inclusive, they are a catalyst for community belonging and positive change.

Organization Data

Summary

Organization name

Angels Gate Cultural Center

Tax id (EIN)

95-3688214

Operating Budget

Large ($1,000,000+)

Mission Category

Arts & Culture

City Council District

District 7

Address

3601 S. Gaffey St.
San Pedro, CA 90731

Service areas

Los Angeles County, CA, US

Long Beach, CA, US

Los Angeles, CA, US

Lomita, CA, US

Carson, CA, US

Phone

310-519-0936

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