San Francisco, CA - Brava! for Women in the Arts, a beloved performing arts organization and theater center in San Francisco’s Mission District, is calling on the community to support its ongoing transition and help secure a vibrant, sustainable future for local artists.

In the past year, Brava has presented soulful, resilient and diverse performances such as The Medea Project’s Maze: What Do You Remember?, Ballet Nepantla’s Nacimiento, La Mezcla’s 10-Year Anniversary and Loco Bloco’s annual Día de los Muertos celebration. Despite rising costs and increased attacks on their served communities, Brava remains a home for bold stories, intergenerational artistry and vital community voices.

Now, Brava is navigating a moment of deep transformation. With gratitude for the leaders and creatives, like Stacie Powers, who have brought the organization to this point, Brava’s staff and Board are working to build a future rooted in sustainability, equity and community power

“It's no secret that the arts are under attack at the federal level”, says Development Director, Edith Castorena. “The current administration fears exactly what Brava stands for: solidarity, unity, truth-speaking and amplification of underrepresented voices. But we know that sustainability is possible through mutual support and collective care.”

In June 2024, Brava launched a successful mid-year appeal that funded urgent repairs and kept the organization going for their Fall Season. Despite waves of arts funding cuts, increased administrative work and closure of many fellow performing arts organizations, Brava is committed to keeping their doors open to the artists, audiences and youth who rely on the center for a variety of programs and services.

Today, Brava continues to offer affordable rentals to local artists, arts education for youth and community events that bring together diverse audiences from around the Bay. Donations, such as one-time gifts and recurring contributions, are critical to keeping Brava’s doors open and programming alive. The organization invites the community to be a part of this journey, investing in the future of this long-standing cultural home for vibrant artistic expression. To learn more about Brava’s work or to make a donation, visit brava.org/support

¡LA LUCHA SIGUE!

"At Brava, we believe that we must disavow the patriarchal path to peace paved with rape, war, death and annihilation, which has only led us to further self destruction, environment exploitation and intergenerational trauma. We must be bold in counteracting this fear-mongering narrative with creative acts of healing, remembering, grieving, sharing, and understanding."

– Stacie Powers Cuellar, Executive Director of Brava! for Women in the Arts

What now?

For 39 years, Brava has worked to amplify the voices of the subaltern; the overlooked and silenced. We commit to carrying this work forward and to support our community throughout this dangerous time. Electoral politics alone cannot save us, just as electoral politics alone cannot destroy us. Our power lies in our solidarity across class, race and all differences that could be used to divide us. We come together to share our stories, to feel the impact of what we've known all our lives, or are just hearing for the first time. In the theater, we embody our vision of liberation. 

Your ongoing support is instrumental to our success. We ask you to please continue to stand with us as we bring transformative artistic experiences to our community.

We have so much GRATITUDE for all of the incredible artists (performers, teachers, technicians, designers, and creators) who have graced our stages and filled Brava Theater Center with energy and excitement! Every single artist delivered thoughtfully crafted performances and educational experiences inspiring joy, healing, and activism that continues to resonate far beyond Brava’s walls. We are also incredibly appreciative to the over 30,000 of you, both returning and new audiences, who shared these communal moments of joy, reflection, and a deep sense of connection that ONLY THE PERFORMING ARTS can bring.

On the flip side, we are experiencing a rise in the cost of doing business by over 35% since 2020 with the biggest increases in utilities, facility maintenance, and providing a skilled and welcoming staff. In 2022, we even decreased our electric usage throughout the facility by changing much of our lighting systems to LED lights - to no avail with the price increases.

Whether it is utilities, insurance, employment, or the cost of toilet paper, our ability to keep up with these increases is becoming extremely challenging. For this, we are in URGENT NEED of YOUR HELP.  With more resources going to pay bills, Brava needs to raise $50,000 over the summer to continue providing the highest quality of inspirational performances, support for the Artists, free and low-cost Youth Programs, and subsidies for the Community to host events at Brava. 

Here’s How You Can MAKE A DIFFERENCE:

• Donate Online or

• Send a check to Brava! for Women in the Arts, 2781 24th Street, SF, CA 94110

Your ongoing support is instrumental to our success. We ask you to please continue to stand with us as we bring transformative artistic experiences to our community.

