In October 2023, the San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus celebrated the grand opening of The Pansy L. Chan and Terrence D. Chan National Queer Arts Center, “The Chan,” at 170 Valencia Street in the Mission. BroadwayWorld’s A.A. Cristi described it as the first queer arts center of its kind in the country.
A restored landmark
The 1930s art deco building was restored by Gensler Architecture and Skyline Construction and funded through a three-year, $15 million capital campaign, including $250,000 in public funding secured by then-Supervisor Matt Haney. Its gallery features photographs from the chorus’s archive.
A home for queer art
The opening came with the announcement of Season 46 and a first slate of Chan programs: sing-alongs, a Love Songs cabaret, a screening of Gay Chorus Deep South, an ensemble showcase, a creators’ showcase and the Memory Keepers Initiative.
“space to build a legacy of queer art”
— Artistic Director Jacob Stensberg, as quoted by BroadwayWorld
Read more: A Community Heart Finds a Home at The Chan and visit The Chan.
Inside The Chan
Views of The Chan photographed on November 18, 2024, after its 2023 opening. Photography: Steph Dewey / Reflex Imaging.
Sources
This post summarizes reporting by BroadwayWorld. Details attributed to those outlets are their reporting; see the sources below.
- BroadwayWorld, “San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus To Celebrate The Historic Grand Opening Of The Pansy L. Chan And Terrence D. Chan National Queer Arts Center” by A.A. Cristi, October 19, 2023. Read the original story
