The 2017 National Performance Network / Visual Artists Network’s Annual Conference will take place in San Francisco, December 14-17. All are welcome!

In alignment with NPN/VAN’s commitment to creating an arts sector rooted in justice, we are committed to ensuring a space that is free of racism, transphobia, homophobia, ableism, misogyny, classism, or other bias. Our hope is that all Annual Conference participants – whether leading a discussion, performing/presenting work, or simply attending – both honor and accept a shared commitment to this ethic, and join us in a spirit of openness, learning, and respect.

At this year’s convening, we look forward to deepening our connections to the local artist community by focusing our Live & On Stage performances on work by local artists and companies, making off-site visits to art spaces and studios in San Francisco and the East Bay, and exploring the Bay Area’s vibrancy, challenges, and resilience through the lens of art and activism.

In addition, we’ve included more opportunities for local and national artists to share their work, for NPN/VAN Partners to exchange ideas and projects with each other, and for colleagues, funders, presenters, and artists to develop relationships, strategies, and inspiration together.

We are honored to recognize this year our NPN/VAN Partner hosts around the Bay – Youth Speaks (San Francisco), La Peña (Berkeley), and MACLA (San Jose); our Live & On Stage host — Yerba Buena Center for the Arts; and dozens of Bay Area artists, arts leaders, activists, and community organizers on our Local Host Committee. Join us this December 14-17!

 

Download the Schedule

CONFERENCE HOTEL
Parc 55 San Francisco
55 Cyril Magnin St
San Francisco, CA

LIVE & ON STAGE VENUE
Yerba Buena Center
for the Arts
701 Mission St
San Francisco, CA

The 2017 National Performance Network / Visual Artists Network’s Annual Conference will take place in San Francisco, December 14-17. All are welcome!

In alignment with NPN/VAN’s commitment to creating an arts sector rooted in justice, we are committed to ensuring a space that is free of racism, transphobia, homophobia, ableism, misogyny, classism, or other bias. Our hope is that all Annual Conference participants – whether leading a discussion, performing/presenting work, or simply attending – both honor and accept a shared commitment to this ethic, and join us in a spirit of openness, learning, and respect.

At this year’s convening, we look forward to deepening our connections to the local artist community by focusing our Live & On Stage performances on work by local artists and companies, making off-site visits to art spaces and studios in San Francisco and the East Bay, and exploring the Bay Area’s vibrancy, challenges, and resilience through the lens of art and activism.

In addition, we’ve included more opportunities for local and national artists to share their work, for NPN/VAN Partners to exchange ideas and projects with each other, and for colleagues, funders, presenters, and artists to develop relationships, strategies, and inspiration together.

We are honored to recognize this year our NPN/VAN Partner hosts around the Bay – Youth Speaks (San Francisco), La Peña (Berkeley), and MACLA (San Jose); our Live & On Stage host — Yerba Buena Center for the Arts; and dozens of Bay Area artists, arts leaders, activists, and community organizers on our Local Host Committee. Join us this December 14-17!

Download the Schedule
CONFERENCE HOTEL
Parc 55 San Francisco
55 Cyril Magnin St
San Francisco, CA
LIVE & ON STAGE VENUE
Yerba Buena Center
for the Arts
701 Mission St
San Francisco, CA

BRANDON SANTIAGO

Brandon Santiago is a Puerto Rican Poet, radical educator, radio host, and San Francisco native. He has been featured on programs such as Tedx Sand Univision’s Despierta America. Brandon started as a youth participant and intern at Youth Speaks over 10 years ago and today serves as Youth Speaks Program Director.

Brandon Santiago, Ten-Minute Art Talks, Sunday 12/17 @ 11:50 am

 

More Spotlights

BRANDON SANTIAGO

More Spotlights
Brandon Santiago is a Puerto Rican Poet, radical educator, radio host, and San Francisco native. He has been featured on programs such as Tedx Sand Univision’s Despierta America. Brandon started as a youth participant and intern at Youth Speaks over 10 years ago and today serves as Youth Speaks Program Director.

Brandon Santiago, Ten-Minute Art Talks, Sunday 12/17 @ 11:50 am

 

Local Host Committee

Idris Ackamoor

Co-Artistic Director, Cultural Odyssey

Tamara Alvarado

Executive Director, School of Arts & Culture at Mexican Heritage Plaza

Marc Bamuthi Joseph

Artistic Director, Yerba Buena Center for the Arts

Anyka Barber

Director, Betti Ono Gallery

Roberto Bedoya

Cultural Affairs Manager, City of Oakland

Cece Carpio

Gallery Manager, San Francisco Arts Commission Galleries

Kevin Chen

Manager of Artist Studio and Public Programs, DeYoung Museum

Edris Cooper-Anifowoshe

Marketing Associate, Brava For Women in the Arts

Anastacia Powers Cuellar

Executive Director, Brava For Women in the Arts

Juliana Delgado Lopera

Executive/Artistic Director, Radar Productions

Sean Dorsey

Artistic Director, Sean Dorsey Dance & Fresh Meat Productions

Lisa Evans

Artistic Engagement Associate, Cal Shakes

Melonie J. Green

Co-Executive Director, African American Arts & Culture Complex

Melorra J. Green

Co-Executive Director, African American Arts & Culture Complex

Anjee Helstrup-Alvarez

Executive Director, MACLA/Movimiento de Arte y Cultura Latino Americana

Rhodessa Jones

Co-Artistic Director, Cultural Odyssey

Ebony McKinney

Program Officer, San Francisco Arts Commission

Natalia Neira

Co-Executive Director, La Peña

Joan Osato

Producing Director, Youth Speaks

Read her Spotlight

Devi Peacock

Executive/Artistic Director, Peacock Rebellion

Joey Reyes

Curator of Engagement & Dialogue, MACLA

Ernesto Sopprani

Executive Director, AIRSPACE Queer Performance Residency

Susanne Takehara

Executive Director, Eastside Arts Alliance

Bianca Torres

Co-Executive Director, La Peña

Virgie Tovar

Managing Director, Radar Productions

Rio Yanez

Curator, photographer, graphic artist

“We are thrilled to welcome the National Performance Network / Visual Artists Network to San Francisco! Now is the perfect time to gather in our city by the bay. With regional initiatives aimed at helping arts nonprofits overcome the affordability challenges facing many U.S. cities to our long history of arts and activism, the Bay Area has many unique and exciting innovations to share. While here, we hope you explore our many cultural assets which range from the avant-garde to the high profile. There is so much to choose from. We look forward to celebrating the importance of the arts with you while you are here in San Francisco. Welcome!” Tom DeCaigny

Director of Cultural Affairs, City & County of San Francisco