Safe House For The Performing Arts
SAFEhouse for the Performing Arts was founded in 2007 as an artist space where experimentation, and risk-taking is celebrated.
When it was founded in 2007, SAFEhouse took over a program called AIRspace from the Jon Simms Center, which, founded in 1987, is the longest running residency specifically designed for queer artists. Inspired by the simplicity of AIRspace, Landini then designed SAFEhouse's flagship residency program RAW (resident artist workshop). RAW has supported over 800 groups since its inception. The AIRspace and RAW residencies are the heart of SAFEhouse programming. However, SAFEhouse is also dedicated to producing and supporting festivals both large and small. In 2013, SAFEhouse began producing the West Wave Dance Festival, which is the Bay Area's longest running dance festival (which will be celebrating its 30th anniversary in 2023!). SAFEhouse also created the Summer Performance Festival which features SAFEhouse artists in residence. SAFEhouse also commissioned a mural on the front of SAFEhouse Arts at 145 Eddy St. honoring influential transgender elders. The founder stepped down in December 2025 and the organization's lease on our 145 Eddy location was terminated in order to cut costs. Currently, SAFEhouse is under the leadership of new directors, Jesselito Bie and Colin Johnson.
San Francisco, CA
Small organization
Fundraisers
Official fundraiser
Ongoing RAW Artist Application
There is a $30 registration fee to sign up for RAW . Please contact Jesse (jesse@safehousearts.org) if this fee creates a hardship ARTISTS THAT DO NO CONTACT US ABOUT WAIVING THE REGISTRATION FEE AND DO NOT PAY THE FEE WILL BE GIVEN LOWER PRIORITY AND MIGHT NOT BE ACCEPTED. Artists that do pay the fee or contact us will be announced first.
Official fundraiser
Save SAFEhouse Arts
At the end of 2025, the organization faced some huge challenges: our longtime executive director and founder left his role after 16 years and our board of directors decided that it would be more fiscally responsible to shutter our performance venue in the Tenderloin. The organization. has restructured with former director of artist relations, Jesselito Bie and Technical director Colin Johnson assuming leadership roles in order to keep our Resident Artiist Workshop going in order to provide a platform for both emerging and mid-career artists. We are exploring a new model where we partner with other local theaters and spaces to produce our showcases.
- Raised
- $0
- Goal
- $10,000
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