Building a thriving community with equal access to creative expression

A thriving community begins with equal access to opportunity for individuals to live safely and affordably, make a living, raise families, and achieve their full potential. In addition to meeting basic needs, a thriving community also integrates opportunities for expression through arts and culture.

Rosario Calatayud-Serna founded Art Space Huntington Park to inspire creativity in her community. She grew up in Huntington Park, the daughter of Mexican immigrants who owned several businesses. Rosario is part of a new generation of artists, local leaders, and business owners who understand and value the role of the arts in making our communities better places to live and raise families. 

Rosario Calatayud-Serna, founder of Art Space Huntington Park with Southeast Los Angeles-based artist Nereida Gutiérrez

Art Space is the first-of-its-kind art gallery in Huntington Park – a city in Southeast Los Angeles with 97% Hispanic or Latino residents and a median household income of $51,000. A geographic area that faces some of the highest levels of food insecurity and pollution in the state, Rosario has a deep commitment to championing social justice in her local community. 

Art is a powerful form of expression. It can change perspectives, help us to better understand the world around us, and make people feel more connected with the world. Access to art and culture may also improve key aspects of social well-being in underserved communities. Yet, studies show that underserved neighborhoods consistently lack access to art and affordable art-making activities. Art Space is bridging the gap by providing engaging activities for audiences of all ages including workshops, classes, and artist talks.

Art Space opened its doors a week before COVID-19 shuttered businesses across Los Angeles County, and the world. Rosario quickly shifted to offering marketing services, which were a primary need for many business owners. 

Since reopening in 2021, Rosario has hosted community events, including a series of markets to support independent makers. She will soon be launching a partnership with an independent bookstore to promote art, literacy, and community. 

In 2022, Rosario was one of 17 small businesses that received flexible capital from LISC LA’s Asset Building for Communities of Color (ABC) program. With support from Wells Fargo, ABC is investing directly in small businesses operating in communities of color across LA County by offering flexible capital paired with technical assistance to help them grow, maintain and create jobs, and build wealth.

With the investment from ABC, Rosario has made several upgrades to the gallery space, which included purchasing a hanging system to facilitate exhibition turnaround. As a result, Art Space hosted its first exhibition with Southeast Los Angeles-based artist Nereida Gutiérrez and a family and art-making day this past April.

“There is a new wave of young, Latino entrepreneurs who are making the neighborhoods they grew up in better places to live and raise their own families, and I am excited and proud to be one of them,” said Rosario.

Art Space was recently featured by CBS News’ SoCal Spotlight! Check it out: https://www.cbsnews.com/losangeles/video/socal-spotlight-huntington-parks-art-space-hp-art-gallery/.