2a. Mission Statement:
Angels Gate Cultural Center is a place of creative discovery, exploration and enlightenment, providing the Southern California community and visitors from around the world with opportunities for enrichment and education. (interim Mission as of Feb 04; new mission in progress Jul 07.)
2b. Organization History / Organizational Overview. Index of important events in organization's history.:
Situated on a bluff overlooking the Pacific, with notable views of ocean, harbor and hills, the Center was founded by artists residing in the Los Angeles Harbor area in 1981. Incorporated as a 501(c)3 nonprofit in 1982, the organization leased the former upper reservation of Fort MacArthur from the City of Los Angeles on a month-to-month basis, and remained small for most of its history, primarily providing inexpensive studio space for local artists. Development into a midsize organization began in 2003 with the growth of a large education program and a plan to transform the site into an innovative regioinal arts center. The organization currently produces an annual festival on the San Pedro waterfront, operates two gallery spaces year round, hosts community classes, trains treachers and provides art programs in many schools, and produces/presents the performing arts.
2c. Exhibition / Programming / Publishing History.:
The organization currently produces an annual festival on the San Pedro waterfront, operates two gallery spaces year round, hosts community classes, trains treachers and provides art programs in schools, and produces performing arts and special events, including bi-annual international residencies with artists from around the world. The Cultural Center also serves the professional artist community with studio space at below-market rates for 45 artists, including musicians, ceramists, painters, sculptors, writers, photographers, printmakers and jewelers. A new arrangement with the Port of Los Angeles is providing funding for publications for the first time: the Center’s first color show catalog was published in 2006, "History of San Pedro Punk."