Arts and non-profit organizations are making tremendous efforts to engage the community and attract audiences to the Central Market neighborhood this summer. A collaborative group of local organizations representing the performing arts and non-profit communities have joined forces to create Summer Of Art, which features an ambitious line-up of live dance, musical and theatrical performances.
Summer Of Art offers free performances that will take place on Tuesdays and Thursdays at UN Plaza through October. It includes a number of repeating events including Dance on Market, People in Plazas Concert Series, “What’s on Stage?” a dance and theater preview series and Tenderloin Tunes, a local music series.
Summer Of Art grew out of Dance On Market, which launched last summer to bring audiences to UN Plaza through social dance and promote Central Market as a safe and enjoyable place to spend an evening.
“It’s difficult to capture people after work,” says Felice Ana Denia, a Summer Of Art organizer and founder of Denia Dance and Dance On Market, “I call this time of day ‘the Twilight Zone,’ people can be in a hurry to leave the area. They don’t realize that there are interesting things to do and places to visit in Central Market. Bringing activity to the street encourages them to linger for a longer period, which increases safety and often benefits local businesses.”
Summer of Art expands this concept while making a significant contribution to the revitalization of the Central Market neighborhood. The Central Market Economic Strategy adopted last year incorporates strategies to enhance the creative arts community and develop programs that will engage local residents through the arts. Summer Of Art showcases the creative talent within the community, makes it more accessible to the public and works towards establishing Central Market as a vibrant arts community.
Summer of Art is in full swing! Be sure to check out one or all of the following events that are part of San Francisco’s Summer of Art.
Dance On Market
Dance On Market returns to UN Plaza with its first FREE show of 2012, Swing Night At UN Plaza, this Thursday evening from 6:00 to 8:00 PM. It promises to be a fun-filled evening of swing dancing on a beautiful wooden stage. The event kicks off with a live musical performance by Macy Blackman & the Mighty Fines, swing dance lessons provided by Nathan & Mara of Swing or Nothing/Cat’s Corner with plenty of time remaining to show off your dancing skills on the beautiful stage.
Swing Night At UN Plaza will take place the second Thursday of each month and runs July through September.
People In Plazas
People In Plazas returns to UN Plaza this summer on Tuesday afternoons at Noon, in collaboration with Summer Of Art with sponsorship by the North of Market Tenderloin Community Benefit District. For the past 30-years, People In Plazas has produced free musical concerts in San Francisco’s outdoor spaces on or near Market Street. Its mission is to activate urban open spaces through events which generate social congregation. The aim of People In Plazas is to bring these spaces to the status of “everybody’s neighborhood.” The series starts at UN Plaza this Tuesday, July 10th with Presence Felt R&B and runs through August 14th with a different band each week. The complete schedule can be downloaded by visiting the People In Plazas website.
What’s On Stage?
“What’s On Stage?” offers previews of dance and theater shows coming up in the near future at venues located within walking distance of UN Plaza. This event previously featured previews of Cutting Ball Theater Company’s production of Tenderloin, A.C.T.’s production of Midsummer Night’s Dream at The Costume Shop, San Francisco Recovery Theater’s Cole Porter Revue and dance performances at The Garage, KUNST-STOFF Arts and CounterPULSE. “What’s On Stage?” returns to UN Plaza every Tuesday from August 21st through September 25th.
Tenderloin Tunes
Tenderloin Tunes features local musicians from the Tenderloin neighborhood. This weekly concert series took place earlier this year during the Tuesday lunch hour at UN Plaza. Plans are underway to bring Tenderloin Tunes back to UN Plaza with a full line-up of local musical talent. Tenderloin Tunes is curated by Susie McKinnon.
Summer of Art is a collaborative project overseen by advisory board members Brad Erickson of Theatre Bay Area, Dick Daley of American Conservatory Theater, Felice Ana Denia of Denia Dance, Janette Gitler of Alonzo King LINES Ballet, Lynn Valente of People In Plazas and Tracy Everwine of Urban Solutions.
Summer Of Art is fiscally sponsored by Intersection Incubator, a program of Intersection For The Arts. Funding and sponsorship are provided by the Kenneth Rainin Foundation, UC Hastings Law School, the North of Market-Tenderloin Community Benefit District, and Grants for the Arts Neighborhood Arts Collaborative. Media sponsorship is made possible through the San Francisco Bay Guardian. Marketing support is provided by The ARTery Project, an initiative of the San Francisco Arts Commission to support the transformation of the Central Market Corridor.
Like Summer of Art on Facebook for the latest information about future shows and performances!