Seismic Shift is an artist in residence program dedicated to supporting BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, Latine, Pacific Islander, Asian, and Arab) artists in creating and presenting transformative works in San Francisco.
Homed at the Geneva Powerhouse in District 11, a culturally rich neighborhood geographically distanced from tech and tourist dollars and other artistic venues, the historic building is a symbol of community strength following its restoration after being damaged in the Loma Prieta Earthquake in 1989. This new program honors our city’s cultural inheritances and amplifies the potency of community-driven artistry.
Previous Artist + Events
📷: Stephen Texeira
may we heal? is an immersive, interdisciplinary performance that invites audiences into a sensory landscape of art, ritual, and remembrance. Through the interweaving of dance, architecture, spoken word, and live music, the work channels the historical and artistic lineages of Black culture—where movement becomes testimony, sound becomes prayer, and space becomes sanctuary. Each element listens and responds to the others, creating a living ceremony of communal healing.
Artist Residence Benefits
Creative Sovereignty
Utilizing a model of Creative Sovereignty, (a term coined by Seminole/Muskogee Director Tara Moses) to describe the inherent right to create artistic work free from outside interference, particularly those that may be oppressive, to create work that is truthful and transformative.
Marketing Support
Encourages creative partnership to develop materials and a marketing plan that is led by Workshop staff in partnership with the artists.
Creative Thought Partnership
Encourages artists to leverage the organization's talents to support the development of their project. The depth of thought partnership will be determined in partnership and can ebb and flow as needs shift.
Rehearsal Space and Resources
Allows artists in residence to develop and rehearse their project in a beautiful venue with sprung floors. Additionally, supports artists with printing, WiFi access, projector use, and other materials whenever possible.
Paid Project Development Time
Encourages artists to spend time on their craft by paying an allotted number of hours at a living wage.
Production Support
Focuses on deepening a creative partnership that is respectful of the artists’ vision while ensuring that artists’ and Workshop’s anti-racist values remain a central focus.