Headlands Center for the Arts

Headlands Center for the Arts sits in Fort Barry north of the Golden Gate Bridge and uses several restored military buildings in the Marin Headlands area. The site blends historic structures with modern art spaces and provides rooms for exhibitions, studios, and event venues.

The buildings were built in 1907 as army barracks at Fort Barry and handed to the National Park Service in 1972. In 1982 the site became an arts center to provide experimental working spaces for artists.

The center hosts about 30 international artists yearly who work in converted barracks and share their processes during public events. Visitors can watch creators at work in their studios and see new artistic pieces take shape.

The grounds are open to the public and visitors can join exhibitions, artist talks, and open studio events throughout the year. It helps to check ahead for scheduled programs since the offerings vary by season.

Notable artists like Ann Hamilton and David Ireland personally oversaw the transformation of military structures into creative spaces. This partnership between established artists and the center shaped how historic barracks became working art studios.

Location: Marin County

Inception: 1982

Website: http://headlands.org

GPS coordinates: 37.82970,-122.52240

Latest update: December 12, 2025 09:08