What’s New
WRITERSCORPS: Literary Arts Festival
Thursday, May 22, 2008, 5:30-6:30 at the Main Public Library.
Join WritersCorps for our end-of-the-year celebration. Our students from sites all over the city come together to perform in this annual event. Expect powerful performances, tasty snacks, and new books and publications by our students. See more...
ARTS EDUCATION: Art and Violence Prevention Panel Discussion
Thursday May 22,
5:30 to 7:00 pm
25 Van Ness, Suite 70
Art and the Number Crunchers - How the Arts Have a Measured Impact on Violence Prevention. Do you wonder if the impact of the arts can be statistically measured?
Do you know how the arts affect truancy and violence in youth?
The Arts have traditionally seen themselves as separate from accountability mandates from state and federal granting entities. The popular but false belief that “what we do can't really be measured" places a severe limitation to grant solicitation efforts. The good news is that what you do can be measured; in ways that will surprise and delight your program and your funders. For more information or to RSVP email artsedinter@sfgov.org.
SFAC: Arts Town Hall
Monday, June 9, 2008 from 12:30-8:30 p.m.
The Arts Town Hall is conceived as an opportunity for the entire Bay Area arts community - arts organizations, individual artists, funders, cultural policy leaders and other stakeholders - to convene for a day to consider some of the larger trends and forces shaping the regional arts ecology, as well as share practical information through a variety workshops and networking sessions.
Admission is free but registration is required.
Registration begins on May 12, 2008.
To register and view the program go to: www.cciarts.org/artstownhall
SFAC: Save Arts Funding!
During a tight budget year, the Arts Commission, Artists, community orgaizations and Supervisor Tom Amiano are working together to secure funding for the Arts. At the May 1st Board of Supervisors Rules Committee meeting, many artists and arts supporters stood up to testify to the importance of SFAC programs to support access and equity to San Francisco the arts community. See the full meeting here...
Luis Cancel speaks 1 hour 24 minutes into the meeting and Public Comment begins 1 hour 41 minutes into the meeting.
PUBLIC ART: Manolo Valdés in San Francisco
April 29 – August 31
"Manolo Valdés in San Francisco."
The Manolo Valdés sculpture exhibition is comprised of eight monumental bronze sculptures by the renowned Spanish painter and sculptor. “Manolo Valdés in San Francisco” will be on display from April 29 – August 31 in the Joseph L. Alioto Performing Arts Piazza at San Francisco’s Civic Center. See more...
SFAC NEWSLETTER: April 2008
The Arts Commission has a brand new Newsletter! Get all the news about your favorite city arts agency to your inbox every month. Sign up for any of the SFAC mailing lists to receive grant information, calls for artists, exhibition details, or news and updates. Get the info you need from the programs you care about. See more...
NEW COMMISSIONER: Ninive Clements Calegari
SFAC would like to welcome Ninive Calegari to the Commission. Mayor Newsom appointed Ms.
Calegari on March 26, 2008. She is the Co-founder and Chief Executive Officer of 826 National, a tutoring, writing, and publishing nonprofit based in seven cities across the country whose goal has been to assist students ages 6-18 with their writing skills while helping teachers get their classes excited about writing. Calegari has also served as Co-founder and Executive Director for 826 Valencia and currently serves as an Advisory Board member for George Lucas Educational Foundation. Calegari is a published writer and has taught at a variety of high schools across the country. Read the Mayor's press release...
GALLERY: Art at City Hall
After the Revolution: Contemporary Photography from Tehran and California 
April 16 - June 27, 2008
After the Revolution is the first substantial exhibition mounted in the US featuring photography by young emerging artists from Tehran. In addition, the work from Tehran will be exhibited alongside photographs by emerging artists of Iranian decent living in California, thus creating a rich dialogue around the hopes and concerns of Iranians and the Iranian Diaspora. After the Revolution will feature approximately 100 photographs by the participating artists. The artists, all under the age of 40, were born around or after the 1978 Iranian Revolution. See more...
GALLERY: 401 Van Ness Avenue
Make You Notice
The San Francisco Arts Commission Gallery is pleased to present Make You Notice, an exhibition curated by Berkeley-based curator Patricia Maloney. Make You Notice features video, photography and ephemera by four contemporary women artists who utilize performance in diverse practices, seamlessly integrating collaboration, activism, irony, and optimism into their work. See more...
GALLERY: 155 Grove Street
Kunsole "reconciles" sound, idea, form, and pattern through an experimental synthesis processes. The result is avant-pop music, images, objects and performances. Kunsole will occupy the SFAC Gallery window installation site at 155 Grove Street from March 20 - May 10, 2008. During this time passersby will experience live-art events every Thursday evening in which Kunsole will be collaborating with a line-up of SF-based artists, musicians and performers. See more...
Luis R. Cancel appointed Director of Cultural Affairs.
On January
14, 2008, Mayor Gavin Newsom announced the appointment, following the unanimous vote of
the Arts Commission on January 7. Mr. Cancel has a distinguished 25-year career in
the arts and public service; he was the first Latino to lead New York City's Department
of Cultural Affairs, under Mayor David Dinkins. Before that, he directed the Bronx Museum
of Arts, where he spent 14 years, and he most recently served as Executive Director of
the Clemente Soto Vélez Cultural & Educational Center (CSV) in New York City,
where he has raised millions of dollars and expanded the center’s profile. Arts
Commission President PJ Johnston praised Mr. Cancel as “a serious artist, an
experienced public servant, a committed advocate and an innovative arts administrator.
In every way, Luis is the consummate arts professional and a dynamic leader.” Read the Mayor's press release.
NEW COMMISSIONER: Topher Delaney
SFAC would like to welcome Topher Delaney to the Commission. Mayor Newsom appointed Ms.
Delaney on January 15, 2008. She has a distinguished career in Landscape Architecture and
is well known for creating healing spaces and gardens.
GALLERY: Art at City Hall
Lonnie Graham: A Conversation with the World
The Arts Commission Gallery and PhotoAlliance commissioned renowned artist Lonnie Graham to create
an exhibition in three parts: City Hall North Light Court Banner Exhibition with recorded
interviews, and kiosk posters
throughout the city, through July 29, 2008.
See more...
Inside/Out: A Guide to Arts and Arts Education Resources for Children and Teens in San Francisco The fifth edition is now available! Pick up a free copy at 25 Van Ness, Ste. 240, or send a 10"x12 " self-addressed envelope with $4.20 in postage to Inside/Out, San Francisco Arts Commission, 25 Van Ness, Ste. 240, San Francisco, CA 94102, to have it mailed to you. See more
Sign up here for the SFAC mailing lists.