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Photo Exhibition

Since August 2022, the garage has hosted a rotating exhibition inside its walls, free to see, celebrating Chinatown’s culture and the history of Portsmouth Square. Local nonprofits, schools, artists, and community groups are welcome to apply to exhibit.

On view at 733 Kearny Street

Chinatown, through the lens

Inside the garage, a rotating photo exhibition celebrates Chinatown’s culture and the history of Portsmouth Square. The display changes every few months, so there is usually something new to see when you park. It is free to view whenever we are open.

A look inside

Selections from the exhibition

A few images from recent displays.

Two rows of framed, brightly coloured children's artworks on a lit white wall inside the garage — Children's art contest entries on the exhibition wall

Framed community photographs on display inside the garage — Framed community photographs

Historic Chinatown photograph by Chin Mon Wah: a man lighting a long string of firecrackers at a celebration — Historic Chinatown photograph by Chin Mon Wah

A row of children's drawings of Chinatown scenes mounted on a white wall along a garage driveway — Children's drawings along the driveway

Child's drawing titled “Eating food with Grandparents”: six people sharing dishes at a round table — “Eating food with Grandparents,” a contest entry

Two children's drawings: a lantern-strung Chinatown street with a lion dancer, and a Chinatown gate with a lion head — Lion dancers and the Chinatown gate

Two children's drawings: a collage with a cable car, lantern and lion dance, and a green-roofed Chinatown gateway — Cable car, lanterns and lion dance

Two rows of framed children's paintings from the I Love Chinatown Children's Art Contest on the exhibition wall inside the garage — I Love Chinatown Children's Art Contest entries

Community Exhibition Program

Show your work here

The exhibition space sits at the entry level, in full view of everyone walking in from Kearny Street. We give it to the neighborhood. There is no charge to exhibit and no application fee.

Who can apply

Local nonprofits, schools, artists, and community groups. Proposals from artists and organizations working together are especially welcome.

When we review

Applications are open year round. The Board reviews them at its meetings, roughly every two months, and you will hear back within 30 days.

What we show

Local art, community history, student projects, and Chinatown culture. Each exhibition runs for at least two months.

Applications

How to apply

Everything goes through one online form. If something in it does not fit your project, or you need the form in another format, write to us and we will work it out.

Tell us about the projectA description of up to 300 words, who the artist or organization is, and how to reach you. If you have a preferred date, say so.
Show us what it will look likeTwo to five images: sketches, mockups, sample posters, or past work. This is the part the Board leans on most, because it is how they picture the work on the wall. JPG or PDF, under 10 MB in total.
Say how it goes upAn installation plan and a list of materials. Your group installs and removes the work at times we agree together.

Open the application form

Supporting documents and any questions go to marketing@sfpsg.com.

Before you apply

What the Board looks for, and what we ask of you

How proposals are chosen

Two things carry the most weight: whether the work benefits this community, and whether it connects to Chinatown culture, sustainability, or young people.

What hangs well here

Posters, illustrations, and other lightweight visual work suited to a public space. Installations have to be safe and durable, and they cannot block a walkway.

Looking after the work

The exhibiting group handles repair, replacement, and upkeep for the run of the show, and takes the work down at the agreed time.

Getting the word out

We announce each new exhibition through a press conference and our social media, and the space can carry a plaque or poster naming the project and everyone behind it. We hope you will share it through your own channels too.

See it in person

The exhibition is inside the garage at 733 Kearny Street, free to view whenever we’re open.

Getting here