With support from the California Arts Council, Decentered Arts will expand “Gen Blend,” a monthly intergenerational writers program that addresses social isolation and ageism by nurturing connections between seniors and youth through literary arts. Grant funds will directly support artist honoraria for featured writers and musicians, increasing accessibility by providing ASL interpretation and promoting engagement with diverse, historically under-resourced communities. In partnership with Litquake’s Elder Project, and Community Living Campaign, Gen Blend is hosted every first Thursday of each month at Ruth’s Table, a wheelchair-accessible venue in an affordable senior housing complex. The project uses storytelling, poetry, and shared meals to create vital community spaces, amplifying underrepresented voices and strengthening intergenerational bonds. This funding will sustain and enhance a vital program that cultivates empathy and preserves cultural narratives.
Decentered Arts cultivates an inclusive arts community, empowering underrepresented voices through innovative programs. We host weekly Open Mics, monthly Poolside Poets, writers’ groups fostering craft, hands-on workshops, quarterly art shows, literary salons in unique spaces, vibrant fashion shows, and the immersive Western Wind Course.
Recent successes include compensating 100+ diverse Poolside Poets artists (60% BIPOC/LGBTQ+), sustaining Open Mic for 3.5 years, launching the intergenerational Gen Blend initiative, and initiating record/small press publishing for our dedicated writers.
Through these efforts, Decentered Arts fosters belonging, collaboration, and equity, supporting marginalized voices to enrich San Francisco’s cultural landscape.

