Happy Hour Benefit for Independent Arts & Media

Thursday, July 21st (5:30pm-8:00pm)

On Thursday, July 21, from 5:30-8pm, all tips for happy-hour drinks dispensed at TONIC BAR (2360 Polk at Union Street in San Francisco’s Russian Hill neighborhood) will be donated directly to Independent Arts & Media!

The pro-am mixologists of the IAM staff and board of directors will be shaking, stirring, finessing and dispensing every variety of martini and mixed drink for TONIC customers, so belly up to the bar and join us for an alcohol-fortified celebration of IAM’s mission free-speech mission!

IAM is the fiscal sponsor of 23 independent media and culture projects in the Bay Area, including The San Francisco Public Press, Friends of KUSF (currently battling the KUSF sale before the FCC!), Hyphen Magazine: Asian America Unabridged … and many others. IAM is also the producer of the UN Plaza Arts Market, and other civic events and activities.

IAM board members will periodically MATCH your tips to double the benefit to our free-speech cause!

YOU can up the ante by also matching tips to our bartenders. Simply declare to the bar that you will match all tips for a given period of time up to $25, $50 or $100 total. Feeling bold and generous? Do a two-to-one match!

For more details, contact Independent Arts & Media, 415-738-4975, or just show up on Thursday, July 21, from 5:30-8pm at TONIC on Polk Street x Union in San Francisco

More than a Market…

The San Francisco Arts Market looks forward to its 2011 kick-off on June 16th! Since the 2010 Grand Finale day on December 16th the Market has had time to reflect and build on last year’s first annual weekly outdoor Market for arts, crafts and performance in United Nations Plaza.

With this reflection time, we asked ourselves exactly what is SF Arts Market? An obvious impression would be that it’s an outdoor Market for independent vendors to sell and market their arts, crafts and services. However, with deeper introspection we’d like to explain how the Market in UN Plaza is so much more! What, you ask? This year, the Arts Market will exist in and for the community as a performance platform for live music, dance and other performance; a public space for DIY workshops and educational opportunities; a catalyst for positive engagement culturally and economically for the mid-Market region; and a community and city-wide collaboration and partnership.

A partnership project between the Mayors Office of Economic Workforce and Development and Independent Arts & Media, both groups are working within and outside the community to realize positive change for the mid-Market region and support local artists and craft makers. With this in mind, qualified vendors can participate at the Market free of charge!

In addition to the city and nonprofit Independent Arts & Media, it takes a village to make a good thing happen. As such, the Arts Market has opened its doors to partnership and collaborative relationship opportunities to help support its success. A few groups aligned to support the Market for 2011 are the San Francisco Public Library; San Francisco Department of Public Health’s SF FIRST program; Art Institute, SF; SF Great Streets; People in Plazas; Hospitality House Community Arts Program; 24 Days of Central Market Arts, SF Travel, Off the Grid Food, Blick Art and many more. If you’re interested in participating, sponsoring, collaborating or partnering with the San Francisco Arts Market don’t hesitate to contact us!

Until then, stay tuned for further details about the launch day, June 16^th. See you then!

Potential vendors, click here to get started!

Performers, contact: susie.mck@artsandmedia.net

Sponsorship and partnership opportunities, contact: artsmarketsf@artsandmedia.net