Thank you once again for your dedication to fostering the arts in our community. Together, we can achieve remarkable things.

With deep gratitude,

Anastacia Powers Cuellar
Executive Director

June 9, 2023

On the morning of June 9th, 2023– Brava had the honor of being presented with local, state, and national certificates of honors, and the Leadership Peacemaker Award from Community Boards, a non-profit conflict resolution and restorative justice center.

The award was presented in recognition of an organization whose work teaches understanding, collaborative skills, and how to listen to others to create successful outcomes for the communities it serves. 

Executive director, Anastacia Powers reiterates, “Brava’s dedication to the arts, it’s power to heal, and most importantly the communities we serve (youth, underrepresented voices, and artists),  is demonstrated by our clear intention of empowering people to challenge injustice, nurture community vitality, and inspire action.”

Since 1996, Brava has been a pillar to the Mission and the Calle 24 Latino Cultural District – a multigenerational icon, transcending time as a cultural hub– where your abuela first saw Jaws when it was the York Theatre, and your little cousin learned Ballet Folklorico at Brava Theater Center. 

Despite the changing face of the Mission, there are constants– community, compassion and cultura. And despite the recent ugly that has loomed– we can always choose love, light, and peace. 

Artist in Residence, Vin Seaman describes, “making peace is infrequently an active action. Its seeds are planted and take nourishment and time to sprout and grow; as a performing artist, my seeds are songs, dances and dialogue that delight and devastate audiences”. At Brava we are dedicated to providing that “fertile ground”, creating impact in the community, and sowing seeds of peace. Peace is a process.

Providing arts programming, safe space for community, and preserving history is how we at Brava keep peace. Art Heals.

“To go to work in Brava’s grand, absolutely beautiful iconic walls is good for my spirit.” – Marga Gomez

Brava is thrilled to bring back the hilariously sassy and subversive monthly series “Who’s Your Mami Comedy” to Brava’s cabaret beginning Thursday Feb 16th, 2023 at 7:30pm. Headliners Marga Gomez, Chelsea Bearce and Carla Clay will kick things off with fearless stand-up, sarcastic social commentary, and unladylike mayhem. 

But why stop the fun there? “Who’s Your Mami Comedy” will then continue monthly at Brava, every third Thursday with more fabulous, funny, feminist and diverse comedians. 

WYMC was created in 2019 as a comically trenchant response to misogyny in the comedy industry, mixing truths with hot takes and aim where no punchline has gone before. Created by Resident Artist, Marga Gomez WYMC takes on a new life with a year-long journey residency taking over the Brava Cabaret.

“Being a Brava artist-in-residence has given me the space and support to develop several solo plays that live in the intersection of my Latina and lesbian life experiences. Brava has provided a safe space for me to teach the art of solo performance in its studio. Since 2015 Brava has encouraged me to co-produce, promote and perform in major hilariously bad-ass and inclusive comedy projects from “Brava’s New Year’s Eve Comedy Fiestas” on the main stage, to our current series “Who’s Your Mami Comedy” in Brava’s sparkly cabaret. I am honored to be part of the Brava family of artists and grateful every day that Brava survived the pandemic. The Mission has lost too many community venues. To go to work in Brava’s grand, absolutely beautiful iconic walls is good for my spirit. To see myself painted onto the exquisite community mural by Vanessa Espinoza, DJ Agana, on Brava’s exterior is exhilarating.” - Marga Gomez

You have a year to spend cackling in the cabaret, don’t miss out! Keep on your ten toes for a year long line up of funk, fresh, fierce, bad ass comedy– each month presenting you with a unique opportunity to catch the funniest Mamis out.

Brava! for Women in the Arts celebrates over 30 years as a professional arts organization, and 20 years of owning and operating Brava Theater Center in San Francisco’s Mission District. As Brava's flagship program, Brava Presents delivers an eclectic array of music, theater, dance, and more in collaboration with local artists and arts organizations and cultivates opportunities for the artistic expression of women, artists of color, the LGBTQIA community, and other underrepresented voices in the Bay area. Brava remains one of the most eclectic and multifaceted arts venues in the Bay Area.

