PROJECT ARTAUD- San Francisco's Pioneering Arts Complex

By Robert A. Pacelli

I've seen it done once...leaving a legacy... How about making a space for a similar live/work project in Pacific Grove?

Project Artaud History

In 1971,Robert Pacelli was amongst a group of artists who moved into an abandoned industrial building.

I focused on the opportunity at hand and applied for a Community Grant Block of Federal Funds. I received the grant and was responsible for administering the proceeds. The record shows I got the zoning changed to accomodate live/work in SFO for our Artist Community. This idea lives on and enriches the lives of artists for over 40 years.

The project was named Project Artaud, for French avant-garde theater artist, Antonin Artaud (1896-1948), who believed art should happen in non-traditional spaces.

A legacy was launched and the project lives on in 2012.

Excerpts from Project Artaud "Project Artaud is a pioneering arts complex in San Francisco's Mission District, for artists of all disciplines: visual artists, dancers, actors, writers, filmmakers, and arts presenting groups. We're a member-run, non-profit organization, providing support for artists and arts activities, and a model of how artist communities can be shelters for artisans and resources for a city."

"Built as an American Can Company tooling factory in 1925, the shop provided jobs for San Francisco Mission District families through the 1960s."

"Today, there are over 70 individual artists' live/work studios at Project Artaud, in addition to arts related nonprofits, small artist businesses, studio theaters and galleries.

"Project Artaud continues to be supported by its membership, by recent grants from the Cultural Facilities Fund Bay Area Program and the San Francisco Art Commission's Creative Space Program, and by contributions."

http://www.projectartaud.org/