Join us for From the River to the Bay Artist Conversation on Thursday, February 20th, from 7–9 PM PST. This free, all-ages event invites you to dive into the creative process behind this thought-provoking exhibition. Chris Gazaleh kicks off the evening with curatorial remarks followed by an artist conversation moderated by Kathy Zarur and featuring Asma Ghanem, Tarik Kazaleh, and SPIE.
Join us in community and celebration as we close From the River to the Bay on Thursday, March 27, 6–9 PM PST. The closing reception is a free, all ages event featuring performances by A-1, Lara Aburamadan, and The Shadow Band, and an artist vendor market. Featured Performers https://somarts.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/1-300x300.png A-1 A first generation American, half Italian, half Senegalese, Bay Area rap phenom A-1’s roots run deepest in San Francisco. But his lyrics—social critique set to a [...]
Joy is resistance. Celebration is power.We believe that making space for joy is a radical act—one that strengthens both our individual and collective resolve. That’s why we’re thrilled to partner with BODY HIGH, a house music party where everyone, in every body, is celebrated.Join us Friday, April 11, from 9 PM–2 AM for an electrifying night of music and movement, featuring DJ sets by DJ Lady Ryan, VARSHA, and Blu Moon. Together, we’ll honor the resilient [...]
Meet some of the 35+ gallery and 21 virtual Asian and Asian American artists involved in the exhibition and the AAPI producing artists of this year’s United States of Asian America Festival: Critical Refuge! The evening also features an artist activation by Kimberly Acebo Arteche and poetry reading by Nellie Wong. The AAWAA Merch Shop will be open with products for sale benefitting the artists in the exhibition alongside a pop-up by health and wellness company [...]
To close out the exhibition, join us for a culinary ritual of serving daal chawal by artist Zara Ahmed. ASL interpretation will be provided during the program. The AAWAA Merch Shop will be open with products for sale benefitting the artists in the exhibition alongside a pop-up by health and wellness company Malaya Botanicals. Other light refreshments will be provided and includes a cash bar. Free and open to the public with registration. The gallery will [...]
Celebrate the abundant creativity of the SF Bay Area, connect with the ArtSpan community over light bites and drinks, enjoy words from the ArtSpan Team, and have the opportunity to purchase art that directly supports our nonprofit’s mission and exhibiting artists. The SF Open Studios Exhibition features the work of 300+ participating SF Open Studios artists, providing a preview to help guide your studio visits. As you browse work of diverse mediums, begin planning your weekend [...]
Join us for an evening of stimulating discussion within ArtSpan's SF Open Studios Exhibition. The SF Open Studios Exhibition provides a stunning survey of the incredible artistic talent in the San Francisco Bay Area right now. Our dynamic showcase features hundreds of small-format works—each no larger than 20 inches—by artists participating in this year’s SF Open Studios (Sept. 19 - Oct. 19). To celebrate standouts in the exhibition, ArtSpan invites influential Bay Area art and culture leaders to [...]
Join us in celebrating the opening and exhibition unveiling of Día de los Muertos 2025: We Love You on Friday, October 10, 6–9 PM PST! The evening features a Día de los Muertos–inspired artist market with local vendors and makers, along with a special musical performance by Louda y Los Bad Hombres, known for their “melismatic melodies, inventive arrangements, and dynamic instrumentation, blending nostalgic original compositions with unforgettable renditions of popular favorites for audiences worldwide.” Get your tickets for this all-ages event [...]
SOMArts is proud to partner with the San Francisco Foundation to present the 2025 Murphy and Cadogan Contemporary Art Awards Exhibition, a focused look at the future of the Bay Area visual arts. Join us for the opening reception and awards ceremony on Thursday November 6, 7–9 PM. Murphy Award Gabrielle Severson, California College of the Arts Cadogan Award Eleni Berg, University of California, Berkeley Alexa Christine Burrell, Stanford University Kristiana Chan 莊礼恩, University of California, [...]
Celebrate the closing of this year’s Día de Los Muertos exhibition with a special evening of drag and remembrance curated by beloved icon Per Sia. The evening features an artist market and drag performances from new and returning artists embodying love and queer resilience. Día de Los Muertos 2025: We Love You closing reception and drag show will be held on Friday, November 7, 6–9 PM PST. Tickets are $15 suggested donation, youth 16 and under [...]
SOMArts, in collaboration with Oakland To All presents The Luminesce Ball: An Evening of Fashion, Runway, and Vogue showcasing the talent of the Bay Area’s House and Ballroom community, including a culminating pre-show performance from our all-levels workshop series. The Luminesce Ball is all ages; tickets can be purchased online or at the door. Get Your TicketsCommentator, Icon Dashuan BasquiatBeats by DJ SpiderPre-Show Hosted by Aurris Garçonhttps://somarts.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Luminesce-Categories-819x1024.png About Our Cultural Partners OAKLAND TO ALLOakland to All [...]
Join us on Thursday, January 29, 6–9 PM for the opening reception in celebration of Cece Carpio’s landmark solo exhibition, Tabi Tabi Po: Come Out with the Spirits! You Are Welcome Here.Through Indigenous oral traditions and narratives, both autobiographical and imagined, this exhibition highlights the power and necessity of storytelling. As a cultural, political, and relational practice shared across cultures, storytelling brings attention to the sacred and often overlooked spaces essential to understanding how all things [...]