Living true to our mission– Brava fosters the artistic expression of women, people of color, LGBTQIA, and other underrepresented artists. Through its residency program, Brava supports the professional development and creative work of directors, actors, dancers, musicians, visual artists, and designers, providing space for creation, assistance with grant writing and fiscal sponsorship, and the support of Brava's marketing and technical staff. In return, these artists continue to generate excellent art, mentor youth in Brava’s education programs, and contribute to the artistic life of the 24th Street corridor in San Francisco.  

A couple of weeks ago, I had the privilege to sit with Cesar Cadabes and discuss his one-man autobiographical show, Not My First Pandemic which was featured in the With You Festival. NMFP tells the story of Cadabes’ journey as a gay Filipino, living, surviving through the AIDS and Covid-19 pandemics. As someone who is Gay and Asian, Cadabes experienced the social, and physical consequences reverberate throughout his communities. Both the LGBTQ++, and API communities were the targets of scapegoating– and labelled to be perpetrators of disease, contributing to social ostracization, and neglect– subsequently fueling homophobic, and xenophobic/anti-asian attacks. Uniquely, these pandemics exposed an ugly underbelly of racism, and social inequities that exacerbated the effects of the pandemic. Simultaneously, the nation was in an uproar as we battled these viral diseases and the deadly disease of Racism. As the AIDS and Covid-19 pandemics raged, nationwide movements against police terrorism raged alongside, ignited by the wrongful convictions of the Central Park 5, the beating of Rodney King, the murders of Yusef Hawkins, George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and countless others. Just how does Cadabes tackle all of this in one hour and a half? With grace. Cadabes is able to beautifully draw parallels upon his experiences in both eras, uniting us in our rage, sorrow, and search for light and love through the darkness. 

Cesar Cadabes in conversation with Xela Vargas. Full Interview transcribed below.

Xela: We can start first by introducing ourselves. I'm Xela Vargas, I coordinate Social Media, and do other things here at Brava Theater.

Cesar: I’m Cesar Cadabes, I am a solo performance artist/activist. I also work to mentor other queer and transgender Asian and Pacific Islander artists as the artistic director for GAPA Theater.

On Not My First Pandemic

Xela: So– you have an upcoming show with us here, can you tell me a little bit about what we should expect from NMFP? 

Cesar: Well, Not My First Pandemic is my first full length solo performance. So it's obviously about– well, maybe not obviously– about my experience. 

I came here in San Francisco in 1984, right at the beginning of the AIDS epidemic. So, I was here ground zero experiencing that, and, you know, getting involved, like most of our community did. And then a few years ago, we experienced and are still experiencing another pandemic– so I wrote this piece as an artistic and political response. I'm sharing my experiences, but also commentary on what else was going on. 

I talk about the two specific pandemics, AIDS and COVID, and parallel to both of those pandemics are the pandemic of brutality and social injustice. So, NMFP, right away you think pandemics, you know that I’m a gay artist– you think i’ll just be talking about AIDS, and Covid, but its actually much deeper than that.

There was obviously a lot of death, suffering, and trauma because of these two disease bourne pandemics, and they also opened up and exposed inequities: Who was getting services throughout AIDS and COVID? Who was being disproportionately impacted? People of color.

Xela: So, what would you like people to pull from the show, how do you want people to walk away feeling?

Cesar: That's what I've discovered as I keep developing this piece– my question was, is: how do you not just survive but thrive? And for me, it's about choosing joy. 

A lot of what we did during the AIDS pandemic was that in spite of what they were saying, in spite of what was happening to us: we still connected.

We went out. We socialized, We created art. We marched in the streets and we went dancing. We went dancing, and the clubs and the nightlife provided us a kind of refuge, because that was where the music took us away from what we were constantly surrounded by: death.

But it was also just physically being in a space together with people who are going through the same thing and dancing and laughing and connecting. We were still a community and we were worthy of that [joy], and we actively chose that.

Even with COVID, you know, you've heard about the stories [of] folks being turned away who were sick– and deathly ill and were turned away to go home and die. It's hard to think about the life that's there– and the joy. But that's why it's so important to do that-- to find and choose joy-- because doing that flies in the face of everything.

And we don't want to just survive. We want to thrive. 

So we need to think about our resilience, you know, in the midst of fighting, in the midst of surviving, we want to love, we want to create, we want to connect.

