 Audience at Yerba Buena Gardens Festival in 2016 | |
| Established | 2000; 24 years ago (2000) |
|---|---|
| Location | Yerba Buena Gardens, San Francisco, California |
| Coordinates | 37°47′05″N 122°24′10″W / 37.7848°N 122.4027°W / 37.7848; -122.4027 |
| Type | Music festival |
| Website | ybgfestival |
Yerba Buena Gardens Festival (also known as Yerba Buena Arts & Events, and YBGF) is an admission-free performing arts festival held in San Francisco, California. During the summer months, May to October, Yerba Buena Gardens Festival produces concerts and performances including music, dance, theater, circus and children's programs. All programs take place in the outdoor spaces of Yerba Buena Gardens in the South of Market, San Francisco district.
History
Yerba Buena Gardens Festival was founded in 2000 by Mario Garcia Durham with support from the San Francisco Redevelopment Agency in order to fulfill the cultural programming mission of the outdoor spaces at Yerba Buena Gardens. The organization is "dedicated to enhancing the vitality and quality of life in the Bay Area through the performing arts." Linda Lucero has been the Executive/Artistic Director since 2003.
Programs
The core program of YBGF is a six-month season of admission-free performing arts events. Genres presented include world music, classical, jazz, traditional and contemporary dance, theater, circus arts and children's programs, "reflecting the rich diversity and creativity of the region." Most events take place on the Esplanade lawn of Yerba Buena Gardens. Notable concerts include performances by the San Francisco Symphony, LINES Ballet, Jazz Mafia, AXIS Dance Company, and others. The programs often pair international touring artists with local Bay Area groups.
YBGF is also the host for several large annual cultural festivals in San Francisco including San Francisco's Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Birthday Observance, Native Contemporary Arts Festival, AfroSolo Festival, Pistahan, and San Francisco's Indigenous Peoples' Day Celebration.
Other
In addition to presenting, YBGF has a history of commissioning new work for outdoor spaces. Commissioned projects include a musical suite on the prison industrial complex by composer/bassist Marcus Shelby, circus performances by Circus Bella, and traditional performances by hula company Na Lei Hulu I Ka Wekiu, among others. In 2020, YBGF commissioned 20 Bay Area artists in celebration of its 20th anniversary.
References
- "Yerba Buena arts festival flourishing". San Francisco Chronicle. 9 May 2003. Retrieved 28 January 2021.
- "Credo: Linda Lucero, executive and artistic director of Yerba Buena Arts and Events". SF Examiner. 1 August 2010. Retrieved 28 January 2021.
- "Arts & Wonders: Yerba Buena Gardens Festival". San Francisco Chronicle. 15 July 2010. Retrieved 28 January 2021.
- "Yerba Buena Gardens Festival". Yerba Buena Gardens. Retrieved 2021-01-28.
- "Sound Scene / Yerba Buena Gardens Festival". San Francsico Chronicle. 5 October 2006. Retrieved 28 January 2021.
- "Lines Ballet comes to Yerba Buena Gardens". San Francisco Chronicle. 7 August 2017. Retrieved 28 January 2021.
- "Jazz Mafia Ready to Celebrate Milestone Concert in San Francisco". Jazz Times. 11 September 2019. Retrieved 29 January 2021.
- ""Occupy" Is Not Your Average Site-Specific Work". Dance Magazine. 21 June 2017. Retrieved 29 January 2021.
- "Woman power rules at free Yerba Buena Gardens Fest". Mercury News. 1 May 2018. Retrieved 29 January 2021.
- "The MLK Celebration". NORCAL MLK. Retrieved 2021-01-28.
- "Festival Info". Pistahan. Retrieved 2021-01-28.
- "Indigenous Peoples Day celebration in San Francisco". KTVU Fox 2. 4 October 2019. Retrieved 28 January 2021.
- "Marcus Shelby's musical suite on prison industry". San Francisco Chronicle. 2 September 2015. Retrieved 28 January 2021.
- "Circus Bella: Traditional acts set to live music". San Francisco Chronicle. 25 June 2014. Retrieved 28 January 2021.
- "Patrick Makuakane and Yerba Buena Arts and Events". Creative Work Fund. Retrieved 2021-01-28.
