Building Through Partnerships
Stewardship Partnerships for Artist-Designated Units in Affordable Housing Developments
Artist Space Trust partners with affordable housing developers and public agencies to steward artist-designated housing within new and existing developments — particularly those located within or adjacent to designated Cultural Districts across the nine-county San Francisco Bay Area.
Our role is to ensure that housing set aside for artists and culture bearers is deeply affordable, well stewarded, and rooted in community over time — strengthening both project outcomes and neighborhood vitality.
Why Partner with Artist Space Trust
Affordable housing developments that include artist-designated units benefit from specialized expertise that goes beyond standard property management.
AST brings:
Deep relationships within Bay Area artist and culture-bearer communities
Experience stewarding artist-centered housing for long-term stability
Programmatic capacity to manage eligibility, selection, and ongoing tenancy
Alignment with local and state policy goals supporting cultural preservation
By partnering with AST, developers can ensure that artist units function as intended — supporting cultural continuity, community engagement, and neighborhood resilience.
Photo: Artist Flee Kieselhorst moving in by C. Wagner Photography
AB-812 and Artist Housing Partnerships
California’s AB-812 enables affordable housing developers to designate units for artists and culture bearers as part of broader housing developments.
Artist Space Trust supports developers in leveraging AB-812 by:
Advising during planning and entitlement phases
Helping design artist eligibility and selection criteria
Serving as a stewardship partner for artist-designated units
Supporting compliance, reporting, and long-term program integrity
AST helps translate policy intent into durable, on-the-ground outcomes.
How We Partner
AST can partner with housing developers and public agencies in a range of ways, depending on project needs and structure. These may include, but are not limited to:
Ownership of artist-designated units within a larger development
Master lease arrangements, with AST stewarding units on behalf of the project
Programmatic stewardship, including artist eligibility review, selection, and onboarding
Ongoing tenancy support, ensuring long-term alignment with artist housing goals
Partnerships may begin during early planning stages or later in development and can extend through the life of the project.
Photo: AST receiving the AIA 2025 Changemaker Award
Photo credit: Artist Pablo Christi, Flee Kieselhorst
Rooting Artists Strengthens Communities
Anchoring artists and culture bearers within affordable housing developments:
Strengthens neighborhood identity and cultural heritage
Supports community cohesion and intergenerational connection
Enhances vibrancy and local economic activity
Helps prevent displacement within historically significant cultural areas
Artist housing is not an add-on — it is a community asset when stewarded well.
Where We Work
AST focuses on partnerships within:
The nine-county San Francisco Bay Area
Developments located within or within 1 mile of designated Cultural Districts
Projects aligned with long-term affordability and community stewardship goals
We collaborate closely with developers, municipalities, and cultural partners to ensure regional responsiveness and local impact.
Partner with Artist Space Trust
If you are an affordable housing developer, public agency, or project sponsor interested in incorporating artist-designated housing into your development, we welcome conversation.
AST can support projects from planning through ongoing tenancy, bringing cultural expertise, stewardship capacity, and policy alignment to the table.