A group of downtown San Francisco business and civic leaders is putting $500,000 toward the launch of a new arts district, with plans to fund performance spaces, live music pop-ups and more.
The investment into the city’s new Market Street Arts & Theater District comes from the San Francisco Downtown Development Corporation, business executive Chris Larsen and the Proper Hotel Group.
More Information
Market Streets Arts and Theater Festival:
4 p.m.-10 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 17. Free. UN Plaza, 355 McAllister St., S.F. www.marketstreetarts.org.
“We know from the past several years that arts and culture are driving the economic vitality of this important district. This pilot will expand the platform for artists and cultural workers and deepen the connections among the businesses already anchoring the corridor,” Fernando Pujals, executive director of the Mid-Market Business Association & Foundation, said in a statement.
“That connective tissue is what will make the Market Street Arts & Theater District a world-class district within San Francisco’s arts and culture ecosystem and help it fully realize its economic power.”
The MMBAF announced the initiative Thursday, Oct. 15, ahead of its first Market Street Arts & Theater Festival. The free outdoor event, scheduled for 4-10 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 17, is expected to bring more than 50 performances and artistic experiences to various locations between Fifth Street and Van Ness Avenue, with UN Plaza serving as its open-air center.
“The arts are one of the most powerful tools we have to bring foot traffic and economic activity back to the street,” said Shola Olatoye, CEO of the San Francisco Downtown Development Corporation, which also supports Downtown First Thursdays and Union Square’s Winter Walk.
The creation of the new district is in partnership with Supervisor Bilal Mahmood, who represents the Tenderloin and north side of Mid-Market, and will operate through Market Street Arts, the Mid-Market Business Association & Foundation’s arts and culture program for the corridor.
The Market Street Arts & Theater District will initially focus on the 900 block of Market Street between Fifth and Sixth streets, with plans to activate one to two vacant or underused spaces; add lighting, banners and public art as part of beautification efforts; fund pop-up performances and other arts programming.
The initiative will roll out over the next 12 months. If the pilot succeeds, organizers say they hope to expand the district west along Market Street toward the Bill Graham Civic Auditorium.
The news comes as other arts organizations are also expanding their presence in the area.
On Wednesday, Oct. 14, the American Conservatory Theater announced ACTivate, a programming series designed to complement the company’s mainstage season with a range of comedy shows, film screenings, live music and other performances. The new showcase is set to take over the Strand Theatre across from Civic Center’s UN Plaza.
Among ACTivate’s early offerings is a three-night concert, set for Nov. 20-22, featuring Broadway power couple Eva Noblezada and Reeve Carney of “Hadestown,” “The Great Gatsby” and “Cabaret.” Single tickets will go on sale to the public on Tuesday, Oct. 20.
Subscribe
There’s more to San Francisco with the Chronicle. Subscribe today for just 25¢.
This article originally published at San Francisco is betting $500,000 on a new Market Street arts district.
