In the late ‘70s and early ’80s, the downtown area of LA experienced a proliferation of artists setting up studios, and gallerists accordingly followed suit. This fertile creative ground was the birthing place of LA Artcore, founded in 1979 by Lydia Takeshita, a Cal State educator with long-standing roots in Little Tokyo. The non-profit organization still stands today as a breeding ground for contemporary artists to exchange their creativity with one another, fostering a visual international dialogue. With 24 exhibitions featured every year—including Artcore’s Brewery Annex —this cultural gem is a crown jewel of the vibrant Downtown LA art scene.