Queering the Arts

Aesthetics and Economies

Tuesday, October 11, 2:00 pm – 5:00 pm

Space is limited at offsite sessions, so a ticket is required. Tickets will be available at the registration desk beginning at 7:00 am on Tuesday morning. If the tickets for a session are all gone, you will know that it is full and can make another choice.

Buses for offsite sessions will depart from the main entrance of the hotel at 2:00 pm on Tuesday.

Organized by Kevin Seaman, program assistant, arts and culture, The San Francisco Foundation; Beatrice Thomas, program associate, San Francisco Arts Commission.

Presented by Vanessa Camareno-Arredondo, independent consultant and vocalist; T. Kebo Drew, managing director, Queer Women of Color Media Art Project; Sean Dorsey, choreographer and artistic director, Sean Dorsey Dance and Fresh Meat Productions.

With its rich and vibrant queer history, San Francisco has always been identified as an enclave of queer artists. This session will give an introduction to professional queer arts organizations with presenting standards in alignment with mainstream arts organizations and the strategies they employ in dealing with the lack of avenues for funding, production, and distribution. No longer willing to wait to enter the mainstream, these organizations are building alliances, creating economic opportunities, and defining aesthetics. Leading with the screening of a reel representing a critical density of work from queer artists creating and presenting in San Francisco, and wrapping with a discussion with individual artists and representatives from professional arts organizations centered on queer work, session participants will be able to examine and respond to characteristics of the emerging queer arts community.


This session will take place at CounterPULSE, a nonprofit theater, performance space, community center, and gallery with deep roots in the Bay Area’s provocative performance and dance scenes. Following the panel will be a excerpt from VivvyAnne ForeverMORE’s WORK MORE!, a group performance that merges theatre and nightlife spectacle by bringing together a diverse group of local drag and performance superstars.