CAST acquired the former adult theater on Turk Street to further its goal of securing permanent art space in the Central Market/Tenderloin area. Previously known as the Dollhouse, the building offered a rare opportunity for purchase as it was already designed to be a theater. It was poised to become the new home for CounterPulse, a dynamic community arts organization renown for experimental performing arts, whose affordable lease in SoMa was coming to an end in 2012.
CounterPulse provides space and resources for emerging artists and cultural innovators and serves as an incubator for the creation of socially relevant, community-based art, performance, and culture. For the past 7 years, CounterPulse has been thriving in its location at 80 Turk St, bringing together communities and audiences from around the globe to create and experience innovative artworks.
In February 2015, CAST and CounterPulse officially broke ground on the construction project, which included an interior renovation to the existing historic two-story concrete frame building and full basement. In March 2016, CounterPulse moved into the building, now a newly transformed, vibrant performing arts space that includes two rehearsal studios, office space and a three-story lobby with full ADA access for performers with limited mobility. CAST, in partnership with the Kenneth Rainin Foundation, has helped build CounterPulse’s organizational capacity to purchase the building after a period of seven years.
After completing their successful capital campaign to secure their stage in early 2023, CounterPulse has purchased the building back from CAST and reached their goal of establishing a permanent home for the arts.
Read about CounterPulse’s success story
Related Press:
- For years, philanthropy has been trying to buy buildings for the arts. Now we know it works: Next City
- How one arts organization saved itself when Twitter move in next door: Fast Company
- CounterPulse within reach of building purchase in TL: Broke-Ass Stuart
- CounterPulse finalizes $7M acquisition of its San Francisco venue: San Francisco Business Times
- Downtown SF may be dead. But this arts organization just bought a building in the Tenderloin: The San Francisco Standard
- New funding model gives arts groups firmer footing in downtown S.F.: San Francisco Chronicle
