Feel Good Friday - Brava! for Women in the Arts

Today is World Theatre Day and the final Friday of Women's History Month, making it the perfect moment to celebrate Brava! for Women in the Arts, a San Francisco institution that has spent nearly four decades proving that theater is one of the most powerful tools we have for socil change.

Founded in 1986 and headquartered in San Francisco's Mission District, the mission of Brava! for Women in the Arts is "to produce, present, and cultivate the artistic expression of women, BIPOC, youth, LGBTQIA+, and other underrepresented voices." 

Brava owns and operates the Brava Theater Center, a historic venue celebrating 100 years of being a theater on 24th Street. It began life as the Roosevelt Theatre in 1926, later became the York Theatre serving San Francisco's growing Latino community, and was ultimately transformed by Brava into a vibrant home for boundary-pushing performance and community gathering.

Their flagship program, Brava Presents, delivers an eclectic mix of theater, music, dance, film, and comedy, annually producing 30+ performances by women, LGBTQIA+, and BIPOC artists from the Bay Area and beyond. The Artists-in-Residence program supports professional artists who are traditionally locked out of the arts, providing space for creation, grant writing support, and fiscal sponsorship. Past residents include celebrated artists like Marga Gomez, Cherríe Moraga, and Rhodessa Jones.

Brava is also deeply committed to the next generation. Through the Mission Academy of Performing Arts, they train 120 youth ages 13 - 18 each year through four programs: San Francisco Running Crew, which pairs teens with professional mentors for hands-on technical theater training; Cuicacalli Escuela de Danza, celebrating Mexican Baile Folklórico, hip hop, and modern dance; Young Actors Lab, integrating drama, movement, and music; and Loco Bloco, a youth performance organization using music and drumming to drive social change.

If you're in SF, catching a show at Brava Theater Center is one way to support their work. You can also make a donation, or amplify their message on social media. Follow Brava on Facebook, Instagram or LinkedIn, subscribe to their YouTube channel and share their stories of art, resistance, and community with your network.

Happy World Theatre Day and Happy Women's History Month!