What is Art in Storefronts

Art in Storefronts temporarily places original art installations by San Francisco artists in vacant and under-used storefront windows to engage local artists in reinvigorating neighborhoods and commercial corridors that have been hard-hit by the economic downturn. It also provides artists, who have also been affected by the economy, with a unique opportunity to showcase their creativity in transforming vacant storefronts into free exhibition spaces and to garner public recognition for their work.

The first round of Art in Storefronts spanned October 2009 through June 2010 with installations in Central Market, the Tenderloin, the Bayview, Lower 24th Street in the Mission, and Chinatown. Here is some of the press garnered for Art in Storefronts.

This year, the program will return to Central Market to add another layer of art activity to The ARTery Project. Funded by the National Endowment for the Arts, The ARTery Project is a series of art events, fairs, installations, and performances taking place along Market Street between U.N. Plaza and 6th Street. View the press release by clicking here.

Project Timeline

• Project Period: May 13 – August 13, 2011
• Central Market Launch: May 13, 2011; 5 - 7 p.m. at 998 Market Street and along Market Street between 6th and 8th streets. For more information click here.
• Artist and Community Panel Discussion: June 15, 2011; 6 p.m. at the luggage store, 1007 Market Street

Project Team

The San Francisco Arts Commission is the City agency that champions the arts in San Francisco. The agency’s core values are committed to the principle that all residents have equal access to arts experiences in all disciplines, that programs are provided comprehensively and evenly throughout the City, and that they are innovative and of the highest quality. Programs include: Civic Art Collection, Civic Design Review, Community Arts & Education, Cultural Equity Grants, Public Art, SFAC Gallery, Street Artists Licensing, and the San Francisco Symphony Youth and Community Concert Series.

the luggage store builds community by organizing multidisciplinary arts programming accessible to and reflective of the Bay Area’s residents. Their programs are designed to broaden social and aesthetic networks, and to encourage the flow of images and ideas between the diverse cultural communities that cross paths in the dynamic downtown San Francisco neighborhood. They organize exhibitions, performing arts events, and arts education and public art programs designed to amplify the voices of the region’s diverse artists and residents. All of these programs work to promote inclusion and respect, reduce intergroup tensions, and work towards dispelling the stereotypes and fears that continue to separate us.

Thank you to SOMArts Cultural Center's Technical Services program for assistance with Art in Storefronts fabrication and display.

Generous support was also donated by the Department of Public Works.