The Arts
Mission Local covers San Francisco’s artists and cultural life, from museums and galleries to public art and murals.
Can this treasured S.F. photography institution cheat death again?
One artist, who helped what was once a collective of photographers achieve nonprofit status in 1977, says he has a plan for SF Camerawork.
Murals
Original muralists come home to Balmy Alley with a grant to save their work
With a new grant, a group of artists will return to Balmy Alley to restore some of their old murals
‘Not just lanterns and dragons:’ Mural depicts Chinatown through a child’s eyes
Artist and labor organizer Kayan Cheung-Miaw talks about Chinatown, organizing and learning how to draw from a 6 year-old.
1930s mural by famous S.F. artist uncovered in Pacific Heights home
As the owners prepped their house for sale, they found a surprise above their fireplace.
Sprawling new seascape mural decorates S.F. waterfront
Bright and bold, a 4,000-square-foot mural has overtaken the historic bulkhead at San Francisco’s Pier 19½, as sprawling as the octopus tentacles it depicts.
Music, dance and theater
Photos: Outside Lands 2026, from best-dressed to music sets
Lots of teens, expensive food and a very fun weekend.
Meet the barricade warriors at Outside Lands
Day one of Outside Lands kicks off with Charli XCX. Before her set tonight, her fans are ready to run for a spot at barricade.
In ‘Absolutely Science Fiction!’ at Z-Space, Bradbury and Vonnegut are together at last
In “Absolutely Science Fiction!” at Z Space through July 19, literary theatre troupe Word for Word performs short stories by Kurt Vonnegut and Ray Bradbury.
Museums
Review: GaHee Park looks behind the curtain at new Yerba Buena art show
Korean-born artist GaHee Park opens her first U.S. museum show, “Behind the Curtain,” at the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts.
What’s on now at San Francisco museums, August 2026
Word of mouth on The Etruscans at the Legion of Honor is strong and 500 Capp Street offers a Twilight Hour on Aug. 20.
Spectacular exhibit at de Young ushers Egyptian riches onto American soil
The treasures on display are not only culturally and financially valuable, they are also visually stunning.
San Francisco eases arts grant rules after artists raise concerns
A new city policy restores advance payments of up to 90 percent for individual artists and reduces documentation requirements for many smaller grants
At this year’s San Francisco Art Book Fair: 30,000 visitors, and one haunting
The fair brought in over 30,000 people across four days this weekend, including some unofficial ghastly guests.
In Yerba Buena, property owners are helping bankroll the arts
Amid city arts cuts elsewhere, this neighborhood group awarded $193,000 for murals, performances and community events
Meet the book readers of Dolores Park
Not only do people still read books in San Francisco, they read books while lying outside, in the grass, looking out at the city.
What’s on now at San Francisco museums, July 2026
Last weekend to catch Monet in Venice at the de Young, plus two shows opening at 500 Capp Street
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