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Arts Commission

Rain seeps into Coit Tower, but damage to murals is averted

Recent rainstorms have aggravated leaks at Coit Tower, where roof repairs were already under way to address the longstanding leakage problem and protect the historic murals inside the cylindrical San Francisco landmark. But thanks to quick action by Recreation and Park Department staff, city officials say, damage to the murals was averted. Read More

Coit Tower gearing up for various fixes

Commission hears about roof repair and other structural plans for the Telegraph Hill landmark. Read More

Board of Supervisors makes few changes to Arts Commission

Well-documented turmoil at The City’s Arts Commission appears to be smoothing itself out with new leaders at the helm, the Board of Supervisors essentially ruled Thursday. The commission has been marred in recent years by reports of mismanagement of funds, personnel resignations and even hubbub around a sizable city contract it approved for an artist who once shot a dog and filmed it. Read More

Trust fund to inspire more public art in San Francisco

San Francisco public art
Downtown developers required to finance public art may soon be able to meet that requirement as easily as writing a check. On Thursday, the Planning Commission unanimously supported a measure by Mayor Ed Lee and Supervisor David Chiu that would create a Public Art Trust Fund. It would allow developers who are required to put 1 percent of their construction costs toward public art to give the money to the fund instead of commissioning a project on their own. Read More

Central Subway contract with artist who killed dog comes under fire in San Francisco

Pressure is mounting for The City to terminate the $750,000 art contract with a Brooklyn, N.Y., artist who killed a dog for a film.A petition drive was started by one mayoral candidate calling for the contract’s termination and Mayor Ed Lee has told the Arts Commission to re-examine the approval. The contract with artist Tom Otterness was called into question following an article in The San Francisco Examiner’s Friday edition. Read More

Former San Francisco arts chief defends his out-of-town work

Luis Cancel
For two weeks in April, former Arts Commission Director Luis Cancel collected a paycheck for 71 hours working “online” in Rio de Janeiro, according to time sheets obtained by The San Francisco Examiner. Those two weeks, plus another three days he spent in Rio in October to attend a conference, are part of the reason Cancel had been under pressure from Arts Commission members to resign. Read More

Chutzpah ends up biting departed San Francisco Arts Commission chief

We’ll say this about Luis Cancel: He’s made the world safe for the ever-growing number of telecommuters.That is to say, you shouldn’t feel guilty if you tell your boss that you won’t be in the office when you’re actually at the Russian River or Lake Tahoe, which — if you are actually working — is at least in the same hemisphere and time zone. Read More

San Francisco Arts Commission Executive Director Luis Cancel quits amid controversy

Arts Commission Executive Director Luis Cancel has resigned as the head of the department tasked with providing money to artists, cultural centers and the symphony. Read More

Carlos Santana’s pitch is out of tune with San Francisco Arts Committee

Peace Brother
A public art installation promoted by San Francisco rock legend Carlos Santana and designed by two local artists would have brought a message of peace to the new police headquarters in Mission Bay. They envisioned a statue of a black angel, perhaps a victim of violence. It would be fashioned from melted guns confiscated through good police work. And at the angel’s feet would be an interactive boombox playing songs of peace, including an original tune from Santana. Read More

FBI finds child porn at home of youth arts program director in San Francisco

A nonprofit director who receives city funding to provide art instruction to San Francisco youth was charged with possession of child pornography, the Federal Bureau of Investigation said Thursday.46-year-old Anthony Josef Norris is the founder and director of Kid Serve, a nonprofit that provides art lessons to children throughout the Bay Area. Norris appeared in U.S. District Court Thursday morning on the charges and posted a $200,000 bond. Read More
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