Since 1975, ArtSpan has championed the San Francisco art community to ensure artists remain recognized as an essential component of the city’s ethos. In celebration of ArtSpan’s 50th anniversary, From Disco Days to the Tech Craze: 50 Years of ArtSpan SF Open Studios highlights the pivotal role art plays in the identity of San Francisco culture, and ArtSpan’s support of city artists as documented over the decades.

Through the presentation of artist stories, diverse works of art, imagery, documentation of ArtSpan city-wide artist-supporting programs, catalogs, and more, the exhibition will demonstrate how the arts have shaped San Francisco’s global identity as a hub of creativity, counter-culture, and free-thinkers. From Disco Days to the Tech Craze: 50 Years of ArtSpan SF Open Studios will convey why residents and tourists alike must be invested in supporting local San Francisco Bay Area artists responsible for the cultural and visual vibrancy of the city/region. The exhibition is an extension of ArtSpan’s mission and, in addition to presenting the history of San Francisco art and culture, it will spotlight active contemporary artists at all stages of their careers—from emerging to established—who are members of ArtSpan and are currently shaping and carrying forward the San Francisco Bay Area’s reputation as a hotbed of art and culture, and who represent a community in need of support to remain in our rapidly developing metropolis.

View the Exhibtion: September 13 – November 17, 2024

Opening Reception: September 12, 5:30-7:30PM

Jewett Gallery, SF Public Library Main Branch, 100 Larkin Street

Free Tickets Here

To view the collection in-person visit the Jewett Gallery at the SF Public Library at 100 Larkin St. 

Main Branch Library Hours:
Monday: 9AM-6PM
Tuesday-Thursday: 9AM-8PM
Friday: 12-6PM
Saturday: 10AM-6PM
Sunday: 12-6PM