SHARED
SPACES

We’re cultivating a way to connect artists who are excited to share their work with the neighborhood and neighbors who are interested in opening their spaces to those artists.

That could look like a local café staying open a little later for a show, an unused basement that could use a refresh, a back patio or yard that becomes a pop-up open mic or art gallery, or a storefront that wants to host something creative for a night. It's a great way for us to get to know more people and places in the Bay! We’ll always leave things better than we found them (no better words to live by).

For now we’re focused on the culture circles (the artist network). We’ll build something more sophisticated for intake down the road. In the meantime, if you need a space, or if you have a space you’d like to share, email us to start a conversation.

This is always on your terms — no pressure, no performance, no obligation beyond showing up with an open door. And truly, it’s going to be beautiful watching art spill out into our neighborhoods when these connections start to grow.

Businesses and organizations: if you have a café, lobby, courtyard, conference room, or storefront that sits quiet some evenings — we’d love to talk. Opening your space to artists is one of the most meaningful things a local business can do for its neighborhood.

✦ FREE VENUES     ✦ CHEAP VENUES     ✦ ALTERNATIVE SPACES     ✦ BACKYARDS     ✦ GARAGES     ✦ STOREFRONTS     ✦ PARKS     ✦ COMMUNITY ROOMS     ✦ FREE VENUES     ✦ CHEAP VENUES     ✦ ALTERNATIVE SPACES     ✦ BACKYARDS     ✦ GARAGES     ✦ STOREFRONTS     ✦ PARKS     ✦ COMMUNITY ROOMS    

Finding an affordable space is one of the biggest barriers artists face. As we buildout a hub of spaces, this is a sample to get us started.

Some of these are established community spaces with booking processes. Others are garages, backyards, storefronts, and church basements that open up when the right person asks. The archive grows as we build relationships. If you know a space, send it our way (info@eachartist.org).

How It Works

1

Tell us what you need

What kind of event? How many people? What neighborhood? Indoor or outdoor? We want the details.

2

We matchmake

jawno connects you to the right space — and the right person at that space. This is relationship-based, not transactional.

3

You make the thing

Show up, set up, share your work. We'll help spread the word if you want it.

What We're Tracking

🏛

Community Rooms

Libraries, rec centers, churches, nonprofits with free or low-cost event space

🎪

Alternative Venues

Garages, storefronts, living rooms, warehouses, laundromats, barbershops

🌳

Outdoor Spaces

Parks, plazas, community gardens, sidewalk permits, balconies, rooftops

🎵

Performance Venues

Stages, open mics, gallery spaces, cafes with artist-friendly booking

🔧

Studios & Workshops

Shared maker spaces, rehearsal rooms, recording studios, darkrooms

🏠

Residencies & Housing

Artist live/work spaces, residency programs, affordable housing resources

The Red Poppy Art House operates out of a 650-square-foot storefront and hosts 150+ events a year.
You don't need a concert hall. You need a room, a community, and a reason to open the door.
Source: Red Poppy Art House, Mission District, since 2003

Venue Preview

This archive is actively growing. Below are initial listings — more coming as we build relationships across the Bay. Want to be matched to a space? Email jawno.

Community · Mission

Red Poppy Art House

Artist-run, community-governed. 150+ events/year in a 650 sq ft storefront — music, visual art, workshops, residencies. MAPP (Mission Arts & Performance Project) hub. Intimate, unpretentious, essential.

2698 Folsom St · redpoppyarthouse.org
Free · Citywide

SF Public Library — Community Meeting Rooms

Free meeting and event rooms at library branches across the city. Projectors, seating, accessible locations. Book through the library system — first come, first served.

Multiple locations · sfpl.org
Low Cost · Multiple

SF Rec & Park — Community Rooms

Rec centers across the city rent rooms at below-market rates for community events. Some have stages, kitchens, outdoor adjacent space. Permit process is straightforward.

Citywide · sfrecpark.org
Alternative · SOMA

Public Works

Music venue, community space, and cultural hub. Artist-friendly booking, multi-room layout, outdoor patio. Hosted SF Music Week's Artist Development Day. A venue that acts like a partner, not a landlord.

161 Erie St · publicsf.com
Community · Western Addition

Community Music Center

Sliding-scale music education and performance space since 1921. Recital hall, classrooms, and a deep commitment to accessibility. One of SF's oldest continuously operating community arts spaces.

544 Capp St · sfcmc.org
Outdoor · Multiple

SF Parks — Permitted Performances

Golden Gate Park, Dolores Park, McLaren Park, and neighborhood parks all allow permitted performances and gatherings. Amplified sound permits available through Rec & Park.

Community · Marina

Fort Mason Center for Arts & Culture

A campus of arts organizations, galleries, and event spaces on the waterfront. Hosts BATS Improv, galleries, and major fairs. Some spaces available for community rates.

2 Marina Blvd · fortmason.org
Free · Mid-Market

Warfield Commons

The new 9-floor arts, media, and journalism hub at 988 Market. KALW anchor tenant. Below-market creative workspace. Still onboarding tenants — worth tracking for rehearsal, recording, and event space.

988 Market St · warfieldcommons.com
Community · Bayview

Bayview Opera House / Ruth Williams Memorial Theatre

One of SF's oldest community performance venues, deeply rooted in the Bayview. Hosts concerts, theatre, community events, and SF Music Week programming. A neighborhood anchor.

4705 3rd St · bfrrt.org
The Artist Space Trust uses a community land trust model to permanently remove land from the speculative market — preserving artist housing through deed restrictions.
Meg Shiffler's organization is building the infrastructure for artists to stay.
Source: Artist Space Trust · SF Music Week panel, Feb 2025

Know a Space?

A garage that hosts shows. A church basement with a piano. A backyard with a view. A storefront between tenants. If you know a space in SF that could welcome artists, tell us about it — info@eachartist.org