William Grant Still Arts Center

William Grant Still Arts Center Tuesday - Saturday 12- 5 pm

Founded in 1977, William Grant Still Arts Center is a facility of the City of Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs offering summer camp, creative workshops, music and art classes for adults and youth, an exhibition space, concerts, and places for community meetings and the neighborhood to come together. The Center offers:

Art, movement, and music classes for seniors, adults, teens, and chil

dren, including early childhood education;
Professionally-produced exhibitions including the annual Black Doll Show for over 35 years and the African-American Composers Exhibition and Education series that displays archives and teaches music/art through the life and work of a selected composer;
Art & Jazz Summer Day Camp for ages 3-12;
Jazz-based ensemble instruction;
Partnerships with teachers at local schools and universities; and
Readings, film screenings, and concerts throughout the year
Our namesake, Dr. William Grant Still, first coined the term “art music”, which is very much in line the educational goals of our community arts center. All of the William Grant Still Arts Center’s programs are free, or are as low-cost as is possible, in order to be accessible to all in our community.

05/28/2026

Legacy lives on through the next generation. :heart:

In this special moment from the exhibition, Reggie Andrews’ grandchildren share their first impressions, reflections, and what it means to see their grandfather’s impact honored in this way. Hearing the eldest speak about wanting to continue Reggie’s legacy and commitment to community reminds us that his work was about planting seeds for generations to come.

The exhibition continues to bring together family, former students, artists, educators, and community members whose lives were shaped by his guidance, generosity, and vision.

Stop by and experience the legacy for yourself.

Free and open to the public

Tuesday–Saturday, 12–5 PM.
2520 S West View Street
LA, CA 90016

The humanitarian crisis in the Congo continues as communities face the devastating impact of the Ebola outbreak. Friends...
05/26/2026

The humanitarian crisis in the Congo continues as communities face the devastating impact of the Ebola outbreak. Friends of the Congo is raising emergency relief funds to support those directly affected.

Support the effort through the link in bio or visit the Friends of the Congo Ebola Emergency Relief fundraiser. Every contribution helps provide urgent care, resources, and support to families in need.

The William Grant Still Arts Center mourns the passing of trombonist and composer Ryan Porter, a visionary artist whose ...
05/20/2026

The William Grant Still Arts Center mourns the passing of trombonist and composer Ryan Porter, a visionary artist whose sound helped shape the landscape of contemporary Los Angeles jazz.

Ryan Porter was part of the Multi-School Jazz Band under celebrated music educator Reggie Andrews, where young musicians from across the city came together to learn, collaborate, and build community through music. Through that ensemble, he became connected to a new guard of L.A. artists dedicated to revitalizing jazz for a new generation while remaining deeply rooted in its history and spirit.

That spirit continued in 2006 with the formation of West Coast Get Down, the influential collective that included Kamasi Washington, Terrace Martin, and Stephen “Thundercat” Bruner. All of these musicians also studied with Reggie Andrews. Together, they helped usher Los Angeles jazz into a new era, blending tradition, experimentation, and community in ways that reached audiences around the world.

Ryan Porter’s artistry, generosity, and commitment to the culture carried that mission forward far beyond the classroom. His legacy lives on through the music, collaborations, and countless musicians and listeners he inspired.

Sending love and condolences to his family, friends, collaborators, and the entire Los Angeles music community.

Today is the day!!Registration for the Art & Jazz Mini Camp is now open!Join us July 6–31 for a summer filled with creat...
05/16/2026

Today is the day!!

Registration for the Art & Jazz Mini Camp is now open!

Join us July 6–31 for a summer filled with creativity, music, art, movement, and new friendships at the William Grant Still Arts Center. Spots are limited, so be sure to fill out your registration form soon.

REGISTER NOW!
https://wgsac.wordpress.com/art-jazz-mini-camp-enrollment-now-open-2026/

Visit our booth during the Mid City Arts+Music Festival tomorrow! It’s a free, family event with lots of culture and thi...
05/15/2026

Visit our booth during the Mid City Arts+Music Festival tomorrow! It’s a free, family event with lots of culture and things to do and see. We will be there from 12 noon until 5pm, and you can sign up your children ages 7-12 for summer camp. Stop by!

