Organizer Information
Angels Gate Cultural Center (AGCC) is a nonprofit contemporary arts center located at 3601 S. Gaffey St. in San Pedro, California, within the Los Angeles Harbor region. AGCC emerged from a group of San Pedro artists in the 1970s who created studio and exhibition space in the WWII-era Army barracks of Fort MacArthur at Angels Gate Park; the site was acquired by the City of Los Angeles in 1977, and AGCC was formally established as a nonprofit in 1982, officially opening as a cultural center in 1987. Today, AGCC provides professional work-studio space for over 50 artists working across ceramics, painting, sculpture, photography, printmaking, and other media, and runs a year-round program of gallery exhibitions, community classes, and arts education, including its Artists-in-Classrooms program serving thousands of students annually. Its mission is to provide space for artists to work and to engage the community through arts education, exhibitions of contemporary art, and cultural events. The Center is supported in part by the City of Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs, the Los Angeles County Department of Arts and Culture, and several private foundations.
Title & Description
Open Call for Native and Indigenous Art 2026
Angels Gate Cultural Center is seeking artwork from Native and Indigenous contemporary artists based in Southern California for a gallery exhibition at AGCC in fall 2026. The exhibition will open the weekend of September 12, 2026, and close on October 11, 2026, timed to coincide with the Many Winters Gathering of Elders (October 8–11, 2026), a four-day community event of ceremony and knowledge-sharing held at AGCC that plays a vital role in the greater Los Angeles Native community. The call invites contemporary and traditional artworks in any medium, suitable for indoor gallery conditions.
Theme
No single prescribed theme is stated in the source beyond the exhibition's overall focus on contemporary and traditional Native and Indigenous art, timed to accompany the Many Winters Gathering of Elders — described as a sacred space intended to support Indigenous communities and inspire a healthier future through ceremony and knowledge-sharing.
Categories
- Visual Arts
- Craft
- Fiber/Textile Art
- Ceramic
- Video/Film
- Photography
- Sculpture
- Installation
- Performance
- Multiple Disciplines
Eligibility
- Open to Native and Indigenous contemporary artists and artisans based in Southern California
- Open to artists and artisans of all career levels
- Up to three artworks may be submitted per individual artist; entries beyond three will be omitted from consideration
- Artworks must be suitable for indoor conditions and must reasonably fit within the shared gallery space
- Artworks that off-gas chemical odors, pose a physical safety hazard, contain hate speech or explicit content unsuitable for all ages, may damage AGCC's walls or floors, or could harbor pests are not suitable for the gallery (political or social messaging itself is not censored)
Program Benefits & Awards
- A modest exhibiting honorarium provided to each exhibiting artist who delivers the artwork on time and completes a loan agreement and W9 form
- Insurance coverage for exhibited work at fair market value, up to a combined total of $200,000 for all works on view (individual works may be capped depending on the number of works shown)
- Marketing and publicity support, including a press release package, show cards, digital materials, and promotion online, in newsletters, and in art publications where possible
- Installation support from AGCC's gallery team for ready-to-hang works
- Limited gallery technology available (screens, headphones, projectors for digital work) and a limited number of pedestals and wall shelves
- Potential opportunity for artists working in performance to perform during the exhibition
- Artists may optionally list works for sale, with sales facilitated by the Center (75% payable to the artist, 25% commission to AGCC)
Application Fee
None
How to Apply?
Online Application
Key Dates
- Application Deadline: 23 July 2026
- Artists Notified: 7 August 2026
- Artwork Delivery to Gallery: August 21–22, 2026, 9:30 AM – 4:30 PM
- Exhibition Opens to the Public: 12 September 2026 (visiting hours 10 AM – 5 PM)
- Artists' Opening Reception (tentative): September 13, 2026, 1 PM – 4 PM
- Many Winters Gathering of Elders: October 8–11, 2026 (all-day event)
- Exhibition Closes: 11 October 2026
- Artwork Pickup: October 13–17, 2026, 9:30 AM – 4:30 PM
Location
California, United States
Additional Details
- A jury panel of Native arts professionals will review submissions, including Joe D. Horse Capture (Citizen of the A'aninin Indian Tribe of Montana; Vice President of Native Collections and Chief Curator, Ahmanson Curator of Native History and Culture at the Autry Museum of the American West), Emma Robbins (Diné; artist, activist, community organizer; Director and Founder of The Chapter House in Los Angeles), and Laurie Steelink (Akimel O'otham, Gila River Community; artist and cultural practitioner; Gathering Organizing Committee member; founder of Cornelius Projects)
- Applicants are asked not to contact jury panel members directly regarding their submissions, to ensure fairness
- Due to limited gallery size, only 30–60 artworks will be accommodated, depending on size and medium
- Selection criteria include artistic quality, artistic intent, diversity of media/representation, and feasibility within the gallery space
- A Loan Agreement will specify the terms of the temporary loan of artwork
- AGCC does not provide shipping or transportation resources; local delivery by the artist is recommended, though artists may arrange and pay for their own shipping if a pre-paid return label is provided
- Complex installations will require the artist to be present to install the work directly during the installation period
- Gallery ceiling heights: first floor, 9 feet 3.5 inches; second floor, varies between 9 feet 2 inches and 10 feet 7 inches
- Accessibility note: AGCC's facilities are former WWII-era military barracks; the second-floor gallery is only accessible by stairway and is not fully accessible at this time, though AGCC is working on a multiyear accessibility plan. Artists who require ground-floor placement for accessibility reasons may indicate this in the submission form
- Public gallery hours during the exhibition period are Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, 10 AM to 5 PM; admission to the gallery and the Many Winters Gathering of Elders is free