Performance Series

As a performance space, the Red Poppy Art House presents a diverse and international program of artists working in both traditional and contemporary performing arts. The Art House produces an average of 150 multi-disciplinary performance events per year, featuring music, poetry, dance, and literary events, as well as offering workshops and lectures.

 

Diversity & Cultural Exchange:  The culturally diverse programming at the Art House offers an intimate window into the rich and complex interweave of cultural traditions and contemporary trends alive, both locally in the Bay Area, and internationally throughout the world. Through its programming, the Art House stands as a point of intersection between cultures and communities.

Quality of Performance Context:  Our choice of small-scale presentation is based on the recognition of the historic, often pivotal, role played by tiny and informal venues in the incubation of some of the world’s greatest art forms, and most certainly as the site of many of the most sublime moments of creative human expression. Such setting draw out the subtlety and nuance of an artist’s craft. These venues are increasingly rare in the U.S. due to their unsustainability in a market economy that necessitates a larger capacity venue in order to meet financial demands. The Art House affirms the rightful place of the intimate performance space within the cultural domain, regardless of challenges posed.

Funding the Local Arts Economy: Through hosting 150 yearly performances, the Art House channels a steady stream of revenue into the local arts economy, making a significant difference to the livelihood of local artists, while maintaining the viability of its own operations.

Developing A Collective Artistic Base: Through our performance program, we come to know an ever-increasing number of artists from a multiplicity of disciplines and cultural backgrounds. Over time, many artistic relationships form. As artists, presenters, cultural thinkers, and community members come to know one another, a stronger artistic community begins to emerge, gaining momentum and depth, giving artists a greater voice and a more meaningful relationship to the broader community of which they are a part.

 

The Red Poppy Performance Philosophy:

Part of the Red Poppy’s goal is to give greater value to the arts. After all, arts and culture are what has given San Francisco its unique character. With this in mind, we strive to support the local arts community by treating our performers fairly. We encourage our guests to join us in participating in the spirit of this endeavor.

Door admissions from our shows are always split with our performing artists. The majority of this amount goes directly to the performers, while a small percentage goes to directly to supporting the overall operating costs of the Red Poppy and mainly, our rent! We offer this arrangement knowing that the revenue is not nearly sufficient to cover our own overhead and staff stipends (for which we seek support through individual donations, grants and other fundraising initiatives) but believing in the importance of supporting artists as well as the arts. For specific information about rates and admissions please contact Lyz Luke, Director of Performance Programming, at booking@redpoppyarthouse.org

We invite our guests to consider their contribution at performances not as a payment to get into the show but as a direct “audience grant” supporting the arts economy of San Francisco. We ask that they consider the value of a two-hour experience of the arts ($10 – $20 for a ticket) as compared to other valued experiences.

We are a small place, a beautifully small place, in fact, our back row is closer than the front row of most performing arts centers. This intimacy allows for an immersive musical experience unlike any other.

 

Comments are closed.