About Somarts
SOMArts: Leveraging the Power of Art for Social Change
SOMArts is a San Francisco-based non-profit organization that has been leveraging the power of art as a tool for social change since 1979. The organization's mission is to promote and support emerging and established artists, cultural organizations, and communities through multi-disciplinary events and exhibitions.
At SOMArts, art is not just about aesthetics or entertainment; it's about creating meaningful connections between people, ideas, and issues. The organization believes that art can be a powerful catalyst for social change by raising awareness, inspiring dialogue, fostering empathy, and promoting action.
One of SOMArts' core values is inclusivity. The organization strives to create an environment where everyone feels welcome regardless of their background or identity. This commitment to diversity is reflected in the range of artists and communities that SOMArts works with.
SOMArts' programming includes exhibitions, performances, workshops, residencies, festivals, and other events that showcase a wide range of artistic disciplines such as visual arts, performing arts (theater/dance/music), literary arts (poetry/prose), media arts (film/video), culinary arts (food/drink), fashion/design/crafts.
Some examples of recent exhibitions at SOMArts include "The Third Muslim: Queer & Trans* Muslim Narratives", "The Black Woman Is God: Assembly Of Gods", "I Am San Francisco: Black Past And Presence", "Night Light: Multimedia Garden Party". These shows explore themes such as identity politics; race/ethnicity/gender/sexuality; history/memory/place; spirituality/religion/mythology; ecology/sustainability.
In addition to its own programming initiatives at its facility in San Francisco's Mission District neighborhood - which includes two large galleries with over 10k square feet each - SOMArts also partners with other organizations on collaborative projects throughout the Bay Area region. Some notable partnerships have included Yerba Buena Center For The Arts , Intersection For The Arts , California College Of The Arts , SFMOMA .
SOMArts also offers various resources for artists including artist residencies , fiscal sponsorship programs , professional development workshops . These resources help artists develop their skills/careers/projects while also connecting them with other like-minded individuals/organizations within the community.
Overall,SOMarts has become an integral part of San Francisco's vibrant cultural scene by providing a platform for diverse voices to be heard through art. Its commitment to inclusivity,diversity,and social justice makes it an important player in shaping conversations around contemporary issues facing our society today.