Director outlines Black arts investments, CSAP outreach, new fellowships and public-art opportunities

Ralph Remington, San Francisco's Director of Cultural Affairs, used the Arts Commission's Feb. 5 meeting to highlight recent programming, investments and an equity effort around monuments and memorials.

Remington said he delivered a keynote for the San Francisco African American Historical and Cultural Society kickoff and told commissioners that "Since 2021, San Francisco has invested over $18,400,000 in support of black artists, arts organizations, and cultural centers." He encouraged commissioners to amplify the commission's social-media posts to increase visibility for departmental programs and announcements.

Remington outlined upcoming public engagement for the Cultural Services Allocation Plan (CSAP) evaluation: open houses in late February (Mission Cultural Center for Latino Arts and a Southeast Community Center session), a Mission Bay/City College Chinatown North Beach in-person session on Feb. 29, a virtual open house on March 1, a youth focus group and a survey open Feb. 12 through March 11 in English, Spanish, Filipino and Chinese. He asked commissioners and the public to RSVP to open houses and to share the survey.

On exhibitions and galleries, Remington noted the "Conversation 8" exhibition in the main gallery (on view through April 27) and announced a mentorship and exhibition fellowship for two emerging artists (one San Francisco resident and one Bay Area artist) that will culminate in a two-person exhibition in fall 2024; an RFQ deadline was given for February (by 11:59 p.m.).

Public-art opportunities highlighted included a facade-mounted artwork opportunity at the Treasure Island Water Resource Recovery Facility (up to 2,850 square feet; artwork budget $610,000; RFQ closes March 11), a Mission Bay School exterior tile/mosaic opportunity (approx. 330 square feet; budget $136,000; RFQ closes March 18), and other Treasure Island and Mission Bay RFP/RFQ deadlines. Remington also said the commission is seeking a consultant to perform an equity audit of monuments, memorials and other civic artwork; Angela Carrier was introduced as senior manager for monuments and memorials to help implement that work.

Remington closed by encouraging commissioners to share agency posts and thanking staff for their work on the upcoming equity audit and community-outreach process.