The Lighthouse Launches Venice Campus: Revolutionising Creative Spaces for the Creator Generation
The Lighthouse, part of Whalar Group, is set to define the next act of the Creator Economy by opening its first I.R.L Campus in Venice, CA, in January for the Creator Generation to Learn, Make, and Belong.
Located in the historic 1937 Venice Post Office, the campus will welcome a curated first cohort of 150 content Creators and creative professionals. Members have been selected through a combination of referrals by The Lighthouse’s Creator Council, co-chaired by Creator Economy experts Colin and Samir, and an open membership application process vetted by the council.
The Lighthouse Venice Creator Council includes: Jenna Bandy, JT Barnett, Sami Clarke, Carlie Dill, Jesse Dueck, Misha Euceph, Rome Green, Denis Asamoah, Miles Fisher, Aysha Harun, Hayden Hillier-Smith, Jess Israel, Zach Kornfeld, Henry Laporte, Remi Cruz, Jason Lee, Alisha Marie, Drea Okeke, Gabe Rubiano, Leandre Saunders, and Pierre Snaps.
The Lighthouse will represent a pioneering “second” space designed to foster original thinking and connection. This creative playground and studio complex, designed by Nathan Warkentin of Los Angeles studio Warkentin Associates, will feature state-of-the-art production studios, professional development programs, and vibrant cultural and social events. All led by a mission to empower professional growth and propel Creator culture.
The Venice Creator Campus houses an array of spaces and amenities tailored to Creators, including:
● A 72-seat theater for screenings, talks, and performances
● Open-plan and private workspaces
● A test kitchen, a streaming gaming room, and a music room
● Video-enabled podcast studios and photography spaces
● A writer’s room (programmed via a partnership with Tribeca)
● An outdoor campus for filming, screenings, and events
● A coffee bar, social and event spaces
● A monthly calendar of professional development, cultural, and social events featuring Creators, creative industry leaders, and experts
To celebrate its opening, The Lighthouse will host an inaugural Campus Festival on February 11-12, a two-day event celebrating and showcasing top talent from the world of food, podcasting, filmmaking, and music, showcasing the culture-driving force of the Creator Economy, and the accelerating convergence of social media, traditional media, and entertainment.
On the opening of the Venice Campus, Jon Goss, president, The Lighthouse said, “We are thrilled to open the doors to our first campus members in Venice. The journey from concept to the creation of this campus mirrors the creative and entrepreneurial process of today’s Creators —a path filled with isolation, challenges, yet opportunities. That understanding inspired us to build a creative playground and ecosystem where ideas can flow seamlessly from conception to production to publication, all while surrounded by one’s peer group. We believe creativity truly flourishes when original minds collide, and the campus will act as a gathering place for digitally native curious, ambitious, career-driven Creators to connect, collaborate, and grow together in an IRL environment.”
In addition, the Venice campus experience will be elevated by three founding brand partnerships with Shopify, iHeartMedia, and Samsung, each bringing unique integrations, activations, and immersive programming to inspire and empower the Creator community. Shopify will debut a mobile pop-up in the campus quad, providing Creator-founded brands a platform to preview and showcase their products. iHeartMedia will present Live from the Lighthouse, a monthly live podcast-meets-vinyl DJ installation that will feature emerging talent and some of LA’s top female vinyl DJs. Samsung will outfit the campus with its portfolio of newly announced 2025 flagship TVs and products. The Frame by Samsung will also transform The Lighthouse Library into a digital art installation showcasing some of the most exciting emerging digital artists and photographers’ works from the Samsung Art Store.
“Creators are driving the future of commerce,” said Chris Schmicker, brand marketing director at Shopify. “We’re proud to be collaborating with The Lighthouse to provide in-person opportunities for Creators to meet and learn from successful entrepreneurs, and to build a retail space for Creator-led brands to connect with fans and customers.
Greg Ashlock, president of the iHeart Influencer Network said, "We’re excited to partner with The Lighthouse to unlock the incredible creativity that emerges when original minds converge in a shared creative space. Together, we’re empowering Creators to elevate their audio storytelling skills, harness the transformative power of podcasting and radio, and engage members with unforgettable content by showcasing the talents of our vast talent network."
“When culture and technology come together, innovation always follows,” said Cathy Oh, chief marketing officer, TV & Mobile Service Business, Samsung Electronics. “By integrating Samsung devices into The Lighthouse, we’re able to ensure that the next generation of Creators can access the best tools available to create and showcase their work. In addition to leveraging The Frame to transform The Lighthouse Library, we also provide access to the Samsung Art Store to engage and inspire this new community with modern and masterful art from across the globe.”
The Venice campus is just the beginning. In Spring 2025, The Lighthouse Brooklyn will open in the historic 1866 Pencil Factory in Greenpoint, followed by a third location in London in 2026. Together, these campuses will form a global network connecting Creators to build their professional and personal networks. Inspired by pioneering art and film schools, creative community hubs, and thought leadership conferences, this network will operate year-round in a connected creative space.
With its Venice campus, The Lighthouse is paving the way for a new kind of Creator playground for Creators and their teams to Learn, Make, and Belong.
Photography credit: Yoshihiro Makino
