Sun November 2nd Open 11 AM–5 PM
Exhibitions
Bay Area Then
Presented by YBCA
August 1, 2025–January 25, 2026
“Bay Area Then” showcases work by 21 artists who forged a new creative legacy for the Bay Area in the 1990s—including Barry McGee, Alicia McCarthy, Chris Johanson, and Margaret Kilgallen.
Exhibitions
Bay Area Then
Presented by YBCA
“Bay Area Then” showcases work by 21 artists who forged a new creative legacy for the Bay Area in the 1990s—including Barry McGee, Alicia McCarthy, Chris Johanson, and Margaret Kilgallen.
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Exhibitions
MAKIBAKA: A Living Legacy
Presented by SOMA Pilipinas in collaboration with YBCA
Celebrating the culture, contributions, and presence of the Filipino community in the South of Market (SoMa) neighborhood and Bay Area.
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Workshops
Free Art Workshop: Velveteen Rabbit Pop-up Book
Presented by YBCA
Create an imaginative pop-up book inspired by The Velveteen Rabbit. Meet cast members and join a dance-along presented by ODC.
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Music
Bay Area Then: Erica Dawn Lyle & Brontez Purnell
Presented by YBCA
Erica Dawn Lyle and Brontez Purnell perform as part of the musical programming for Bay Area Then.
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Music
The Unified Heart of Leonard Cohen with Conspiracy of Beards, The Crux, and Genny Lim
Presented by San Francisco Leonard Cohen Festival and Conspiracy of Beards
San Francisco’s Conspiracy of Beards perform their new show, The Unified Heart of Leonard Cohen.
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Public Programs
Bay Area Then and Now Poetry Series
Presented by YBCA
A midday poetry and spoken word reading by Bay Area poets Patrick James Dunagan, Sarah Menefee, and Yenia Jimenez.
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Music
Perla Batalla – A Letter to Leonard Cohen: A Tribute to a Friend
Presented by San Francisco Leonard Cohen Festival and Conspiracy of Beards
Featuring Batalla’s powerful voice, powerful band, emotional honesty, and boundary-defying songs, blending interpretations of Cohen’s iconic lyrics with two of her own compositions.
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Workshops
Free Art Workshop: Mini Nutcracker Ornaments
Presented by YBCA
Create miniature nutcracker ornaments inspired by the upcoming holiday season. This workshop is inspired by the SF Pride Band’s Dance-Along Nutcracker.
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Performances
The Velveteen Rabbit
Presented by ODC/Dance
The Velveteen Rabbit returns to the stage with the 39th anniversary of the beloved Bay Area holiday tradition.
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Music
Bay Area Then: Ovarian Trolley & Wife
Presented by YBCA
Ovarian Trolley and Wife perform as part of the musical programming for Bay Area Then.
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Performances
Dance-Along Nutcracker® 2025: A Wicked Dance-Along Nutcracker
Presented by San Francisco Pride Band
Part comedy musical, part dance-it-yourself ballet, and part symphonic concert featuring holiday fun and tradition.
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Dance
The Christmas Ballet
Presented by Smuin Contemporary Ballet
The tradition returns to spread holiday magic.
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Public Art
Sanctuary City Project
Sergio De La Torre & Chris Treggiari
Sanctuary City Project is an ongoing public art and printmaking initiative that asks urgent questions about immigration, citizenship, and who gets to feel safe.
+ Read more2012–Ongoing
Street poles surrounding the YBCA campus; Galleries, YBCA
Public Art
Dream
Ana Teresa Fernández
A public art installation commissioned by YBCA and co-sponsored by San Francisco Public Works.
+ Read more2015–Ongoing
Bernal Hill, San Francisco
Public Art
SoMa Mahal Kita (SoMa I Love You)
Ciriaco Sayoc
A message of love for the SoMa neighborhood and community, inspired by weaving practices in the Phillipines and the colors of the Filipino flag.
+ Read more2024-Ongoing
Vestibule Banner, YBCA
Public Art
What is Legacy Without Liberation?
Malaya Tuyay
This mural is an altar offered to the SoMa community that invites passerby to honor their loved ones who have passed while commemorating community stories.
+ Read more2024–Ongoing
Third Street Wavy Wall, YBCA
Public Art
We fly for a liberated we, we rooted in flight
Lukaza Branfman-Verissimo
A public artwork inviting passerbyers to join in the journey of collective flight
+ Read more2024–Ongoing
Third Street Exterior, YBCA
2022-ongoing
Mission Street at Geneva Ave., Excelsior Ave. and Onoganda Ave., San Francisco
Public Art
Peace in the Middle East
Taravat Talepasand
This work refers to the translation of the word “peace” in Farsi “صلح” sculpted with neon.
+ Read more2022-ongoing
Grand Lobby, YBCA
