About:

The Luggage Store, also known as The 509 Cultural Center is a non profit artist run multidisciplinary arts organization, founded in 1987. We obtained our 501C3 non profit status in November, 1989.

Mission

Our mission is to build community by organizing multidisciplinary arts programming accessible to and reflective of the Bay Area's residents. Our programs are designed to broaden social and aesthetic networks, and to encourage the flow of images and ideas between the diverse cultural communities that cross paths in our exceptionally dynamic downtown San Francisco neighborhood.

To implement our mission, we organize exhibitions, performing arts events, arts education and public art programs designed to amplify the voices of the region’s diverse artists and residents, to promote inclusion and respect, to reduce inter-group tensions and to work towards dispelling the stereotypes and fears that continue to separate us.

History

We began an an all volunteer collective (17 members), predominantly of residents from the the former Aarti Cooperative Hotel at Ellis and Leavenworth, in 1987. We remained as a collective until about 1989, right about the time of the Lomo Prieta Earthquake. to be continued....

Programs

Exhibition
Creative Music-experimental/improvisational and electronic music
Public Arts Program
Cohen Alley/GreenLab/Tenderloin National Forest
Artist in Residency
Short Cuts
Internships/Volunteers
Last Friday of the Month Open Mic with Youth Speaks (under 21)
performing arts

Former Programs

In the Street Festival (11 years)
maybe this will start up again...?

1000 Market Street (1994-2000)


Venues:

the luggage store
1007 Market Street (nr 6th)
San Francisco, CA 94103 USA
Tel. 415. 255 5971
Fax. 415 863 5509

the luggage store annex
(aka 509 Cultural Center)
509 Ellis Street (nr. Leavenworth)
San Francisco, CA 94109 USA
415. 255-5971

Cohen Alley
between Leavenworth and Hyde
San Francisco, CA 94109 USA
adjacent to 509 Ellis
415. 255-5971

Directions:
For Public Transportation Bay Area
Area Map the luggage store - 1007 Market Street, SF, CA 94103
Area Map the luggage store - 509 Ellis, SF CA 94109