The ECF Art Centers are enrolling

at Four of our studios!

SOUTH LA - WESTSIDE - SAN PEDRO - WHITTIER

Are you an artist over the age of 18 and looking for a supportive community where you can get art instruction, mentorship and the support you need, along with opportunities to sell your artwork!? Look no further, the ECF Art Centers might be just the place for you. We support adult artists with intellectual and developmental disabilities, of all abilities, further their career in the arts!

A background in art is not necessary. We are looking for people who have an interest in art, pursuing a career in art, looking for a place to try new and creative things, enjoy working with their hands or have a passion for a visual language. Every artist joins the ECF Art Centers at a different point in their career; some after graduating from High School or transitioning from another career in their adult life - some have had years of experience before joining us and some are self taught artists, creatives or makers. We are here to meet the artist where they are at and support them on their path.

Here are a few other qualities and interests a person might have that make a great artist :

collector - list keeper - sewer - collage maker - avid magazine clipper - avid note taker - tinkerer - sketcher - organizer - beader - so much more!

OUR STUDIOS

Each ECF Art Center studio has slightly different amenities on site but all studios are wheel chair accessible. The art techniques described below are a general description but all staff are well versed in a variety of art techniques and provide individual art instruction based on artist’s interests, as space and on site amenities allow.

SCHEDULE & INSTRUCTION

The ECF Art Center studios are open Monday - Friday (some studios may very due to covid transitions) from 8:30am - 2:30pm (some hours may very to accommodate transportation). Artists who join the studios can choose to enroll part time (2-4 days per week) or full time (5 days a week). Schedules are created on an individual basis and based on availability. We operate the ECF Art Centers like an open studio rather than a schedule of classes, meaning that artists work on individual goals rather than a general curriculum.

Each enrolled artist has a primary work station and primary Instructor they work with. Instructor assignments are made based on the artist interests and availability of Instructors in that specific medium of interest. Enrolled artists have the opportunity to create artwork in their chosen medium and also encouraged to try new and different techniques as they see fit, or as they are ready. All our instruction and support is done on an individual basis with the artists interests, goals, health/safety and well being in mind. After attending for 30 days artists develop individual art goals to work toward while enrolled in the studio.

This is a year round service with no cap on how long an artist can be enrolled. We currently have artists who have been with us for more than 50 years! They are professional artists working in their chosen art studio creating their portfolio of work.

Throughout a day in the studio artist’s will work on self guided art projects and receive 1 on 1 and group instruction as well as individual support as needed based on their goals and identified needs in the studio. All instructors are trained artists with specific skill sets (such as ceramics, digital art, printmaking, fibers, drawing, painting) as well as versed in a variety of art techniques to support the diverse interests of enrolled artists.

All artists bring their own lunch and any snacks to the studio. Artists can use a communal fridge and are supported in using the microwave to heat food as needed. Staff offer reminders for break times and lunch times during the day.

CONTACT US

For more information about enrollment or if you are interested in a tour please email our Program Director.

Christian Alvarez, Program Director ECF Art Centers

calvarez@ecf.net

The ECF Art Centers partner with our local regional centers to support artists in our programs. Many artists that attend the ECF Art Centers are sponsored/funded by their local regional center to attend our studio. We also have artists from Self Determination programs as well as some who private pay. We work with all regional centers across LA County to support artists in our studios. To get more information about your regional center and supports that are available for people with disabilities please use the links below.

LINKS TO REGIONAL CENTER WEBSITES

Eastern Los Angeles Regional Center (ELARC) - http://www.elarc.org/

Frank D. Lanterman Regional Center (FDLRC) - https://lanterman.org/

Harbor Regional Center (HRC) - http://www.harborrc.org/

South Central Los Angeles Regional Center (SCLARC) - https://sclarc.org/

Westside Regional Center (WRC) - https://westsiderc.org/

North Los Angeles Regional Center (NLARC) - https://www.nlacrc.org/