Headlands Center for the Arts facts for kids

Headlands Center for the Arts, a special place for artists.

A coyote at Headlands in 2021.

Artist Ariel Goldberg at Headlands in 2010.

The Headlands Center for the Arts is a unique place in Marin County, California. It hosts a famous program where artists from all over the world can live and create art. It also offers public events for everyone to enjoy. The center is located in old military buildings that artists have helped to fix up.

What Headlands Does

Headlands Center for the Arts helps artists explore new ideas and create amazing new artwork. Through its programs, artists can research, talk, and share their thoughts. This helps people understand and appreciate how important art is in our world.

How Headlands Started

The idea for Headlands Center for the Arts came about after old military land was given to the National Park Service. The Park Service worked with groups like Headlands to restore historic buildings. They also wanted to create programs for the public.

Headlands was officially started in 1982 by a group of local artists. In 1994, Headlands made a long-term agreement to use the buildings within the Golden Gate National Recreation Area. In 2021, Maricelle Robles became the first Latina executive director of the organization.

The Headlands Campus

The land where Headlands is located was first home to the Coast Miwok people. For over a century, it was used as a military base called Fort Barry. The United States Army left in 1972, and the land became part of the National Park Service.

Headlands is now in nine historic military buildings from 1907 at Fort Barry. The studios where artists work, offices, and public rooms are in two large, four-story former army barracks.

Artists Help Renovate Buildings

Since 1985, Headlands has fixed up these old buildings by asking artists to help. Famous American artists like Ann Hamilton, David Ireland, Bruce Tomb, and John Randolph have designed and overseen the renovation of the main building's public rooms.

In 1998, artist Leonard Hunter and architect Mark Cavagnero led the award-winning renovation of another old Army storage building from 1907. This building now holds studios for other artists in the Affiliate Artist program.

Artists-in-Residence Program

The Artist in Residence (AIR) Program is known worldwide. It brings together talented artists from many fields, including visual arts, writing, performing, and new media. These artists come from all over the U.S. and other countries.

The AIR program gives artists a supportive place to work. It allows them time to experiment, think, and grow. Artists can stay for one to six months, with most living there for about three months. About 30 artists are chosen each year, from March to November. The best part is that artists do not have to pay to be part of this program.

The program focuses on the artist's journey of exploring and creating. It's not just about showing their finished work. AIR artists join a community of up to 70 artists each year. This includes other special award winners, with about forty artists on site at any time.

Artist Studio Facilities

The Fort Barry campus has nearly 40 studios, shared homes, and spaces for offices, performances, and events. The studios and public rooms are in two large, four-story former army barracks. These rooms have high ceilings, big windows, and hardwood floors.

Housing for Artists

Artists who live at Headlands share historic military officers’ houses. This helps them feel at home while they create.

Famous Artists Who Have Been Here

Many artists who have been part of the Headlands program have won major awards. These include the MacArthur Fellowship, Guggenheim Fellowship, and The Rome Prize. Their work has also been shown at important art events like the Whitney Biennial and the Venice Biennale.

Some of the notable artists who have been at Headlands include: