Art + Practice
Los Angeles Learn more about what's on at Art + Practice and the artists shaping its programme.Art + Practice (A+P) is a private non-profit foundation in Leimert Park, South Los Angeles, founded in 2014 by artist Mark Bradford, philanthropist and collector Eileen Harris Norton, and community activist Allan DiCastro. Occupying a nearly 20,000-square-foot campus in Leimert Park Village, A+P presents museum-curated contemporary art and provides support services for transition-age foster youth. Admission to its exhibitions and public programs is free and open to the public.
A+P’s stated mission is two-fold: to support the local needs of transition-age foster youth in South Los Angeles and children experiencing displacement worldwide through its collaborations with nonprofit social-service providers First Place for Youth and PILAglobal, while providing free access to museum-curated contemporary art for Angelenos.
Art and Exhibitions
Art + Practice contemporary art exhibitions are often developed in collaboration with partner institutions, notably the California African American Museum (CAAM) and the Hammer Museum. A five-year initiative, ‘CAAM at A+P’ (2022–2027), for example, has brought CAAM-organised shows such as the solo exhibition Deborah Roberts: I’m (2022) to A+P’s exhibition space in Leimert Park. Earlier collaborations included Njideka Akunyili Crosby: The Beautyful Ones (2015), the artist’s first solo exhibition in Los Angeles, organised by the Hammer Museum and presented at A+P. Exhibitions change several times a year and often foreground artists living or working in Los Angeles, alongside national and international voices presented through museum partnerships.
Education and Social Practice
Education is central to A+P’s vision of presenting museum-curated contemporary art alongside support services for transition-age foster youth on a single campus in Leimert Park. Locally, A+P’s Foster Youth Practice Space and partner programs support housing, education, employment, and wellness needs—including mental-health and job-readiness services—for young adults emerging from foster care in South Los Angeles. Globally, its collaboration with Nest Global (2022–2024) funds teachers’ salaries and supports learning centers that prioritise participation and interactivity, trauma-informed care, art programs, and well-compensated teachers for children and families experiencing global forced migration and poverty. Through free public programs such as conversations, screenings, and other events, A+P offers additional opportunities for dialogue around contemporary art and social issues.
Art + Practice FAQs
What is Art + Practice in LA?
Art + Practice is a private operating 501(c)(3) foundation in Leimert Park, South Los Angeles, founded in 2014 by artist Mark Bradford, philanthropist and collector Eileen Harris Norton, and community activist Allan DiCastro. It combines museum-curated contemporary art exhibitions with programs that support transition-age foster youth and children experiencing displacement worldwide.
What kind of art and exhibitions does A+P present?
A+P hosts free contemporary art exhibitions organised by partner museums, notably through the ‘CAAM at A+P’ collaboration with the California African American Museum. These shows are museum-curated and change several times a year, often featuring artists connected to Los Angeles alongside wider national and international perspectives.
How does Art + Practice support foster youth and education?
On its Leimert Park campus, A+P offers a Foster Youth Practice Space and collaborates with social-service providers to support housing, education, and employment needs of transition-age foster youth in South Los Angeles. Internationally, its partnership with Nest Global funds teachers and learning centers for children and families affected by forced migration and poverty.
Where is Art + Practice located and is admission free?
Art + Practice is based in Leimert Park Village in South Los Angeles, operating from a campus of roughly 20,000 square feet that includes an exhibition space and public program areas. Admission to all exhibitions and contemporary art programs is free and open to the public.
How are exhibitions and artists selected at A+P?
Exhibitions at Art + Practice are proposed, planned, and organised by collaborating museums, which select the artists and develop the curatorial framework. A+P co-organises and installs the exhibitions on its campus, providing space, staff, and logistical support while maintaining its focus on community access and social practice.
What is Mark Bradford’s role at Art + Practice?
Art + Practice was founded in 2014 by artist Mark Bradford together with philanthropist and collector Eileen Harris Norton and community activist Allan DiCastro. Bradford’s role at A+P is as a co-founder and board leader shaping its mission to combine museum-curated contemporary art with support for transition-age foster youth.
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