Los Angeles Downtown Arts District Space

Through their programming and other initiatives, LADADspace is strengthening the cultural fabric of the Arts District. Their promotion of the arts will not only enhance the quality of life for people living in the community but for all residents in the City of Los Angeles.

Review of LADAD space 06/05/15

LADADspace is the most important organization in promoting and keeping the artists in the Arts District of Los Angeles. They are actively involved in preserving the art history of the Art District by their efforts to save important loft buildings threatened with demolition such as the Pickle Factory, known when it was artist housing as the Citizens Warehouse, and providing a space for exhibitions of artist who once lived in the district and those who still do. They have shown the work of Stephen Seemayer, one of the original artists, a member of “The Young Turks,” who moved into the once nearly uninhabited warehouses, abandoned manufacturing and other disused buildings, and Carlton Davis, the creator of the unique drive-by gallery, “The Art Dock.”

LADADspace has kept avant-garde theatre alive in this now trendy area that is burgeoning with restaurants, bars, and boutiques, where what made this area the attraction that is threatened with disappearing to the detriment of creative energy of Los Angeles. LADADspace operates an innovative program of helping at-risk youth find art as a lever to improve their lives and provide future artists who will be associated with this most dynamic district in Los Angeles, a place teeming with murals, street art, foreigner seeking the zone of artist in Los Angeles, and young adults looking to find a place that stimulates their creativity.

LADADspace is a treasure that must be supported and allowed to grow as downtown LA grows to be the urban and creative center of the world-class city.

This group is so passionate about the Arts and it shows in their dedication to the organization!

LADAD Space...wonderful group...steadfast. They have been about the business of building places for the exhibition of visual and performance art in the Los Angeles Arts District for many years. A very long process. They are on the cusp of a new home right across the street from SCI-Arc, where I work as the COO. They have assembled a group of volunteers whose mission is to keep art in the Arts District in an period of rapid gentrification. Their leader ,Tim Keating, is a lovely person who makes you want to help out. As I said...they are on the cusp of opening an art/performance space which is a long-held dream...I wish them well in their final push to raise funds for this. Jamie

I also volunteer and work for LADADSpace. They are so well connected in the area. They help so many people - from artist organizations, to artists, to playwrights, to at risk youth. They have been doing this for decades and it shows. This organization is one of the few groups focusing on the long term view - and looking at how to build a great artist community in the face of area gentrification. Your dollars will go far here.

I moved to the Arts District 3 months ago and reached out to the LADADSpace as a way to learn more about my new community. I was hired on as a development intern and have been assisting with such things as grant writing and research. I have also had the opportunity to work with board member and District Gallery Director Jonathan Jerald in the District Gallery where I learned about how much the Arts District has changed over the years and about all the artists that have made passionate, powerful work in the community.

I have been able to attend numerous events including District Gallery openings that features local artists as well as Bloomfest; a festival created by the LADADSpace to celebrate the Arts District community with local food trucks and live music in the main square of the neighborhood. I have also had the privilege of seeing world-renowned artist and long time Arts District resident Paul McCarthy create a film on my street!

It has been inspiring to see how the organization cultivates relationships with local business owners, artists, and residents and is interested in our voice as community members and making sure we are heard. I have learned so much, not only about LADADSpace and what it stands for, but what it means to be a part of something beyond myself (not to mention developing my writing skills!) It has been a real pleasure to be involved with an organization that advocates so strongly for the arts and the community that I am now proud to be a part of. I am excited to see what positive change they will continue to affect in the Arts District and I look forward to continuing to learn and grow with the organization.