Yerba Buena Center for the Arts (YBCA) in San Francisco, CA has an expansive lineup of live events and community programming accompanying its recently opened exhibitions Bay Area Then and MAKIBAKA: A Living Legacy. From August through December 2025, YBCA’s downtown campus will come alive with concerts, festivals, talks, and film screenings that celebrate the Bay Area’s rich legacy of resistance and cultural innovation—while welcoming thousands of visitors for free experiences.
“At YBCA, we believe that exhibitions aren’t just something to look at—they’re something to live through,” said Mari Robles, CEO of YBCA. “This season’s programming opens our doors wide, inviting the public to gather, listen, dance, and imagine together.”
A key component of Bay Area Then is a dynamic series of monthly concerts held during San Francisco’s Downtown First Thursdays, when YBCA’s galleries at 701 Mission Street are open late and free to the public. Curated by Chris Johanson and Ethan Swan, the free series celebrates the artistic spirit of the Bay Area’s countercultures and artist communities.
2025 Music and Performance Lineup:
“This series brings together both contemporary performers and artists deeply connected to the Bay Area’s history of creative resistance,” said Eungie Joo, Bay Area ThenGuest Curator. “Drawing on the rich intersections of music, visual art, and performance, the spirit of the exhibition—its experimentation, irreverence, and sense of community—runs through every performance.”
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