Home At Last: SoEx Secures New Location in the Mission District

Home At Last: SoEx Secures New Location in the Mission District

San Francisco, CA., April 26, 2008 – Southern Exposure has signed a long-term lease on their new 4,000 square foot, centrally located home in the Mission District, after more than a year and a half of searching for a permanent location and occupying two dynamic temporary storefront spaces in the neighborhood.

Located at 3030 20th Street at the corner of Alabama Street, the new building is four blocks south of their original location and nearly 800 square feet larger. Built in 1926, the building is a raw, open, industrial space that will serve as an ideal platform from which to expand and extend Southern Exposure’s strong history of experimental, risk-taking, visual arts and Artists in Education (AIE) programs.

Expected to open to the public in mid 2009, the new space is being designed by local architect Richard Johnson of Richard Johnson Designs with SoEx’s facilities team. Reaffirming their commitment to remain an artist-run organization and serve as a gathering space for artists, youth, and audiences alike, the new Southern Exposure building will include flexible program and gallery spaces totaling 2,000 square feet and a dedicated Arts Education space. The new space also includes a large entry and gathering area which will create a sense of openness and connection with neighborhood, community and life of the city, as well as meeting space, utility space and open offices.

Southern Exposure’s board of directors and staff envision this new location, which is slated to open as SoEx turns 35 years old, as an opportunity to evolve and meet the changing needs of the community, and to help the organization remain in alignment with its roots and mission as it continues to be one of the most daring, nimble, and accessible arts organizations in the Bay Area.