Root Division is an American arts nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization founded in 2002, and located in the Mid-Market/

South of Market South of Market (SoMa) is a neighborhood in San Francisco, California, situated just south of Market Street. It contains several sub-neighborhoods including South Beach, Yerba Buena, and Rincon Hill. SoMa is home to many of the city's museums, ...

neighborhood of

San Francisco San Francisco (; Spanish language, Spanish for "Francis of Assisi, Saint Francis"), officially the City and County of San Francisco, is the commercial, financial, and cultural center of Northern California. The city proper is the List of Ca ...

, California. They offer a gallery space, exhibition opportunities for emerging and mid-career artists, art classes, artist residencies, and art studio space.

About

The Root Division is located in a building at 1131 Mission Street at 7th Street in Mid-Market, and offer a gallery space for rotating exhibitions. Many of their exhibitions are led by independent and emerging curators, as well as hosting art fundraisers and auctions. Art classes hosted are for both adults and youth. It has 22 artists’ studios, occupied by some 28 artists (some studios are shared). The Root Division artist residencies last for up to 2 years. The Root Division's Executive Director is Michelle Mansour, since 2007.

History

The organization was founded in 2002, by three graduates of

San Francisco Art Institute San Francisco Art Institute (SFAI) was a private college of contemporary art in San Francisco, California. Founded in 1871, SFAI was one of the oldest art schools in the United States and the oldest west of the Mississippi River. Approximatel ...

. It operated out of the 3175 17th Street building in the

Mission District The Mission District ( Spanish: ''Distrito de la Misión''), commonly known as The Mission ( Spanish: ''La Misión''), is a neighborhood in San Francisco, California. One of the oldest neighborhoods in San Francisco, the Mission District's name i ...

, a 7,000-square-foot space owned by the nonprofit Seven Teepees. Due to gentrification and a steep rise in rent, Root Division had to leave the building in 2015. They were awarded funds from the city and county of San Francisco's Nonprofit Displacement Mitigation Fund, as well as fund raised for the expenses of moving and remodeling to their new location at 1131 Mission Street in the Mid-Market/South of Market neighborhood. The new location is a 13,000-square-foot building, almost doubling their space.

Notable associated people

References

External links

Official website
{{Authority control Art museums and galleries in San Francisco Arts organizations based in the San Francisco Bay Area Culture of San Francisco 501(c)(3) organizations Arts organizations established in 2002 Art in San Francisco 2002 establishments in California Non-profit organizations based in California