Headlands Center for the Arts facts for kids

Headlands Center for the Arts building

A coyote near Headlands, 2021

Artist Ariel Goldberg at Headlands, 2010

The Headlands Center for the Arts is a special place in Marin County, California. It's where artists from all over the world come to create new art. This center is located in old military buildings that artists have helped fix up. It also offers fun public programs for everyone to enjoy.

What is Headlands Center for the Arts?

Headlands Center for the Arts helps artists explore their ideas. It gives them a quiet place to work and think. Through its programs, Headlands helps people understand art better. It shows how important art is in our world.

How Headlands Center for the Arts Started

The Headlands Center for the Arts began in 1982. It was created after old military land became part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area. The National Park Service worked with groups like Headlands. These groups helped restore old buildings. They also created programs for the public.

Artists were a big part of starting Headlands. In 1994, Headlands made a long-term agreement. This allowed them to use the historic buildings. In 2021, Maricelle Robles became the new leader. She is the first Latina executive director for the center.

Exploring the Headlands Campus

The land where Headlands is located has a long history. The Coast Miwok people lived there first. Later, it became a military base called Fort Barry. The United States Army left in 1972. Then, the land was given to the National Park Service.

Headlands Center for the Arts uses nine historic buildings. These buildings were built in 1907. They used to be army barracks and storage depots. Today, they are studios, offices, and public spaces.

Artists Help Renovate Buildings

Since 1985, artists have helped fix up these old buildings. They have designed and overseen the renovations. Famous American artists like Ann Hamilton and David Ireland worked on the main building.

In 1998, artist Leonard Hunter and architect Mark Cavagnero helped too. They restored an old army storage building. This building now holds studios for more artists.

The Artist-in-Residence Program

The Artist-in-Residence (AIR) Program is very well-known. It brings together amazing artists from many fields. These include visual arts, writing, performing, and new media. Artists come from all over the U.S. and other countries.

The AIR program gives artists a supportive place to work. They get time to experiment, think, and grow. About 30 artists come each year, from March to November. They can live at Headlands or work from outside. The best part is, there is no fee to join! Residencies can last from one to six months. Most artists stay for about three months.

The program focuses on the artist's creative process. It's about how they explore and make art. It's not just about showing their finished work. Many artists are at Headlands at any time. This creates a lively community.

Artist Studio Spaces

The Fort Barry campus has almost 40 studios. It also has shared homes for artists. There are spaces for offices, performances, and events. The main studios are in two old army barracks. These rooms have high ceilings, big windows, and hardwood floors.

Housing and Other Benefits

Artists who live at Headlands share historic military officers' houses. This gives them a comfortable place to stay while they create.

Notable Artists from Headlands

Many artists who have been at Headlands are now very famous. They have won major awards like MacArthur Fellowships and Guggenheim Fellowships. Their work has been shown in important art events. These include the Whitney Biennial and the Venice Biennale.

Here are some of the notable artists who have been part of Headlands: