Last Thursday, Independent Arts & Media launched the San Francisco Arts Market in UN Plaza.

Just past the white tents of the Civic Center Gift Market, the Arts Market’s open-air marketplace for local arts attracted a wide array of visitors exploring the culture of downtown San Francisco. Small publishing and news groups handed out free press and independent newspapers, while ceramic and visual artists displayed their vibrant hand-crafted pieces. Passersby admired the artists’ creations and had the opportunity to purchase everything from t-shirts to jewelry to small wood-block paintings.

The goal of the SF Arts Market is to try and revitalize the arts community and cultural economy around San Francisco’s Civic Center. The market takes place every Thursday from noon to 6 p.m. until the end of October.

Partners on the SF Arts Market include the San Francisco Arts Commission, the Office of Economic and Workforce Development, and Blick Art Materials.