For San Franciscans, Culture Is Gold ??

When it comes to turnaround, cities are often compared to ships, and in San Francisco no ship is more famous than the Niantic. Designed for trade with China, the Niantic pivoted to bring early ’49ers to San Francisco for the gold rush, only to see its crew abandon ship for their own strike-it-rich dreams. Rather than stay the course, the Niantic aimed for the heart of the city, ran aground and cut a door in its hull to serve the people as shelter and storage.?

Today, San Francisco’s gold is its culture, attracting tourists and business entrepreneurs as well as those who aspire to succeed in the creative sector. Ships don’t sail without crew, and San Francisco doesn’t thrive without artists. Thankfully, our city has made healthy investments in arts and culture for decades through space, grants and a long tradition of investing in community and neighborhood festivals like Pride and Carnaval. Here are three ways San Francisco can ensure that it shines for years to come:

???Think Long-Term.

Not Just Money, a? 2017 research study by Helicon Collaborative, found that of the ten cities with the highest levels of giving for the arts, San Francisco’s decades of intentional collaborative efforts between civic leaders and philanthropists boosted small and mid-sized cultural organizations to make it a uniquely thriving home for community-focused groups, imbuing it a diverse and vibrant sense of place.?

Recent efforts like the California Creative Corps and the Dream Keeper Initiative made bold investments in new arts workforce and entrepreneurship programs and addressed disparities in economic prosperity, but future funding is unclear.

In comparison, private sector innovation labs identify intractable challenges with answers 5-10 years on the horizon, and stay the course with a “Captain of Moonshots” guiding implementation across teams. Economic inequality deserves a steady level of commitment, rigor and investment.?

??To Follow is To Lead.

Philanthropic funders are stepping up: Mackenzie Scott has donated millions to local arts organizations, an anonymous donor gave $100 million for artist housing, and a new nonprofit acquired the SF Art Institute for $30 million. When unexpected generosity arrives, the city should step in, not back, to ensure these investments are aligned with ongoing strategies to reach their full economic, health, housing and education potential. Moving forward, city leaders can incentivize private investment by making it easier to understand how they can invest in commercial corridor cultural space and activation, and what types of complimentary support can be leveraged. It’s good sense to play an active role in supporting and aligning new space and services with city strategies … for their benefit and for the benefit of others who aspire to attract regional and national investments.

??Check Assumptions.

Contrary to popular belief, in San Francisco arts jobs are growing. According to data from the Federal Bureau of Labor Statistics, between 2019 and 2022 the number of SF workers employed as independent artists, writers and performers increased 57% and their average annual wage increased by 18% to $133,832 … low enough to qualify for affordable housing, but 130% of the area’s median income for an individual, and outpacing inflation. More recently, between 2021 and 2022, the fastest-growing creative-sector employers were promoters and performing arts facilities, photography studios, theaters and museums, indicating confidence in this continuing trend.?

The diverse ecosystem of creative sector jobs is fertile soil for inclusive, future-focused workforce development. This region was named the most arts-vibrant in the nation in 2023, reclaiming the top spot for the first time since 2018. The data confirms that San Francisco’s creative sector is an industry of opportunity.?

Our cultural scene is gaining momentum, but it still takes luck and gold-rush grit to succeed. A recent New York Times article offered a hopeful look at how some of our larger institutions are recovering, but that’s only part of the story.? For many arts leaders, growth feels more like carving a side door into a ship and less like business as usual—they must build new relationships and respond to new needs. Opportunities can be found in investments by the Office of Economic and Workforce Development: policy efforts like San Francisco’s first entertainment zone, and grant programs like SF Live, Busk It!, and Make It!, connecting artists to outdoor venues and businesses.

Community-focused success includes Cultura y Arte Nativa de las Americas (CANA), who recently secured a $1.125 million federal grant for “Somos Esenciales: Community Revitalization and Health through Latino Arts and Entrepreneurship.” Edge On The Square 藝在棱角 and the Chinese Culture Center of San Francisco secured new and vibrant contemporary arts spaces, attracting millions in state and federal funding to build community and restore Chinatown’s small business traffic. Recent Fillmore and Juneteenth festivals drew thousands to celebrate in historically Black neighborhoods. And near City Hall, a new Disability Community Cultural Center is being constructed beneath new housing, where the Arts Commission’s first municipal gallery once stood.?

Amidst change, what remains constant is that San Francisco is a beautiful place of resilience and reinvention. To ensure its vitality city leaders must continue to invest in cultural equity, increase the ease of spontaneity and accessibility, and fund the efforts of organizations of all sizes to find and connect with their audience.