San Francisco’s arts ecosystem is at a breaking point. With the recent announcement that the California College of the Arts will shutter in 2027 and the indefinite closure of the Mission Cultural Center for Latino Arts, cultural spaces are disappearing and the infrastructure that sustains creative life is eroding faster than policy and philanthropy can respond. Like many organizations, we are feeling the impact directly. At SOMArts, we are facing the loss of approximately $90,000 due [...]
Sama Sama Cooperative is hosting a free, all ages family day featuring art activities and games, including silk screening, a traditional music workshop, and a sungka tournament. Drop into the gallery between 3–5 PM to participate! SOMArts events are NOTAFLOF (No One Turned Away from Lack of Funds), but $10 donations are always appreciated. Thank you for your support! About Sama Sama Cooperative https://somarts.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/IMG_0500.png 'Sama Sama' ( 'All together') is a cooperative run Filipino language and [...]
Join us for the closing reception of Cece Carpio’s Tabi Tabi Po: Come Out with the Spirits! You Are Welcome Here on Friday, March 27, 6–9 PM PST! Expect a memorable evening of story collecting and karaoke with TNT Traysikel, music performance by Diana Gameros and Naima Shalhoub, and curated artist market. SOMArts events are NOTAFLOF (No One Turned Away from Lack of Funds), but $10 donations are always appreciated at the door or with RSVP. [...]
For our second Artists Live Here event, we're bringing our community more resources AND learning how to mobilize as artists. On Tuesday, April 21, Arts for a Better Bay Area is organizing an Arts Advocacy Day rally on the steps of City Hall. This is your chance to help shape the collective action plan and prepare to make your voice heard. This isn't just about showing up. It's about understanding what's happening at City Hall and [...]
Join us for the exhibition opening of Lineages of Organizing: The Asian Pacific Islander Cultural Center at 30, curated by Colin Choy Kimzey. This event marks the celebration of three decades of cultural resilience and community organizing by APICC, showcasing the rich heritage and contributions of the Asian Pacific Islander community. Look forward to engaging performances, insightful discussions, and a first look at the powerful artworks that reflect the struggles and triumphs of our dynamic community. [...]
When history rhymes, the archive can be an oracle. Learn how to work with archives and help us preserve Asian American art history in this hand-on workshop. Bring your own photos, flyers, and ephemera from APICC events to digitize alongside our existing holdings. Together, we make history! Image credit: Bob Hsiang, Kearny Street Workshop PINOTOH (People in Need of Their Own Housing), 1975
Join us for the exhibition closing of Lineages of Organizing: The Asian Pacific Islander Cultural Center at 30, curated by Colin Choy Kimzey. This event marks the celebration of three decades of cultural resilience and community organizing by APICC, showcasing the rich heritage and contributions of the Asian Pacific Islander community. Look forward to engaging performances, insightful discussions, and a first look at the powerful artworks that reflect the struggles and triumphs of our dynamic community. [...]
Transcestors before us and our queerly departed fill us with their spirit of resistance. This Pride season, let us be the soundtrack for your joy, your desire, your righteous rage, and your ultimate release. Enter RHYTHMS of RESISTANCE, an accessible queer dance party inspired by the historical solidarity between Bay Area Black, AAPI, and disabled communities. You are invited to immerse yourself into the radical underground roots of queer art, music, and nightlife. Everyone has a [...]
Queer Ancestors Project's UNDER PRESSURE exhibition and community print party returns, celebrating the creative work of Queer and Trans emerging artists! Along with the exhibition, this event features free empanadas by Doña Aida and print sale so attendees can support these incredible emerging artists. You can also bring your own t-shirt and get it printed with any artists’ print from the show for FREE! This event is free, all ages, wheelchair accessible, and will be held [...]
This event is a fiscally sponsored project of SOMArts Cultural Center. Join Iris Company as they transform the stunning SOMArts gallery space into a liminal world of infinite possibility. This immersive dance-theater performance invites audiences to explore the world of the show on foot, surrounded by light and color, as the choreography and action unfold around you. The Still Point is a 70-minute multi-room immersive walk-through performance combining dance, theater, interactive projection, scenic installation, and an original [...]
The Luminesce Lounge, SF Black Pride’s all ages after party, will kick off with Runway and Hand performance workshops, leading into a dance party featuring live performances and an exhibition Vogue battle. Two teams of elite Bay Area voguers will battle it out for a cash prize. Tickets are $10–$20 sliding scale and are available for purchase online and at the door. We recommend that you get your tickets in advance! Get Tickets [...]
SOMArts is proud to partner with the San Francisco Foundation to present the 2026 Murphy and Cadogan Contemporary Art Awards Exhibition, a focused look at the future of the Bay Area visual arts. Join us for the opening reception and awards ceremony on Friday, October 16, 7–9 PM. RSVP to the opening Murphy Award Mingqi Ma, California College of the Arts Cadogan Award Alyssa Aviles, Stanford University eva birhanu, California College of the Arts Anna Isabelle [...]
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