Chinese Culture Center of San Francisco

Chinatown Culture Center of San Francisco (CCC) is an arts and cultural center that delivers innovative exhibitions and programming in multiple venues in Chinatown, hosting projects in its 3,000-square-foot main gallery, residency projects at 41 Ross, and large-scale public activations throughout the neighborhood as part of its “Museum Without Walls” strategy. Emerging from the civil rights movement in 1965, CCC was founded by members of the Chinese American community to challenge narrow and racist perceptions of Chinese culture as irrelevant.

CCC is stepping into a transformative phase as it approaches its 60th anniversary: harnessing artists’ creativity and its own deep community roots to integrate the arts into broader social movements for justice and equity, to build community power, to be a strong partner in Chinatown’s economic recovery, and to challenge xenophobic narratives and uplift underserved voices. Over the next two years, CCC priorities include:

• Opening a new arts space at 667 Grant Avenue. The space, anchored a block from the iconic Trademark Building and Chinatown Gate, will be dedicated to public programming and cultural activations. This opening will complement other neighborhood initiatives to promote a cultural corridor on Grant Avenue that supports local businesses and highlights the neighborhood’s historical and artistic significance, such as the monthly Chinatown Night Markets and the opening of Edge on the Square (which CCC co-founded with five other nonprofits).
• Amplifying Signature Events and Programming such as the popular “Hungry Ghost Festival”, inaugurated in 2023, which transforms Chinatown into a neighborhood-wide arts and cultural heritage festival, utilizing streets and public spaces as performance venues.
• Activating Public Spaces. For example, leveraging programming at 41 Ross Alley—a former tofu shop that has transformed into an experimental studio for artist residencies and arts programming—to inspire neighborhood to care for community through creativity such as painting murals and adding decorations and lanterns.
• Press and Media Storytelling. Developing unique stories and in-depth coverage around public art and creativity, to share the vibrancy of Chinatown and more broadly San Francisco. An upcoming key opportunity will be the creation of new signature public artworks at three defining locations in Chinatown.
• Expanding Cross-Sector, Cross-Racial Partnerships. Fostering collaborations with cross-sector and cross-racial partners, such as in civil rights, elder care, and affordable housing, to activate audience members and community.