Xela: I want to say the beauty of your show also, is that it is ever-evolving, developing, and seems to be consistently relevant.                                                                                

Cesar: Yeah. I mean, I think that all of our experiences are relevant and too often we're told that they're not. And that's why, to choose joy, and, express your humanity is revolutionary.

As we do go along though, my perspective changes and I adapt the show, the history to the relevancy of what we're experiencing in the now.

On Monkey Pox

Xela: I like that:  choosing the revolutionary act of love, and joy. I cant help but think when you mention clubbing, and connection– I think of the latest pandemic confronting the world, particularly gay men– Monkeypox. Another disease that creates a fear of contact, and connection. Can you speak to that?

Cesar: Yeah. I mean, the first case was in May and we're in September. There's already over 21,000 cases here in this country, but over 4000 in California alone (now 5,010). There was some panic– given the first cases started [appearing] just before pride, and we had these pride events all over the country, and people still didn't know much about [the virus, or how it was spread.]

What was fascinating though, was how we responded. I was watching social media and people were sharing their experiences, they were sharing resources. They were tweeting updates letting people know, 

‘oh, there's no line and they have a lot of vaccines here”. People used art and their social media to educate folks on how to prevent this from spreading in our community. It was incredible.

Letting others know, “oh, if you put some kind of ointment and Band-Aid over the lesion, it will heal better and it may not leave a scar”. So just these little things you know, the spirit of continuing to build community, despite what is going on.

To me, it is powerful. 

And this is what we did with AIDS. Nobody knew what was going on– so we talked about it. We said, “this is what's happening, and this is how we understand it”. It was just like that and we, the community, did it again.

And we're continuing to do it. And while there may be what some may see as apathy--because a lot of people have gotten their vaccines and now we're seeing that there aren't any lines anymore--does that mean that people don't care? 

You can't really say why unless you ask someone– some people will just take a vaccine, some people are having reactions. And others take other precautions, whether it’s reducing partners, or if I have a partner, making sure to, you know, check his butthole, and his dick and balls– but you know, in a playful way– being healthy and sexual.

On marginalization and mass loss

Xela : I know you mentioned you felt that there wasn't so much of a community response or community care at the beginnings of COVID. But do you think that the community response is better this time around?

Cesar: I mean, there are not so subtle differences between COVID and monkeypox. As the information got out that it was mostly gay and bisexual men getting it, it became in people's mind, marginalized. So, our community responded.

People can kind of misconstrue information, and that's what they did with AIDS. It's like, “Oh, it's a gay thing straight people don't have to worry about. Then you saw that straight people were getting it, mothers were giving it to the children and so forth. [On the other hand it was,] “let's figure out what to do with COVID”, where it was much more transmissible to the general public– though the people most impacted

were people of color. But people didn’t (want to) see it in their community.They say, “well, it's not my problem”.

But we were also in a particular political environment at the time where misinformation overruled common sense, and overruled peoples humanity. 

I mean there were- and are- so many people dying, and we did the thing, for a year every night  at 7:00pm, we were out banging pots and pans to thank the frontline workers. And then it stopped. But that didn't mean that people stopped dying, or covid stopped.

Xela: It's desensitization really. Like after a year and a half, two– it’s kind of felt like “ok, how much more of this can we take (the loss, the reminders)?” 

Cesar: Yeah. And it's really interesting around our collective psyche that every year we do the 911 thing, because people were killed and it was traumatic to the country and the families. And we do the “never forget” with the gay community. You know? We never forget. We marked that day on World AIDS Day– we have candlelight vigils and we say their names.

And yet, over a million people have died from COVID and there’s not really that sense that we have collectively been impacted by this.

Xela: Yeah. That's an interesting observation given it's the most catastrophic and devastating loss that we've experienced as not only a nation but as a world. The amount of people that have died across the world. And yeah, we don't have a “never forget”– I feel like there wasn’t a time that we collectively honored or even recognized the mass loss. I guess you can say there's a mass loss of people, but also the loss of a sense of humanity. I mean we are all aware of the loss; maybe people are just trying to move on and feel like we've been stuck in this period for a while and like, let's move forward.

Cesar: Yeah, that's what some people say. It's like we're not in it anymore and yadda yadda yadda.