Spring classes have been filling the walls of the William Grant Still Arts Center with music, creativity, and energy. Re...
05/15/2026

Spring classes have been filling the walls of the William Grant Still Arts Center with music, creativity, and energy. Reggie Andrews would be so proud to hear the sounds coming from our drum classes with David Leach, keyboard classes with Kevin Soriano (with special guest sub Veritus Miller featured here), and guitar classes with Maya Loftin. Mixed Media with Adrienne DeVine has been thriving as well, with students exploring new ways to express themselves through visual art.

If you missed spring classes, registration for Art & Jazz Mini Summer Camp opens this Saturday, May 16th!

Keep an eye out for the “Register Now” flyer. Once it’s posted, the registration link will be live in the bio.

One of the best parts of this exhibition has been meeting the many people whose lives were impacted by Reggie Andrews an...
05/14/2026

One of the best parts of this exhibition has been meeting the many people whose lives were impacted by Reggie Andrews and hearing the stories they carry with them.

This is Curtis Plair of the Locke Alumni Drumline, who joined the exhibition walkthrough and listening party with Nia Andrews. Moments like these continue to show how far Reggie’s influence reached as an educator, mentor, and musician.

There is still time to experience Mystic Soil: From the Roots of Reggie Andrews. The exhibition is free and open Tuesday–Saturday, 12–5 PM. No RSVP necessary. Drop by and see us.

Yesterday, we celebrated the birthday of composer, conductor, and visionary William Grant Still. He was a pioneer whose ...
05/12/2026

Yesterday, we celebrated the birthday of composer, conductor, and visionary William Grant Still. He was a pioneer whose music and legacy continue to inspire generations.

At the William Grant Still Arts Center, that legacy lives on every day through free and accessible arts education, exhibitions, performances, intergenerational learning, and community gathering. The work continues by creating space for young artists to grow, for stories to be preserved, and for Black artistic expression to be honored and uplifted.

William Grant Still believed in the power of art to reflect humanity and expand possibility. That mission continues here through every class, exhibition, rehearsal, and conversation held within these walls.

Happy Birthday, William Grant Still. Thank you for the path you created and the vision that still guides this space today.

In honor of Teacher Appreciation Week, a look back at last month’s screening of TCB – The Toni Cade Bambara School of Or...
05/06/2026

In honor of Teacher Appreciation Week, a look back at last month’s screening of TCB – The Toni Cade Bambara School of Organizing (2025/2026) at the William Grant Still Arts Center.

Toni Cade Bambara’s work reminds us that teaching extends far beyond the classroom. As an educator, writer, and organizer, she created spaces for critical thinking, community care, and collective action which are values that continue to shape the way knowledge is shared and lived.

Following the screening, participants engaged in guided conversations that centered connection, dialogue, and learning from one another. The exchange reflected a core truth of Bambara’s legacy: everyone has something to teach, and everyone has something to learn.

This Teacher Appreciation Week, gratitude goes out to the educators (past and present) who nurture creativity, consciousness, and community in all its forms.

Kevin Soriano’s journey reflects what it means to grow through a space and return to uplift it. A former student of the ...
05/05/2026

Kevin Soriano’s journey reflects what it means to grow through a space and return to uplift it. A former student of the William Grant Still Arts Center, Kevin began in the WGSAC Youth Jazz Ensemble and has since evolved into a teaching artist, now leading keyboard classes for the next generation of young musicians.

Classes are alive with that full-circle energy of students learning not only technique, but also what it looks like to build a life in music. Kevin brings real-world experience into the classroom through his work in audio engineering, offering insight into both creative practice and professional pathways.

His story echoes a legacy highlighted in Mystic Soil: From the Roots of Reggie Andrews, which is that of an artist who sustains a career while staying rooted in community. Like Reggie Andrews, Kevin continues to bridge industry and education, showing students that it’s possible to grow, return, and give back.

Classes continue every week at the William Grant Still Arts Center, where young artists are learning from educators who understand firsthand the impact these spaces can have. Kevin’s story is a reminder of what becomes possible when community arts education is sustained across generations.

Address

2520 S. West View Street
Los Angeles, CA
90016

Telephone

+13237341165

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