OUR STORY: IT STARTED WITH A SPACE
Not a grant. Not a business plan. A space — a huge, improbable, full-of-potential space that we fought to get and fought to keep. Literally.
From the beginning, we saw what it could be: a place for art, for community, for mutual aid, for joy, for all the things people actually need but rarely get. For the weirdos, the makers, the caregivers, the ones who never quite fit. Wherever they come from.
But holding on takes more than belief. It takes resources, structure, and community behind it. That's why we're building Rag Tag Art Haus into a nonprofit — not to become an institution, but to make sure the doors stay open. To get to a place where we're not fighting just to survive, and can focus on everything we built this for.
This space belongs to the people. And we're going to make sure it stays that way.
Our Mission & Values
The Heart of Our Work
RagTag Art Haus is a community art space in DTLA built by and for the weirdos, the makers, the caregivers, and the ones who never quite fit the mold. We create space for documentary screenings, comedy, galleries, workshops, mutual aid, and more — because art and community aren’t separate things. We believe joy is political, creativity is survival, and everybody deserves a room where they belong.
Our Core Values
Radical Inclusion
We reject the gatekeeping of traditional institutions. We are a space for the overlooked, the organizers, and the caregivers.
Political Joy
Our belief is that joy is a form of resistance. We aim to create joy through community activities and gatherings, where laughter, art, and education are tools for social change.
Collective Survival
We prioritize mutual aid and community over individual success. Creativity is not just an individual action, but a shared collective act.
THE HANDS BEHIND THE HAUS
JASON BASQUETTE
Co-founder & Program Director/Community Coordinator
MARIAH WELCH
Co-founder & Artistic Director
Pearl Cursell
Co-founder & Educational Director
CAT PITT
Co-founder & Artistic Advisor