Contact: media@sfport.com
The San Francisco Port Commission unanimously approved a two-year lease with Community Arts Stabilization Trust to create the city’s largest combined artist studio and exhibition space at Pier 29 on the northern waterfront.
The agreement brings new activation to the waterfront adjacent to downtown, helps uplift established and emerging local artists, will attract visitors from the city and regionally, and supports the viability of neighboring businesses.
“Our arts and culture are driving San Francisco’s comeback, and this new space at Pier 29 is another exciting step in the right direction,” said Mayor Daniel Lurie. “By partnering with Community Arts Stabilization Trust, we’re creating the largest artist studio and exhibition space in the city—right on our iconic waterfront. Together, we are supporting working artists, activating our public spaces, and kickstarting our city's comeback.”
“We are delighted to work with Community Arts Stabilization Trust on this exciting opportunity to create unique experiences for the public and for artists,” said Port of San Francisco Executive Director Elaine Forbes. “The Port believes the arts are vital to the waterfront. They enrich the economy, elevate our intellect, and nourish our spirit. We expect this lease can be a game-changer along the northern waterfront, which will be positioned to welcome the public as well as the local artist community.”
“We approached the Port with a belief that vacant space like Pier 29 could be transformed into a vibrant center of activity and be reimagined as a destination, providing space for local artists and organizations to program, collaborate and connect,” said Ken Ikeda, CAST CEO. “We’re trying to show that for all these underutilized spaces that exist in the Bay Area and beyond, there are ways we can partner to work through regulation and code-compliance to make them usable for a broad spectrum of artists and cultural organizations who are desperately in need of affordable space. There was considerable problem-solving to get here, and we are thankful to the Port for their collaboration and excited to turn our attention towards activation with our partner Art + Water.”
The CAST proposal includes a partnership with Art + Water, an artist residency program sponsored by the Hawkins Project, a San Francisco-based foundation associated with author Dave Eggers’ youth and cultural nonprofit endeavors, and JD Beltran, an artist, educator and long-time member of the San Francisco Arts Commission.
“JD Beltran and I have been talking about this forever — a place where artists can work and where emerging artists can learn from more established artists,” said Dave Eggers. “At a time when studio space is ever-less affordable, and art instruction costs a fortune, Art + Water will bring both together in one radically accessible space. We and CAST are so grateful to the Port for their partnership and their can-do attitude on making this happen.”
CAST plans to begin public programs in early 2026.
CAST's approach is to create pop-up activations that quickly transform an under-utilized building and provide affordable and flexible cultural space where diverse communities can come together with local arts groups through family-friendly, all-ages public programming. Key components of the project include:
- An artist residency program called Art + Water spearheaded by Eggers and Beltran that will select emerging San Francisco and Bay Area artists in six-month cohorts, occupying the rear 54,000 square feet of the building with artist “pod” studio spaces;
- A public-facing walk-in gallery with rotating exhibits, an opportunity to view working artists, and to purchase local art;
- An exhibition space on the Embarcadero that will show world-class art exhibits, curated by Rene De Guzman, formerly of Yerba Buena Center for the Arts and the Oakland Museum of California.
- A publicly accessible venue that will provide arts and culture organizations with low-cost event and exhibition space in a central downtown location with free and ticketed programming to the public.
- Established artist-mentors will help emerging artists develop and advance their work and careers. This program will be led by Ana Teresa Fernández, world-renowned artist based in San Francisco.
CAST will manage approximately 70,000 square feet for events, exhibitions, art installations, office, and storage space, with a focus on providing access to underserved and under-resourced artists who can benefit from CAST’s property management and operational expertise.
Despite its compelling location, Pier 29 has been largely vacant since it was used during the America’s Cup races of 2013. Since then, Port staff have explored long-term development opportunities through solicitation and short-term “public benefit” activation strategies. The facility is currently used for occasional parking and infrequent special events.
Members of the CAST team approached the Port about Pier 29’s availability in 2024. CAST worked closely with the Port to develop designs that allow affordable arts and event use.
Following the Port Commission’s action on April 22, final approvals are expected at the Board of Supervisors by summer 2025.
About CAST
Community Arts Stabilization Trust is a community-centered real estate organization committed to ensuring artists and cultural workers can stay anchored where they create. Founded in 2013, CAST works in deep partnership with communities across the San Francisco Bay Area, particularly communities that have endured systemic oppression and historical underinvestment. CAST models new ways to secure and steward affordable, inclusive spaces for creative and cultural expression by applying real estate financing tools and structural models in innovative ways, building community knowledge and agency, and creating and holding space for visioning and arts activation. CAST projects include: CounterPulse, Luggage Store Gallery, 447 Minna Street, and City-owned property such as the Geneva Car Barn & Powerhouse. CAST most recently completed acquisition of the Warfield building at 988 Market St. in partnership with public radio station KALW, as well as a new cultural center in SOMA at 457 Minna Street in partnership with the Filipino American Development Foundation. Learn more at cast-sf.org or follow CAST LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and Bluesky.
About Art + Water
Dave Eggers is best known as a writer, editor and publisher, but his artwork is widely known and shown in galleries throughout the country. Eggers' Hawkins Project creates and funds literary, visual, public and other creative works, specializing in projects that work with community partners to create welcoming spaces that are flexible, responsive to local needs, and bring world attention to innovative neighborhood projects. He established the literary nonprofit 826 Valencia, which has locations around the world.
JD Beltran is founder and directs the Center for Creative Sustainability in San Francisco and has served on the City’s Arts Commission for many years. She is an artist, educator, and cultural leader who has advanced projects, groundbreaking solutions, and organizational initiatives that address cultural, social, environmental, and economic challenges.
About the Port of San Francisco
The Port of San Francisco manages 7.5 miles of waterfront that is home to popular destinations and attractions, historic districts, small businesses and robust maritime opportunities. The Port works to advance environmentally and financially sustainable maritime, recreational, and economic opportunities for the City, Bay Area, and California.