Reinvigorating San Francisco’s Chinatown
How six organizations came together for the future of this community
National Trust for Historic Preservation
Written by Priya Chhaya
The National Trust for Historic Preservation is working to support the preservation of America's Chinatowns. Sign our petition today to commit to the cultural preservation of America’s Chinatowns for future generations.
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Like many Chinatowns across the country, San Francisco’s Chinatown has seen threats to its community due to displacement, generational changes, and more.
Erika Chong Shuch art performance (2023) by Henrik KamNational Trust for Historic Preservation
In 2017, six organizations came together to create the Chinatown Media & Arts Collaborative, a model nonprofit that is based within the community for the community. CMAC’s goal: to build a cultural hub at the heart of Chinatown to bring together art and activism.
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With the advent of the global COVID-19 pandemic these challenges have only been exacerbated by Anti-Asian hate and the ramifications of increased vacancies and lower foot traffic in the city.
Present Tense: Task of Remembrance (2019) by Chinese Culture Center of San FranciscoNational Trust for Historic Preservation
Jenny Leung, Executive Director, Chinese Culture Center
"San Francisco's Chinatown is a community that is threatened by structural and historical exclusion, leading to lack of resources, and some of the present-day challenges include a lack of access to affordable housing, social services, transportation..."
"...culturally competent services, food security, climate resiliency, and lack of cultural resources. The community has been disproportionately impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, which has exacerbated inequities, leading to degradation of basic resources, increased fear, isolation, and a loss of belonging and place."
About the Chinese Culture Center.
In 2022, to encourage visitation to Chinatown, CMAC founded Edge on the Square, an arts and culture hub located at 800 Grant Street.
Cone Shape Top x Macro Waves performance (2023) by Henrik KamNational Trust for Historic Preservation
Joanne Lee, Executive Director, Edge on the Square
"Edge on the Square is the first project of an organization called the Chinatown Media & Arts Collaborative..."
"And it was founded by six highly accomplished nonprofits in San Francisco, API serving organizations in community development, arts and culture, and social justice."
Our goals are to shift the dominant narrative of the immigrant experience by expanding knowledge and awareness of the authentic immigrant story and be a strong voice for immigrants through storytelling in the arts and culture world. And we also want to be a economic engine for Chinatown. —Joanne Lee, Edge on the Square
TNT Traysikel performance for Under the Same Sun Contemporary Art Festival (2023) by Henrik KamNational Trust for Historic Preservation
Art as a vehicle for transformation
"Edge on the Square uses art as its vehicle for transformation of Chinatown. We activate the neighborhood through our programs, which range from interactive exhibitions in our space, activating Grant Avenue...."
"... so we're not a vacant storefront. We host popular community events. We had a Mahjong night recently, and we also have a signature contemporary art festival that we hold each year.
This will be our third year in 2024 in September. It's the first ever contemporary arts festival in San Francisco, Chinatown, where we work with about 50 BIPOC artists, and we have temporary art installations both on Grant Avenue and in a number of the alleyways. So both the arts festival as well as our programming draws people to the neighborhood where they spend time and money and shop and eat at the local stores."
Crowd at Under the Same Sun Contemporary Art Festival (2023) by NordlysNational Trust for Historic Preservation
An essential part of a living, thriving, healthy, community
We see art as an essential part of a thriving, healthy community. It's part of a healthy community that includes affordable housing that spurs the local economy, social services for the residents and arts and culture for people to see themselves in their histories & experiences.
Duniya Dance and Drum performance. (2023) by NordlysNational Trust for Historic Preservation
Joanne Lee
"We hope that as Chinatown evolves and comes out of this pandemic state or post pandemic state, that Chinatown continues to honor its history and its rich culture while embracing its future to be a thriving community for its residents and businesses...."
"A place for visitors, far and near to come and to learn about the immigrant experience in an authentic way, and that it's a place for API artists and other BIPOC artists to show their work and work with and engage the community.”
Hungry Ghost Festival (2023) by Robert Borsdorf and Courtesy of the Chinese Culture Center of San FranciscoNational Trust for Historic Preservation
Jenny Leung
"My hope is for the community to be fully supported so it can break out of the cycles of exclusion to be recognized as a cherished site for American history and to be a liberated, free, safe, inclusive, creative, and imaginative community that we can all belong to."
About the author: Priya Chhaya is the associate director of content for the National Trust for Historic Preservation.
For about the Chinatown Media & Arts Collaborative and Edge on the Square visit www.cmacsf.com and www.edgeonthesquare.org.
Exploring the History of San Francisco's Chinatown (Google Arts & Culture)
Visualizing Chinatown on the Stage: Lauren Yee (Google Arts & Culture)
Learn more about the National Trust for Historic Preservation's America's Chinatowns initiative.
How Chinatowns Nationwide Are Finding Ways to Thrive Into the Future (Preservation magazine)
