Nonprofit art organizations are big business in San Francisco, employing 28,000 people and providing tens of millions in state and local revenues. And they want politicians to pay attention. “There is nothing more important we can do than advancing art in America,” said Randy Cohen, vice president of local arts advancement at Americans for the Arts. He said the arts have a large impact on job creation and state and local government revenue.
Author Archives: Gianmaria Franchini
Gianmaria Franchini is a freelance writer and journalist who specializes in culture and arts. His writing has appeared in GT Weekly, SF360.org and NOVO magazine. He has contributed research and writing for stories on public health in Alameda County, underground farmer's markets, and public art for the SF Public Press. He has a degree in Literature from the University of California, Santa Cruz, where he edited the Arts desk for City on a Hill Press. He lives in Oakland.
Posted inArts & Culture, Labor, Neighborhoods, Parks & Open Space
Restored Depression-era maritime murals recall heyday of public art
The Aquatic Park Bathhouse Building at the San Francisco Maritime National Historic Park at Beach and Polk streets is emerging from a rehabilitation project with a noticeable facelift. The Bathhouse was built in 1939 by the Works Project Administration and became the park’s Maritime Museum in 1951. The building, which was designed to resemble the bridge of an ocean liner, is teeming with sea-themed art, none more striking that Hilaire Hiler’s “Undersea Life” mural, which has also been restored.
Posted inNews
A possible path to bikes on the Bay Bridge
While the Bay Area Toll Authority met on Wednesday morning to vote on Bay Area bridge toll increases, dozens of bicycle activists demonstrated support for the building of a bicycle and pedestrian pathway addition to the Bay Bridge’s western span. They are pressing bridge officials to pave the way for a cross-bay bike lane. But construction of the pathway, which could double as a maintenance and safety shoulder, remains hung up in a bureaucratic no-man’s land: it has garnered some public support, but it is not clear who has legislative power to funnel toll revenue to new projects.
Posted inArts & Culture
Kwanzaa celebration focuses on youth
A local Kwanzaa celebration at the African American Art and Culture Complex will highlight Nia, the fifth of the holiday’s seven principles.
Posted inNews
Three quick, cheap kids’ holiday hits
For better or worse, the holidays are a time to spend with the family. Here are three activities to take the edge off.
Posted inArts & Culture, Community
Hughes’ ‘Black Nativity’ is uplifting holiday musical
The gospel-inspired holiday musical “Black Nativity,” currently being performed by the cast of Lorraine Hansberry Theatre at the Marines Memorial Theatre through Dec. 27, was written by Langston Hughes and was one of the first performances by an African American to play on Broadway.
Posted inFood Systems
Underground farmers market finds home in Mission District
Acorn flour, wild fennel seeds and homemade sarsaparilla (that’s soda for all you non-foodies) are just some of the treats that have found their way into a new alternative farmers market. This underground bazaar sponsored by the founder of forageSF is a house party, dinner party and street fair rolled into one. Small vendors who can’t afford commercial kitchens or a booth at SF’s official farmers market are hawking their food on the second-floor flat of a Victorian.