OUR MISSION
The San Francisco Art & Film Program was established in 1993 to make the arts a constant and inspiring presence in young people's lives. Our motto is “we give you what school can’t” and we deliver on it by making over 100 first-rate cultural events available free to Bay Area students every year; events chosen to stimulate students’ curiosity, excite their imaginations, and help them enter a wider world. SF Art & Film believes a steady stream of contact with the arts gives them a context through which they can begin to understand their own lives and discover their own creative energies.
“I participated in Art & Film my senior year of high school. The program was an incredible opportunity for me to learn about—and engage with—art in San Francisco. There are art installations I saw 15 years ago with the program that still linger in my mind today, and the post-film discussions we had at Cine Club were invaluable in shaping my experience of culture and the world.”
WHO WE ARE
Isaiah Dufort — Director
Isaiah joined SF Art & Film as a high school student in 1998 and was quickly put to work as projectionist for the weekly Cine Club film screenings at the Randall Museum. Upon graduating from NYU in 2004, he was brought in as a screenplay writing mentor in the Film Workshop and manager of the European Summer Studies program. Isaiah took over the role of Director in 2018 at SF Art & Film’s 25th anniversary. Isaiah is also teaching artist-in-residence at the Ruth Asawa School of the Arts.
Ronald Chase — Founding Director
Ronald has had multiple careers as artist, photographer, educator, independent film maker and opera designer. Those careers include 50 years of painting exhibitions, two feature films and numerous short films (he received the first SFMOMA SECA Award in film), a 30 year career in opera (collaborating with director, Frank Corsaro), and a 35 year career as arts critic-at -large on KAWL, San Francisco’s public radio station. ronaldchaseart.com
Huntly Gordon — Treasurer & Founding Mentor
Huntly has assisted Ronald with the running of the program since its inception in 1993. He has been on the board of SF Art & Film from the beginning, and participates in many of the organization's regular activities. Huntly is a former journalist, media consultant, television executive, housing director and legislative information officer.
Frish Brandt — Board President
President Emerita of Fraenkel Gallery. Founder of MY LASTING LETTERS. Brandt joined the SF Art & Film board in 2003, and has served as its president since 2006. The mother of a student alumnus and involved in the art world for over 45 years, most of Brandt's volunteer efforts focus on the role education plays in the arts, and the role that both education and art serve to enrich young people’s lives.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Frish Brandt - Joined in 2000. Board President
Donna Kempner - Joined in 2006.
Huntly Gordon - Founding Mentor
Ronald Chase - Founding Director
Isaiah Dufort - Executive Director
THE ADVISORY BOARD
Cheryl Drake - Joined in 2010.
Rita Laven - Active 1998-2006, Rejoined 2020
Joske Thompson - Joined in 2013.
Stella Lochman - Joined in 2015. Art & Film alumna.
Deborah Aghib - Joined in 2012.
Sue Kubly - Joined in 2015.
Paula Rivers - Joined in 2015.
Peter Hicks - Joined in 2020
ADVISERS
Susan Stauter - Education Adviser since 1993. Artistic Director, San Francisco Unified School District.
Emilia Burchiellaro - Design adviser since 2001. Designer, brand strategist, and director of Burchiellaro Design.
RACIAL EQUITY STATEMENT
The San Francisco Art and Film Program is fortunate to be located in the diverse landscape of the San Francisco Bay Area. Despite the richness and range of the cultural traditions and institutions present, our city continues to struggle in providing equitable artistic access to communities of color. As an organization proud of its multiracial leadership, SF Art & Film is committed to providing Bay Area youth opportunities to discover and discuss the work of artists of color, to interrogate and celebrate their contributions to art, film and performing arts. Additionally, the organization is committed to offering all students of the Bay Area, especially students of color, and those who might experience historical marginalizing barriers, the opportunity to succeed in their own artistic endeavors.