Autumn & Winter Art Camps
Learn more about our Kids Art Camps, and sign up now!
Mission
Brentwood Art Center provides an exceptional visual arts education for diverse students of all ages, backgrounds, and experiences through in-person and online learning led by an outstanding faculty. BAC provides equitable community access to arts programming throughout the greater Los Angeles region.
Philosophy
BAC is committed to a learning environment that is inspiring and fun for everyone. Our programs are small, enabling individualized artistic development for each participant. BAC instructors are award-winning teaching artists who motivate students by focusing on process and product, concept and skill, and creativity and structure.
Autumn & Winter Art Camps
Learn more about our Kids Art Camps, and sign up now!
OUR classes
Course offerings include from the traditional fine arts of drawing, painting, and sculpture, to the hi-tech world of motion graphics, animation, and comics. Most in-person adult classes meet once a week for 10 weeks, 3 hours per meeting, while children’s courses meet once a week for 8 weeks, 2 hours per meeting.
Online Learning
BAC also offers excellent and flexible online programming taught by world-class artists from across the globe. Most online courses meet once a week for 6 weeks, 2 hours per meeting.
History
Established in 1971 by founders Ed and Linda Buttwinick, Brentwood Art Center’s tradition has been the pursuit and achievement of high artistic standards. Since becoming a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization in 2012, BAC has provided an arts education that encourages creative self-expression and traditional skill building in a supportive environment. Throughout its history, BAC has been known for its exceptional programming in support of community, children, seniors, and veterans.
Supporting Community
BAC is committed to expanding arts access throughout the Southern California and has increased participation from students residing in some of the most economically challenged and diverse areas of LA County. A selection of recent community partners include UCLA’s Departments of Medicine, Pediatrics, and Oncology, ArtworxLA, and the Al Wooten Jr Youth Center in South Los Angeles. Since 2014, BAC has also worked with the Veterans Administrations in Westwood and Long Beach providing visual literacy skills to empower veterans to express their creativity in a safe and nurturing environment.
NEW CAMPUS
In April 2023, Brentwood Art Center opened a new campus, where it offers a full range of visual arts courses. The new 7,400 square foot two-story art center provides 8 new art studios for making, creating, innovating, and building. The Center includes a ceramics studio, painting studios, drawing studios, multipurpose spaces, and a children’s studio. The space includes movable walls for greater flexibility to offer specialized events and programming. Located at 1625 Olympic Blvd. in Santa Monica, BAC’s campus is centrally located for easy access from all over L.A. County, with a Metro Rail station just blocks away.
Important Dates
Fall 2024 Term Begins
Monday, September 16
Winter 2025 Term
Online Catalog Live
Wednesday, November
Thanksgiving Holiday
Monday, November 25 - Sunday, December 1
No classes
Autumn Art Camp (Thanksgiving Week)
Monday, November 25 - Wednesday, November 27
Fall 2024 Term Ends
Saturday, December 14
Winter Camp Begins
Monday, December 16
Winter 2025 Scholarship Deadline
Monday, December 16
Open Studio Retreat with Jill Douglas
Monday, January 6 - Friday, January 10
Winter 2025 Term Begins
Monday, January 6
Martin Luther King Day Holiday
Monday, January 20
No classes
NON-DISCRIMINATION POLICY
The Brentwood Art Center admits students of any race, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, disability, marital status, sex, age, and sexual orientation to all the rights, privileges, programs and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the center. It does not discriminate on the basis of any of these characteristics in administration of its educational policies, admission policies, scholarship, and loan programs, or other programs. Our students, staff and faculty include a diverse population, embracing a variety of traditions, and the Brentwood Art Center recognizes the importance of each individual’s beliefs and convictions. Due to our policy of non-discrimination, we maintain an academic calendar that includes a limited number of holiday closures.