Arts Commission approves up to $240,000 for GLBT Historical Society predevelopment

The San Francisco Arts Commission voted unanimously April 1 to approve a waiver and grant solicitation of up to $240,000 to support predevelopment work for a permanent LGBTQ+ history museum and archive.

Roberto Ordiniana, director of the GLBT Historical Society, told commissioners the organization — which opened nearly 40 years ago in the Castro and maintains archives in Mid-Market — needs predevelopment funding to ensure a permanent facility is programmatically and financially sustainable. "We need to do the predevelopment work necessary to make sure that once the doors open on a permanent facility, it is as financially and programmatically sustainable as possible," Ordiniana said.

Commissioners discussed site selection and partnerships. Ordiniana said the city is conducting a site search and "at this point, no specific site has been agreed upon or entered into negotiation," and noted existing collaboration history with the San Francisco Public Library and the Hormel Center. Commissioner Hakimi expressed support for Ordiniana's leadership and the project's visibility.

The motion cited Administrative Code section 21(g)(9), which permits a single-grantee award when a public purpose may reasonably be accomplished by one particular grantee. The motion was moved and seconded and carried unanimously. The commission also pulled items 9 and 34 from the consent calendar and recorded recusals as appropriate before approving the remainder of the consent items.

Votes at a glance
- Approval of minutes (03/04/2024): carried unanimously.
- Consent calendar (exclusions noted): carried unanimously.
- Item 33: waiver/grant to GLBT Historical Society up to $240,000: carried unanimously.

Next steps: the Historical Society will proceed with predevelopment activities supported by the grant solicitation; commissioners said site selection and partnership details will continue to be explored.