Crenshaw Dairy Mart Artist Micro-Residencies

Access to tech and creative industry employment

South LA Other

Expand existing project, program, or initiative (expanding and continuing ongoing, successful work)

We understand that access to technology and employment in the creative industries is shaped by systemic inequities that disproportionately affect BIPOC communities. In Los Angeles, the industry is marked by underpaid positions, exploitative internships, and gatekeeping practices that make entry difficult without privilege or connections. As an artist-led organization, we have witnessed firsthand the challenges BIPOC creatives face: navigating contracts without guidance, delayed or inadequate compensation, "limited" financial resources, and uncertainty around how to sustain a creative career. These obstacles are not just individual, they are systemic. Our work is rooted in the belief that equitable access begins with opportunity, financial support and continued mentorship. We are committed to bolstering the creative economy, providing practical tools and resources, and creating supportive pathways that empower BIPOC artists to not only enter but thrive in tech and creative industries.

Crenshaw Dairy Mart is developing a micro-residency program for local BIPOC artists. As an artist-led collective rooted in care, experimentation, and cultural work, we have long recognized how BIPOC artists and cultural workers are undervalued and underpaid in a system that often excludes them from access to sustainable careers. Building on the success of our 2022–2023 Fellowship for Abolition and the Advancement of the Creative Economy (CDM-FAACE)—which provided $100,000 stipends, health care, a robust curriculum rooted in the abolitionist imagination, and a solo exhibition—we are now pivoting to a more accessible, scalable model. Our upcoming micro-residency will offer 1–3 month opportunities with stipends, studio access, and a modified version of our existing curriculum designed to expand creative and economic opportunities. Residents will be invited to host workshops and programs along with the CDM team and a final collaborative exhibition. Since 2020, Crenshaw Dairy Mart has invested $3.9 million into BIPOC, queer, and women-owned businesses, with $1.2 million directly supporting artists. This program builds on that commitment by continuing to redistribute resources, invest in hyperlocal creative economies, and provide tangible pathways into the creative sector. We believe that when BIPOC artists are resourced, they are empowered to imagine, create, and thrive.

Crenshaw Dairy Mart is one of few Black/BIPOC led art spaces still standing in 2025. Since our opening we have watched many of our peers shutter their doors. We aim to preserve the cultivation and care of BIPOC artists in Los Angeles and beyond. Our longevity and programming is deeply needed and important. Crenshaw Dairy Mart has already recirculated nearly $4 million into the local creative economy and supported artists making significant local and national impact. Our micro-residency model will continue this legacy with accessible support that builds artist capacity and visibility. A 2023 Hyperallergic article named our fellowship a viable alternative to costly MFA programs. We’ve since consulted on fellowships citywide, and after our 2024 film festival, several filmmakers were shortlisted for TV projects. A recent LACMA series was also inspired by our festival themes. CDM has set a new standard for uplifting artists at the margins.