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This summer Kearny Street Workshop is launching a new campaign:

Growing Our Roots – Art, Social Justice, and New Community Connections

KSW has reached a critical moment in its 34-year history. An ongoing assessment of KSW’s role has led to a new focus that looks to the future while bringing us back to our roots. At the same time, unforeseen changes in the funding climate have created a significant challenge as we seek to sustain our core programming, launch a youth arts education program, and re-emphasize our commitment to social justice. Today, we are asking you, our community, to help us build a stronger KSW for the future.

KSW: ORIGINS to NOW

Since 1972, KSW has provided a focal point for artists and community members to come together, exchange ideas, and discover their shared histories. It helped pioneer innovative and influential forms of Asian American art, including Asian American jazz, small press publications, silkscreen posters, and large-scale public murals. In 1998 the KSW-Next group was formed, embracing the next generation of Asian Pacific American artists. They organize, curate, and present works by hundreds of artists at their annual emerging arts expo, APAture. Having moved into its new home at 180 Capp Street last year, KSW is expanding programming, has recommenced publishing, and is poised to do even more.

THE FUTURE: ART + SOCIAL JUSTICE

KSW uses art to effect social justice. With its roots in the struggle for low-income housing and workers’ rights, KSW has the experience to tackle the multiple issues our community faces today both here in San Francisco and across the nation. Today, our relationships have been revolutionized by technology. While geography becomes less of an obstacle to making connections, other factors have intensified to fracture our society, including class, ethnicity, age, sexual orientation, and religion. We need a place like KSW now more than ever -- a place that connects the splintering elements of our community through art – a place to learn from each other and collectively work towards resolving the complex issues that we face today.

To accomplish this, KSW provides workshops, performances, intergenerational artist salons, exhibitions, and publications. In addition, this fall, KSW is launching:

1. a Pilot Youth Project that involves several layers of arts training and mentorship
2. a Curatorial Advisory Committee, comprised of community members with an arts or social justice background, who will work with the artistic director to include community input.

THE CHALLENGE: DONOR-BASED FUNDING MODEL

For this coming fiscal year, due to dwindling public arts funding, KSW has not received as much grant support as originally anticipated. In order to continue offering our important programs, we must increase our donor base and reduce our dependence on grants. A donor-based funding model will help make KSW a more sustainable organization. Your support will help KSW launch its new youth program, build a cash reserve, and establish space180 as a hub for community arts.

KSW must raise $50,000 by the end of August and an additional $25,000 by July 2007. The KSW Board and Staff have already raised nearly $10,000 to reach this goal. But, now more than ever, KSW needs your help.

KSW has been able to serve its community because of the commitment of its donors and members. Your support has allowed KSW to flourish despite the turbulent world of government and foundation funding.

For the Growing Our Roots Campaign, we are asking all donors to consider doubling their previous donation to KSW.

Please act now – every contribution is vitally important. Together we can make KSW a true leader in achieving a more just society through art.

You may also send checks made out to Kearny Street Workshop to 180 Capp Street #5, San Francisco, CA 94110. Download and print the pledge form and mail it with your check.

Sincerely,

p.s. Ask about matching gifts! Many employers match gifts made by their employees or make grants to organizations recommended by employees. Be sure to ask your company how it can help your gift go even further.