Xela: “Post COVID”

Cesar: Yeah, but they say the same thing about AIDS. [But] there was a vaccine within a year [for COVID]. For me and other folks who have lived as long as we have through the AIDS epidemic it’s like, what about this? What's the hold up on this vaccine for 41 years? You all did that in a year.

Xela: Before we go, I wanted to ask you what it's been like for you to work with Kat, and the first With You Festival– it’s a pretty big deal.

On Kat Evasco, and the importance of the With You Festival 

Cesar: Wow. I love working with Kat. I've been working with her since the beginning of developing this piece, actually, the piece before that, which developed into NMFP. It's wonderful because she always has this perspective and memory of what we worked on and how we've progressed.

I'm just very proud of her founding With You productions and this festival with Brava, who has been around in my memory and experience of living in San Francisco since 1984. And so to be part of Brava's legacy is inspiring and it just feels like home.

It's great that the festival is at Brava because of who Kat is and what she's going to build– alongside the place that Brava has in our political and cultural history in San Francisco. It's a great match. It's a great celebration of it all.

I'm really looking forward to it and hope it's the start of continuing to build and create art with Brava with the community.

It's such a gift that Brava gives to the community by, you know, hosting these shows. So thank you for that.

Xela: Our pleasure!

Find Cesar Cadabes on Instagram @alohabudd.

Brava is currently seeking part-time event staff to join our vibrant, dedicated Front of House Team. Open positions include House Managers, Box Office Agents, and Concessionaires, with opportunities to train across the three positions. 

As forward-facing employees, ideal candidates for the Front of House Team will have customer service experience and an enthusiasm for providing high level guest services in a dynamic environment. Front of House Team Member shifts require availability in the evenings and on weekends, with occasional weekdays. Shifts are a minimum of four hours and generally do not exceed six hours, with paid training provided for all positions. 

Detailed job duties for each position can be found here. Applicants should send a resume and a brief statement of interest to Brava’s Venue Manager Angelica Rodriguez (she/her) at venuemgr@brava.org. Resumes will be accepted on an ongoing basis.

We look forward to hearing from you!

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]]>Guest UserThu, 07 Apr 2022 00:15:55 +0000https://www.brava.org/fierce-badass/2022/4/6/xilonen-becoming-a-young-woman-in-danza-azteca57e2ef6fc534a50452d4afa0:59273a8b5016e14f4ff6731d:624e27fa870c4f1c60e4e648Corn, Maiz, Cintli– the food of our ancestors, corn is revered as sacred for the indigenous peoples of the Americas, from North and south, transcending la frontera, and time. Maiz represents the indigenous connection to our earth, our sustenance, we are nurtured by corn, and its beautiful patterns, and assortment of colors. In many of our indigenous creation stories, we are descended from corn. For the Aztecas, maize is honored as sacred, often depicted in art, and personifications of the elements, nature, and sacred beings. One of the representations being that of Xilonen– tender corn.

In the Chichimeca-Otomi tradition, better known as Danza Azteca, we hold many ceremonies throughout the year to honor our community, and spirituality including ceremonies to honor Women, Men, Ancestors, Two-Spirits, Children, and the transition from childhood to adulthood. For young women in Danza, our rite of passage is depicted by the transformation of corn, and the goddess of Maiz, tender corn, Xilonen.  Growing up in the tradición of Danza, I always knew I would be a Xilonen, and looked forward to the day of my ceremony. As a young girl in the circle I idolized Xilonen, the young women in my community adorned in Manta (muslin cloth) and elements of green, and gold– showered with love, consejos (advice), and prayer through song and dance. And we never fall short of corn metaphors. Xilonen ceremony is a day where as a young woman we are the center, surrounded by a community excited to welcome, and guide us into our transition to young womanhood. As a young girl, I watched as the young women in my family became Xilonen, and I felt as though my ceremony could not come soon enough. I studied the dances, mannerisms, eavesdropped on their prayers– being a Xilonen was what I was born to become, a young honorable woman of the community, guided by tradicion, and driven by ancestral teachings.

