Cakecutter Institute serves as the managing partner of The Compton Arts Project (DBA), activating creative projects across Compton and surrounding communities. Our work is delivered through four core program areas:
1. Arts Advocacy & Policy Development
We provide pro bono consulting to the City of Compton to support the launch of its first Arts Commission and advance civic arts policies aligned with LA County standards. We also coordinate the development of a Public Art Registry and long-range Creative Placemaking Plan.

2. Creative Placemaking & Public Art
We lead community-centered initiatives like the Traffic Lightbox Project, Elliott Pinkney mural restoration, and The Compton Memory Map. These efforts combine site-specific installations, sustainable design, and augmented reality to reflect Compton’s cultural identity and increase public safety.

3. Cultural Programs & Storytelling
Signature programs include Reading the City (curated cultural panels), Compton Cipher (an international arts and cultural exchange series between Compton artists and those from Amsterdam and Panama), and the Bi-Annual Community Arts & Culture Summit (hosted at Compton College), which convenes Compton stakeholders to share updates, inform strategic planning, and shape local arts policy. Storytelling workshops, creative labs, and digital media documentation support cultural preservation and intergenerational dialogue.

4. Healing Arts & Environmental Justice
We integrate wellness and environmental resilience into our programming, partnering with local leaders to connect art with climate justice, neighborhood safety, and collective care.
Our arts programming is supported by a collaborative network that includes artists, youth, elders, civic partners, and advisory board members. We prioritize fair artist pay, equity in participation, and long-term capacity-building. Through all our efforts, Cakecutter reaffirms that community creativity should drive public policy and civic life