Our annual programs include a bimonthly archives residency with the James C Hormel LGBTQIA Center, a renowned touring roadshow, and regular literary arts offerings. As one of the nation’s highest-profile LGBTQ2S+ arts organizations, we help advance written and spoken arts, aid authors in getting published, and build community through presenting, commissioning, and touring to academic institutions, community centers, and queer landmarks for performances and career development programs held off/online.

Our tours and programs feature diverse writers whose contributions authentically reflect and define the experiences of diverse Californian and virtual audiences. Formerly Sister Spit, RADAR’s annual tour is now called Resplendent and annually features six QTBIPOC literary artists. To date, RADAR has conducted more than 20 tours that serve a mix of urban and rural communities in California.

In partnership with the James C. Hormel LGBTQIA Center of the San Francisco Public Library (SFPL), RADAR created a monthly artist in residence and reading program called “Show Us Your Spines.” RADAR chooses 24 queer and trans Black, Indigenous, and artists of color a year to partake in month-long residencies. Bimonthly, 3-5 artists spend six weeks working with an archival selection of materials chosen for them by RADAR and SFPL staff. Each artist then creates a piece inspired by the archives and their ethnic heritage or subject of interest. The work is presented in shared readings digitally or in SF public space the following month.