Yerba Buena Center for the Arts Announces Extended Evening Hours and Programming, As Part of Free Wednesdays

Downtown arts center expands free weekly offering with hands-on
workshops, intimate curator tours, after-hours gallery access, and more

March 26, 2026 – San Francisco, CA: Yerba Buena Center for the Arts (YBCA) is expanding its Free Wednesdays program to include extended hours and free evening events. Beginning April 1, YBCA galleries will remain open until 8pm each Wednesday, offering residents and visitors additional opportunities to explore exhibitions, connect with artists, participate in unique programs, and tap into the creative spirit of the Bay Area. 

“Free Wednesdays at YBCA is a chance for people to see something new each and every week,” said Mari Robles, CEO of Yerba Buena Center for the Arts. “They can check out our latest shows, join a workshop or conversation with an artist, or simply catch up with friends over a drink. Our city is full of so much culture and creativity, and we’re glad to offer everyone a few more hours each week to take part in it.” 

Extended evening hours will include free gallery admission, often with special accompanying programs such as artmaking lessons, readings from poets and writers, music and sound performances, curator-led tours, or similar art-inspired activation. Scheduled offerings for April will feature an artist-led tour from Diedrick Brackens, a printmaking workshop, a tour of The Prince of Homburg with curator Jeanne Gerrity, and a screening of films and videos from the new exhibition Conjuring Power: Roots and Futures of Queer and Trans Movements. A rotating menu of drinks, alcohol, and snacks will be available for purchase beginning at 5pm, with selections from local vendors including Woodridge Snacks, ALO Drink, and Rodney Strong Vineyards. 

Expanded Wednesday programming is made possible by support from Yerba Buena Partnership, the Office of Mayor Daniel Lurie, and the Office of Economic and Workforce Development. 

“We’re seeing energy and activity every night of the week in the Yerba Buena neighborhood. Offering free admission and strong programming on Wednesdays at YBCA adds an exciting centerpiece,” said Yerba Buena Partnership Executive Director Scott Rowitz. 

To aid in this effort, the Partnership provides grants to small businesses, community organizations, non-profits, and event organizers who curate activities that inspire economic vitality in the Yerba Buena neighborhood.

The extended Wednesday hours build on YBCA’s consistently well-attended free weekly art workshops, which combine community-centered arts education with techniques inspired by current exhibitions. With regular participation by families, neighbors, and young adults alike, these all-ages workshops have developed a devoted following over the last 18 months. The weekly workshops will continue as part of Free Wednesdays at YBCA. Collaborations are also planned with area businesses, as a way to support ongoing downtown revitalization and to connect YBCA visitors to other parts of the neighborhood. 

The current Wednesday programming schedule can be found at www.ybca.org/calendar.

YBCA programs are made possible in part by Bloomberg Philanthropies, Blue Shield of California, Bob A. Ross Foundation, City and County of San Francisco, Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), Malia Simonds, Mayor Daniel Lurie, The Ron Conway Family, Salesforce, San Francisco Office of Economic and Workforce Development, Silicon Valley Community Foundation, The Svane Family Foundation, The William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, Yerba Buena Gardens Conservancy, Yerba Buena Partnership, and Yerba Buena Center for the Arts Board of Directors and Members. 

About YBCA:

Opened to the public in 1993, Yerba Buena Center for the Arts (YBCA) was founded as the cultural anchor of San Francisco’s Yerba Buena Gardens neighborhood. Our work spans the realms of contemporary art, performance, film, civic engagement, and public life. By centering artists as essential to social and cultural movement, YBCA is reimagining the role an arts institution can play in the communities it serves. For more information, visit ybca.org.

YBCA is open Thursday through Sunday 11:00am to 5:00pm, and on Wednesdays from 11:00am to 8:00pm with free gallery admission and evening programming. 

General admission is $10, and $5 for students, educators, and seniors. Admission is free every Wednesday. For tickets and information, visit ybca.org.

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For media inquiries:

Abby Margulies | (614) 827-5810 | [email protected]