A cooperative hub by-and-for artists to practice mutual care, shared economics, and unabashed creativity.
The Story
Artists and culture keepers serve as the immune and imaginary systems of our communities by helping us face the questions that are otherwise too heavy to hold. Artists offer new pathways—new ways of seeing, grieving, celebrating, and building.
In the Bay Area, more and more artists are being pushed out by the rising cost of living. We’re struggling to stay planted, find stable housing, and make and share our work. Our current strategies for survival—often marked by isolation and competition—leave many of us feeling disconnected and burned out.
EACH exists because artists deserve connective tissue.
Beyond real estate and grant opportunities, we need strong relationships, resource-sharing, and healing so we can stay rooted in our work, our communities, and our freedom.
“Are you sure, sweetheart, that you want to be well? Just so you’re sure and ready to be healed.”
– Jess. X. Snow mural @ Harmony House –>
Culture Circles
Pilot Program
Culture Circles are small groups of local artists who meet consistently and support one another’s
lives + art in order to build shared economic and community power over time.
What happens in a culture circle
Artists meet regularly to exchange (updates, money, ideas, opportunities, care, and feedback)
We study + practice together what a catalyzing and caring artist economy could look like. We form study and practice groups and undertake cycles of action and reflection.
We make art that’s resonant with our home, shaped by the realities and possibilities of our local community and land.
We give back to the land that holds and inspires us—showing up for community gardens and restoration days, and making our art in ways that reduce waste and use local, earth-friendly materials.
We share resources: tools, space, connections, and money via mutual aid and/or rotating savings.
We put our work out there in ways that fit the circle: pop-ups, shows, art walks, teach-ins, workshops, collab albums, and so on.
How Circles Form
Circles form through shared purpose and shared work (place-making + mutual aid). Circles often begin organically from existing collectives or cadres already working together or they can be sparked by a catalyzer who does the relationship-building and bridging needed to bring trusted people into a circle.
EACH’s Role
EACH acts as a multiplier by coaching rotating *circle-keepers, connecting circles to grant and fellowship opportunities, distributing small circulating grants, and providing light admin/coordination support so members can stay focused on practice and art-making. In navigating differences and challenges, Culture Circles deepen camaraderie and help each member’s gifts become visible to the collective over time. EACH supports Culture Circles to develop collective agreements—including clear procedures for repair and conflict navigation—as we practice maintaining integrity and care for one another.
The Change: When artists are connected and resourced, there is more space for truth and play in public life.
More beauty. More courage. More neighborliness. More civic imagination.
Over time, our culture circles aim to build:
- Stronger, more supported artists → less isolation, more collaboration, trusted networks, more referrals, more opportunities
- Improved economic resilience among artists → steadier cash-flow, wealth circulation, more earned income from art
- More community-facing art in public spaces → reflecting who we are, who we come from, and who we might become
