ABOUT US
Frogtown Arts, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit community organization along the LA River advocates for the positive, transformative effects of the arts by providing valuable resources and creative opportunities. We facilitate collaborative, educational and celebratory spaces of exchange for artists and community members to thrive and to experience pride of place.
"Your years of service towards creating a sense of community and place along the Los Angeles River will have a positive impact for the generations to come."
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Assembly member, Jimmy Gomez in 2016
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OUR MISSION
Frogtown Arts, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit community organization along the LA River advocates for the positive, transformative effects of the arts by providing valuable resources and creative opportunities. We facilitate collaborative, educational and celebratory spaces of exchange for artists and community members to thrive and to experience pride of place.
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The Frogtown Arts was formed in 2008 to manage the Frogtown Artwalk, but quickly expanded it's mission to provide a variety of arts programming to the youth and neighbors of Elysian Valley.
2025
IMPACT REPORT
2025 asked a lot of us. Funding tightened, the ground shifted and so did we! This past year tested our resilience, our creativity and our belief in what art can hold when times are tough. With fewer resources and bigger questions, we leaned into community, collaboration and care. We produced our 3rd Illuminate the Night festival, our 2nd Frogtown First Fridays series, continued with arts education, literary events and filmmaking. Download our Project & Impact Report and find out more about our experience in 2025.
PROGRAMMING
OVERVIEW
The Frogtown Artwalk is our signature event since 2006 and is offered biennially on even-numbered years. The 15 year old festival was created to bridge the divide between artists and residents in the mixed use neighborhood of Elysian Valley, affectionately known as "Frogtown," and to provide support for the group of artists occupying the former manufacturer buildings along the Los Angeles River. Illuminate the Night, also running biennially in odd-numbered years, is a more recent festival that celebrates the performing arts, light installations and invites participants to "bring the light" to the LA River. Frogtown First Fridays will see it's third season from May - October 2026.
Since 2009, Frogtown Arts has offered free or low-cost art classes to the youth and adults. Class offerings have included drawing, painting, ceramics, photography, mosaic and video film-making.
From time to time, the Frogtown Arts sponsors juried art shows. Shows are typically open to youth and adults and are juried by working artists, art professionals and curators in the Frogtown neighborhood and around greater Los Angles.
As part of its mission, Frogtown Arts supports filmmakers by producing documentary film projects that use oral history techniques and archival photos to capture stories of the history of Frogtown, the LA River and local artists. Some films include MAJA (2023), Art Along the River (2024) and Water, words & The City Converge (2025)
GET INVOLVED
BECOME A SUPPORTER
BECOME AN ARTIST MEMBER
BECOME A SITE MEMBER
Interesting in supporting our year-round programs and events? Learn how your contribution can help the EVAC community
Interested in creating your own Artist Profile page on the EVAC website? Want to show your work at the Frogtown Artwalk? Become an Artist Member!
Join our mailing list and keep up to date on the latest classes, events, and artist opportunities from the EVAC.
BECOME A CREATIVE PARTNER
GIVE A DONATION
VOLUNTEER WITH US
Interested in hosting an Art Class? Have an idea for a Workshop? Send us an email through the link below, we'd love to partner with you on future Events and Classes.
Your generosity is the source and strength of our success. Through your contributions, the EVAC continues to offer education and resources to the community of Elysian Valley.
Are you interested in volunteering with us at our next event? Click below to tell us more about yourself and how you'd like to help.
ABOUTÂ FROGTOWNÂ
The area was traditionally a working class neighborhood of small bungalows on very small lots. When the 5 Freeway was built, the city re-zoned the residential properties bordering the river to create a new industrial area. The freeway construction demolished the commercial center of the community and effectively cut it off from the neighboring districts, leaving limited points of access into the neighborhood. The new industries provided jobs for local residents.
As heavy industry started to leave LA, the small-scale warehouses and factories left behind in Elysian Valley attracted artists and crafts people to the area.
