- Highways was founded and continues to operate under the premise that art is a powerful tool for social change, bridging the gap between "art center and ìcommunity center," creating an open path between people. We contextualize the arts as potent communication tools activists can use to enhance their leadership abilities and affect change in their communities. Conversely, professional artists working with and learning from community activists is an essential part of the socially proactive art ethos practiced at Highways.
- Founded in 1989, Highways has been a leading force in offering a diverse cultural perspective to Southern California residents. Although the political climate has changed over time, Highways has remained true to its original mission and continues to push the boundaries of convention in progressive and innovative ways, with a major emphasis on programs created by and meeting the needs of underserved communities, including, ethnic, gay, lesbian, bisexual, transsexual and transgender communities.
- Highways has presented many of the nation's outstanding alternative performers: Annie Sprinkle, Sharon Bridgforth, Peggy Shaw, Kin Dance Company, Rosanna Gamson Worldwide, Winifred Harris & Company, Elia Arce, Mari Fujita, Oguri & Dancers, Stephanie Gilliland, Guillermo Gomez-Pena, Coco Fusco, Tim Miller, Sir Ian McKellen, Quinten Crisp, Leo Garcia, Holly Hughes, John Fleck, Denise Uyehara, Jude Narita, Marga Gomez, Karen Finley, Hittite Empire, Phranc, Luis Alfaro, Spiderwoman Theater, Victoria Marks, Los Angeles Poverty Department, Diavolo Dance Theater, Amy Hill, The Nellie Olsons, Cornerstone Theater, Simone Forti, to name a few.
- Highways' strategic partnerships with like-minded organizations (ACT UP LA!, Ability Arts, ULOAH, Tongues Magazine, Women's Playwright Outreach Project, Self Help Graphics) builds awareness of community-based and alternative arts. These partnerships have furthered the advancement of our mission by enabling Highways to reach underserved artistic communities, understand their specific needs and engage our audience base with those communities.
- Highways was the first venue in the country to present Signifian, a month long series of GLBT African-American performance and visual art. Since 1989, Highways main gallery has housed the AIDS Memorial Floor, comprised of thousands of names of those who died from AIDS.
- Most recently, Highways presented Queer MC's for the Stragiht Hip Hop, a reaction to recent public comments by such well-known rappers as Eminem, DMX, and 50 Cent.
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