The year of my ceremony finally approached-- I say year, because it takes a year of preparation, and a year of completion. I was fortunate enough to share my year of ceremony with comadres, and sisters I grew up with, including their incredible mothers who guided us every step of the way. This made my ceremony that much more special. We met every Sunday of the year to discuss ceremony prep– of course a year in advance we decided on the Taquero, and to serve elote en vaso, that was the one sure thing. On a ceremonial note, we learned about the importance of ofrenda, giving ourselves to the community, and how to carry ourselves in ceremony. We learned how to dry and wrap herbs, and how to hand-embroider– in order to create an art piece that represented us to place on the altar. I decided on the Black/Brown Power fist, with corn representing the four directions emerging from the fist– it was quite ambitious, but I managed. We designed, and created our trajes (regalia), and chose godparents– those who we trusted and held close to our hearts in order to help guide us on our journeys. A whole year of preparation, for a ceremony that seemed to pass by in one minute. 

What I do remember is how content I felt, fulfilled. The sun beamed so bright that day, and so did everyone's smiles, the circle felt like un abrazo. I watched one of my comadres step into her traje (regalia), and mask of Xilonen, and offer the dance called Maiz– each step representing the journey of the corn, desde la siembra (planting of seeds), to the popping of the kernel. We traveled throughout the circle visiting altars representing the four directions to receive consejos, from the children, to the women, the men, and finally, the elders. An elder Lupe, held us close, and told us to remember the feeling of our ceremony– the love, the pride, and to hold it close in our heart, then, she showered us with cornmeal. I take her advice, I hold this day close to my heart, I remember the sun on this day, I remember the pride I felt in my sisters, my community, my circle. I wish for everyone to feel that sense of love, and guidance one day. It is a blessing to be connected with ancestral traditions, and teachings– ceremonies our ancestors fought to preserve.

Maiz is sacred, and so are the representations of it. The film Guardianes del Maiz tells the story of Maiz from the indigenous farmer, artisans and cooks in Mexico whose ancestors shepherded the ever-evolving seeds from the dawn of agriculture into the 21st Century. These voices are joined by community leaders, scientists, chefs, and others whose knowledge and activism stand not only in defense of food sovereignty and the genetic integrity, diversity, and community ownership of native seeds, but in defense of a durable cultural legacy and a way of life.

This blog post was written by Aztaxelli “Xela” Vargas Brava’s Social Media Intern. Xela is an indigenous, Xica-Nica, SF native with a family legacy in the arts, poetry, and social activism. She is a student at CCSF currently studying Ethnic Studies, and Sociology, and in her freetime enjoys walking through the neighborhood and creating Art. For inquiries you can reach her through xela@brava.org.

Join us for this raucous night of comedy featuring 11 of the fiercest comedians around. Tickets are $10 with no additional fees or taxes. See you on Zoom!

Thursday, May 20, 2021 at 7pm PST!

To commemorate and celebrate the vital role of womxn in our community and beyond, Brava Artist in Residence Agana, along with guest artists ShiShi Madriz, Leslie “Dime” Lopez, Lucía González Ippolito, and Keena Romano, installed artworks in Brava’s storefront windows on a half block of 24th Street. Each artist created a piece in tribute to another artist whose art and life influenced their own. 

The artworks will be up through the middle of April and we invite you to stroll by Brava for an in-person view. Visit us in San Francisco’s Mission District, 24th Street, York to Hampshire.

Below is information on each of the five artists who created the window displays, along with bios and images of the artists the work pays tribute to:

Susan Cervantes 
Art by Agana

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Lady Pink 
Art by Agana

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Loreto Sanhueza
Art by ShiShi Madriz

Xochitl Nevel Guerrero
Art by Leslie “Dime” Lopez

Juana Alicia 
Art by Lucía González Ippolito

Juana Alicia was my mentor and teacher during my childhood as well as a family friend and respected fellow community member. In my teens, her and my father developed a romantic relationship and for the last 17 years she has been my stepmother. I consider my relationship with Juana Alicia very dynamic and complex considering I've gotten to experience her energy in so many different forms. I have learned so much from her and have a deep sincere respect for her work as well as her being. Her legacy and impact on the art world, Latino community, and my own family is why I chose to paint her for International Women's Day. - Lucía González Ippolito

