Mayor’s Statement to Award Management Agreement for Airport Art Studios to 18th Street Arts Center
December 19, 2018 9:35 AM
SANTA MONICA, Calif. – At tonight’s council meeting, City Council’s authorized 18th Street Art Center to manage the arts program at the Santa Monica Airport Studios (SMAS) for the next five-year period.
“Santa Monica has a deep history of prioritizing the importance of being a haven for the creation of
City Council directed staff in 2016 to obtain thorough community input and planning process that was conducted during 2018. The process focused on best practices for implementing a new management structure that meets the requirements of the Council and the Consent Decree with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), as well as exploring ways to expand the arts program offerings to benefit both tenant artists and the greater Santa Monica community.
Background Information
In March of 2016, the City’s revised its Airport Leasing Policy and eliminated the widespread practice of subleasing City property that resulted in windfall profits to many aviation tenants holding master leases. The provision was made in the revised Leasing Policy to support continued “opportunities for arts, education, and culture, including, but not limited to, the Artist Space Program administered in conjunction with Cultural Affairs Division.”
Establishing new lease terms for the existing SMAS facility necessitated a different business model for the arts program at the site, which allowed the City to consider how it might best utilize this public asset to enhance its support for artists and the public in the future. For more information, review the staff report presented to
About 18th Street Arts Center
Founded as a non-profit in 1988 and located in Santa Monica, 18th Street Arts Center has long been a space for artists. Currently, the organization provides a hub for contemporary art through its Residency Program as well as public events and exhibitions focused on engaging the public and revealing the art-making process through exhibitions, events, talks, publications
Media Contact
Miranda Iglesias
Public Information Coordinator
Miranda.Iglesias@SMGOV.NET