Grantee Database

SHIPYARD TRUST FOR THE ARTS

Grant Year

2023-24

Grant Program

Impact Projects

Award Amount

$21,250.00

Project Description

With support from the California Arts Council, SHIPYARD TRUST FOR THE ARTS will collaborate with Shipyard Artist in Residence William Rhodes to create a quilt that tells the story of the Hunters Point Shipyard workers and their families during and after World War II.

William will work with local seniors in interactive workshops to explore their family histories with the shipyard. He will create a quilt inspired by their stories, with assistance from shipyard artist and historian Stacey Carter, who will provide historical context and photos.

A culminating exhibit at the Shipyard Gallery will inspire other local residents to research their own stories. The project is a valuable opportunity to preserve and honor the contributions of the shipyard workers and to engage the community in a conversation about the shipyard’s future.

Organization Summary

STAR supports artists through curated exhibitions, a dedicated website and social media presence, and periodic Open Studios events that create opportunities for sales and exposure. The organization also offers professional development in presentation, pricing, sales, and marketing to strengthen artists’ careers.

STAR’s Artist-in-Residence program provides 18 months of free studio space to three artists from Bayview Hunters Point. Launched in 1996, the program has significantly increased local artist participation, with more than half of residents securing permanent studios afterward.

Teaching artists lead classes at nearby schools and senior centers, enriching lives through creative engagement. On-site classes, tours, and events at the Shipyard connect children, adults, and seniors with the artistic process and the site itself. Uncovering and sharing the Shipyard’s layered history—also the history of this traditionally African American neighborhood—remains a central focus.

STAR maintains a free website, www.shipyardartists.com, where all Shipyard artists have individual, editable pages. Online and in-person art sales through exhibitions and auctions further support artists’ visibility and income.

In 2018, construction began on a new artist building secured by STAR as a community benefit. It was halted due to falsified soil testing, delaying development. STAR continues to advocate for its completion and for upgrades to existing facilities.

Our newest project, CRANE, expands this work by using public art, storytelling, and community events to highlight the Shipyard’s historical significance and deepen awareness of its relationship to Bayview Hunters Point. CRANE also invites the local community to participate in shaping the Shipyard’s future through dialogue, memory, and shared vision. CRANE will culminate in the fall of 2026 with a major light and sound installation around the landmark gantry crane.

STAR also collaborates with the U.S. Navy to provide informational meetings on environmental cleanup, while hosting independent events that raise public understanding and promote long-term safety.

Organization

Shiptyard Trust for the Arts

Address

101 Horne Ave

SAN FRANCISCO

94124

County

San Francisco

Region

Bay Area – San Francisco

Phone

(415) 822-0922

Congressional District

California's 12th congressional district

State Assembly District

District 17

State Senate District

District 11

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