Ntozake Shange
Art by Keena Romano

For this project I chose to paint Ntozake Shange to go along with our theme “Women Are Magic” and it seemed fitting for the Brava Theater Venue as she was a dancer, author and playwright. I grew up with her books in our household and can share the impact “Cypress, Sassafras and Indigo” had on my formative teenage years. She addresses and honors femininity at its different milestones and scenarios through life and shares some of the magic we have access to during those epic moments. I highly recommend experiencing her work through literature or a performance near you! - Keena Romano 

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This month, San Francisco released a study of the social and economic impacts of the arts on our city. The study is a deep-dive into the ways in which San Francisco arts organizations (both big and small) not only “provide residents and visitors… entertainment and personal enrichment,” but how as an industry they are deeply embedded in their communities, generating economic growth and stability through employment, the purchasing of goods and services, and by supporting other businesses that rely on their presence.

In the undertaking of this study, prepared by the Bay Area Council Economic Institute, nearly 40 Executive and Artistic Directors in San Francisco were interviewed, with the goal of assessing the economic contributions of the arts in San Francisco and the impact of Covid on these organizations. 

Brava’s Executive Director, Anastacia Powers Cuellar, is one of the voices reflected in the report. Having spent close to a decade as Brava’s ED in the Mission, she knows first hand the economic impact our theater has on our surrounding neighborhood, including the 15% increase in business restaurants see on performance days (pre-pandemic of course). 

Read the full report here. (Jump to page 29 for more on Brava.)

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]]>Guest UserMon, 14 Dec 2020 22:47:04 +0000https://www.brava.org/fierce-badass/2020/12/14/brava-shops-local-with-artist-agana57e2ef6fc534a50452d4afa0:59273a8b5016e14f4ff6731d:5fd7ea0d74742f24e8b41836Mission artist and activist Agana, whose new mural, "Brava Breaths Palabra," spans the length of Brava Theater Center’s main theater, has set up shop (quite literally) in Brava's storefront windows! Her pop-up shop features beautifully handcrafted notebooks, notecards, and prints, custom earrings, keychains, t-shirts, bandanas and more, all for purchase this holiday season! Swing by Brava for a look at these one of kind gifts for everyone in your life. Items may be purchased through Brava (simply knock on our door), or through Agana (DM her on Instagram @dj_agana or check out her online store).

Click on photos to enlarge.

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This holiday season, gather your friends for a private screening of your favorite movie! You and up to 19 of your closest friends can socially distance comfortably in our 350 main stage theater. You choose the movie and bring the treats; we handle the rest! 

Extend the evening’s fun with a reception or intimate dinner in our Main Theater Lobby. The lobby’s lounge provides the perfect atmosphere to kick back with a cocktail, or add tables for a more formal affair.

For movie rates and packages, email Brava’s Production Manager, Alba Lluch, at production@brava.org.

Nearly two stories high and spanning the length of Brava Theater Center’s main theater, “Palabra Breathing” was commissioned by Brava! for Women in the Arts with support from our neighborhood partner, Acción Latina, for the July 16, 2020 Paseo Artístico: Art is Collective Action. Created by artist Vanessa “DJ Agana” Espinoza (@dj_agana) with artist Yazmin “Shi Shi” Madriz, “Palabra Breathing” honors our nation’s ancestral heritage and the generations of Black and Indigenous women who have given heart, breath, and life to this land. Read Agana’s artistic statement here.

Agana’s art first appeared at Brava back in 2018, when Brava commissioned her to create the mural “Madre Tierra de mi Corazon” (pictured in the slideshow below) on the east-side gate of our newly opened storefront. When the opportunity for a new mural came up, Brava knew exactly who should create it! We’d also like to extend a special thank you to Josue Rojas (who painted the west/right panel of the mural) and Acción Latina for their support, as well as the artists ToonsOne and Sonia G whose work also appears on the mural.

Please join us in bringing this mural to the world.

Mural Blessing
Monday, September 7, 2pm
Instagram Live @BravaTheater

* After 35 years of existence, we are heartbroken over the imminent demolition of the mural "Nosotros con Cesar y Dolores" on the corner of 24th & York Street in San Francisco’s Mission District. Despite three years of community opposition and meetings with the SF Planning Commission, the owner of the property has been given permission to demolish the laundromat to build a five-story apartment building.

You can learn more about the mural’s history and support efforts to preserve the mural at the “Preserving the Cesar Chavez Mural” GoFundMe campaign here.