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Student POV: Art Bash SFMOMA
CCA students fave places to see art
Get inspired
🖼️ Get inspired
Art and inspiration are everywhere in San Francisco. We’re lucky to have so many museums and galleries to fill our weekend plans. These aren’t just places to experience amazing art, they are also spaces where our creative community can come together to support and learn from each other. Within a short walking distance of campus are contemporary art venues like Catharine Clark Gallery, Hosfelt Gallery, and CULT Aimee Friberg. Renowned museums like the Asian Art Museum, Museum of the African Diaspora, Contemporary Jewish Museum, and San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (SFMOMA) are also less than two miles away.
Fun fact: you’ll quickly lose count of how many CCA faculty and alumni have their work showing in these spaces 😉 Here are a few nearby museums and galleries that students consider their faves:
Et al. gallery
One of Samantha Hiura’s (MA Visual & Critical Studies) go-to galleries is Et al.—a venue 20 minutes from campus by bus. "Ever since moving here, I have been so excited by each and every show and project put on at Et Al.'s space in the Mission, and love spending time in their eclectic bookstore. The work they show is always challenging and distinct, yet accessible. They also have an enormous and varied book selection for fairly cheap."
Institute of Contemporary Art San Francisco (ICA SF)
The newly opened Institute of Contemporary Art San Francisco (ICA SF) instantly became a student favorite. Hiura, who is also a Curatorial Fellow here, says, “Since they are driven by being open to all, the shows are always impressive yet very approachable. They also host a ton of free public programs, and admission to the museum is always free!"
Letterform Archive
A hidden gem on the third floor of an old industrial building in the historic Dogpatch neighborhood, the Letterform Archive serves the arts and culture community through gallery spaces, workshops, research visits, online exhibitions, public lectures (and more!) about the cultural significance of typography and design.
Minnesota Street Project
Minnesota Street Project is another cultural hub of our neighborhood. Home to 10 galleries and public events (like the annual San Francisco Art Book Fair), there’s always something going on, something to see, and something to learn. Many students also work and intern here, and many alumni and faculty exhibit work here.
Museum of Craft and Design
While in the Dogpatch neighborhood, another must see is the Museum of Craft and Design—the only museum in San Francisco devoted to craft and design. Through their exhibitions and experiential programs, the Museum of Craft and Design explores the creative process and current perspectives in craft and design.
San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (SFMOMA)
The most popular museum among CCA students, whether it's in their free time or on class field trips, is the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (SFMOMA), which is a 12 minute bike ride or ~25 minute bus ride from the main campus. Addison Hudson-Irizarry (BFA Film) says, “I enjoy visiting SFMOMA because of its variety of art and it contains many different media to inspire all walks of life and majors. It’s a very humbling place for students, and can be beneficial to your knowledge of art while still being an activity for students to do.”