I stumbled upon Hospitality House by pure chance. After returning home to San Francisco two years ago and seeking a suitable community art studio, I ran into an acquaintance who mentioned the community arts program at Hospitality House. Although I was initially hesitant due to its location in the Tenderloin, an area that had changed significantly since my last visit, he encouraged me to give it a try, assuring me that it was a wonderful place for artists. One day, while running errands on Market Street, I decided to check out the studio. As soon as I stepped inside, I felt an immediate sense of belonging, and I have been creating art there ever since. The community arts program studio has truly become my creative sanctuary.
Hospitality House honors the legacy of the Vanguard youth. Vanguard, founded in 1965 by Adrian Ravarour and Billy Garrison, was the nation’s first predominantly gay youth organization, promoting social justice and equal rights for young gay individuals. Established in San Francisco's Tenderloin neighborhood with war-on-poverty funds, it helped found and support Hospitality House. During the 1967 "Summer of Love," many youth became homeless, leading to the creation of The Vanguard organization and then Hospitality House as a drop-in center providing food and activities. By 1985, Hospitality House evolved into a multi-service agency offering shelter, counseling, employment assistance, and art classes.
Since its inception in 1969, the community arts program has provided the only free fine arts studio and gallery space for artists and local residents who face socioeconomic challenges that limit their access to the vibrant artistic and cultural scene of the area. It has been a haven for low-income artists from all over the city, offering free studio spaces and art materials five days a week to support a diverse range of creative expression. Each year, over 3,500 artists benefit from complimentary materials and space to create, showcase, and sell their artwork.
With backing from the community and various nonprofit organizations, San Francisco’s Hospitality House has successfully acquired the 6,800-square-foot building that houses their community arts program. A $1.5 million loan helped Hospitality House sustain the studio at 1009 Market St. as a permanent arts and vibrant cultural asset.
The Hospitality House community arts program is part of a broader movement in the Tenderloin and South of Market, where community-based nonprofits are acquiring properties to establish permanent homes for their programs, offering more stable services and resources, supported by the Community Arts Stabilization Trust (CAST).
As creative spaces continue to diminish across the nation, Hospitality House stands as a beacon of hope, providing safe environments for artists to create their work. It is not just a studio; it embodies the very essence of what artists need: a home for their work where they can freely express themselves without the fear of displacement.
In many areas, gentrification has forced numerous artists out of their neighborhoods and homes due to rising costs. For those involved in the Hospitality House community arts program, owning the building means they have a permanent sanctuary — a place where they will always belong.
Visit any day of the week between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. or from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m., and you will witness artists conjuring breathtaking worlds from their imaginations. The stunning work produced here flourishes thanks to the support of the community arts program, which serves as a vital resource and the lifeblood of the artistic community.
Monteque Pope-Le Beau is a poet, artist, and founder of Dreamweaverarts. They use art as a catalyst for change, drawing from personal experiences, including overcoming illness. Their brand, "Circles of Enlightenment," promotes community well-being.
