The Armory Center for the Arts builds on the power of art to transform lives and communities through creating, teaching, and presenting the arts. At the core of the Armory’s work is a deep commitment to social justice through arts education. A key goal of the Armory’s mission is to provide engaging, high-quality art classes and art experiences in the region’s lowest income neighborhoods in order to advance cultural equity. Over 80% of programming serves socioeconomically disadvantaged youth and families.

Deeply committed to public access, education, and outreach programs, the Armory presents contemporary art exhibitions, performances, and educational experiences at its main facility and at satellite locations throughout Pasadena and Los Angeles. Two tenets historically make the Armory unique: engagement of professional artists with the community as educators and as exhibiting artists; and innovation and leadership in responding to the artistic needs of the community.