General Information: New Langton Arts was founded in 1975 by a coalition of artists, performers and arts professionals who sought to provide San Francisco with a center for research and experimentation in performance, visual arts, music, media arts, literature, and practices that cross these disciplines. In its twenty year history, Langton has directly served over 5,000 artists providing over $1,000,000 in fees. Audiences have benefited by having immediate access to the work of living artists through live events, exhibitions, forums, lectures, readings, and panels that in combination have created a meaningful and enriching dialogue about contemporary art forms.
New Langton is operated by a five-person staff and fifteen Board of Directors comprised of artists, arts professionals, and patrons. Recognized nationwide for its innovative programming, Langton has garnered the Award for Arts Excellence from the San Francisco Chamber of Commerce (1990), received an NEA Advancement grant in its first year of award (1984), and, for the past ten years, has been the regional host institution for the Regional Initiative Artists Regranting Program [RIARP], awarding up to $60,000 a year in grants to artists undertaking interdisciplinary projects. RIARP is funded by the National Endowment for the Arts, the Rockefeller Foundation, the Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts, Grants for the Arts and The William and Flora Hewlett Foundation (1994/95).
The programs of New Langton Arts are funded in part by the National Endowment for the Arts, California Arts Council, The D & DF Foundation, Martha Dresher, Gap Foundation, Grants for the Arts San Francisco Hotel Tax Fund, The Wallace Alexander Gerbode Foundation, The William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, Lannan Foundation, The Rockefeller Foundation, The San Francisco Foundation, The Swig Foundations, The Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts, the Zellerbach Family Fund, and the members and board of directors of New Langton Arts.
Facilities: Langton operates a two-story facility in South of Market that houses a 2,200 sq. ft. gallery, a video screening room, 1,000 sq. ft. theater, offices, and storage. Langton's comfortable and flexible black box theater can hold up to 90 people. Our theater and ground-level bathroom are handicap accessible. Equipment includes a p.a. system, audio and video equipment, monitors, ample theatrical and gallery lighting, and roomy seating on risers. Langton provides technical and box office staff; gallery assistants; publicity; audio, photographic and/or video documentation; and program notes.
Audience: Langton's annual attendance is estimated at 10,000. In 1995, our audience is projected to be 100,000 including an estimated audience of 90,000 for Archive '90: Living Room Festival which was aired on KQED in February 1995.
Outreach and Publicity: Information about our programs is published in local and regional newspapers and promoted on radio to reach culturally and economically diverse and age-specific audiences. Our 3,500 name mailing list is well researched and includes representative organizations and prominent community leaders across the region. We widely distribute and post fliers in public venues and target communities according to interest in a particular event. Langton's outreach program establishes direct and customized communications to targeted audiences by offering group discounts to theater programs, complimentary tickets, free or discounted building rentals, free gallery tours, and a private reception or performance event.
Collaborations: In order to serve large or new audiences better or to meet the special demands of certain productions, Langton has shared programs and collaborations with the Asian Art Museum, Footwork, Southern Exposure, Great American Music Hall, San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, Capp Street Project, San Francisco Cinematheque, among other venues. Langton is one of several planning and host organizations collaborating to present the Bay Area's SoundCulture 96. Langton is also a participating member in the National Association of Artists' Organizations' [NAAO] annual conference in San Francisco this October.
Artist Selection Process: New Langton Arts has an open call for all five artistic programs it presents (visual arts, literature, media arts, music and performance). All proposals must include a resume, self addressed stamped envelope and documentation specific to each program. Visual artists include ten slides appropriately titled with an accompanying slide list. Musicians include DAT, CD, or audiocassette. Media and performance artists include VHS or 3/4" videotape. Literary proposals should include a list of published works with 5 to 10 pages of sample writing. Please do not send original materials. Forward to Curatorial Committee, New Langton Arts, 1246 Folsom St., San Francisco, CA 94103. For more information contact the Program Associate at (415) 626-5416.
New Langton Arts
1246 Folsom Street
San Francisco, CA 941103
Tel: 415.626.5416
Fax: 415.255.1453
E-mail: newlang@exploratorium.eduGallery Hours:
Wednesday - Saturday 12-5 pm
Tuesday by appointmentGallery Admission: Free