Let’s Build a Legacy of Big Art in SF
At COVEN, we believe monumental art is a bridge to societal change, sparking dialogue, connection, and revitalization in our backyard. Yet, too often, the voices that have the most powerful stories to share are sidelined—lacking the ecosystem of support they need to realize their vision of tomorrow.
In a time of geopolitical strife and fast-paced technological change, it’s more important than ever to serve and protect artists historically excluded from access to capital, space, and opportunity. Building on 20 years of bringing big art to life in some of the harshest conditions, from the Nevada desert to the Australian outback and New Orleans, we launched COVEN in 2023 as a creative placemaking nonprofit accelerator for creators, doers, and backers to amplify sidelined voices through the BIG art that transcends boundaries and inspires the world.
Your support will help us bring forth our groundbreaking COVEN AIR (Artist-in-Residency) Program in partnership with Djerassi, place large-scale art in public spaces in San Francisco, and preserve Third Place community hubs in 2025 and beyond.
Make a one-time donation that is 100% tax-deductible
Become a monthly donor to sustain our mission year-round
Provide a grant from your DAF or private foundation
the journey of
an artist is a thousand miles…
The last three years of working with COVEN artist Zulu Heru culminates in 2025 with the placement of his piece in the heart of San Francisco - the first of many collaborative efforts to bring large-scale works of emerging artists to public spaces.
How many more artists like Zulu could we amplify through our ecosystem - with your support?
what we’re up to
Vertical Camp Incubator: Since 2011, our original Third Place at Burning Man has provided infrastructure for emerging artists to experiment with building big. 2024 saw 30 campers working together to construct a 7-story liveable tower and activate community around 2 art pieces by Erin Douglas and Greg Holmes.
Third Place Community Hubs: COVEN focuses on strengthening vital Third Places that provide affordable shared workspace and resources for industrial artists. Last summer, we co-hosted a fundraiser to save The Box Shop, SF’s last industrial art makerspace–over 300 attended the showcase of 16 local female and LGBTQIA+ artists. We’re collaborating with Point San Pablo Harbor and Djerassi to shape a future vision sustainably supporting community, conservation, and big art.
COVEN AIR (Artist-in-Residency): Last spring, we delivered online workshops on crowdfunding for over 40 artists and hosted a salon fundraiser for 3 of our artists earlier this year. We are designing our groundbreaking Artist-in-Residency Program with globally renowned artist residency Djerassi alongside our First Team volunteers, curating a diverse Selection Committee, and building out an ecosystem of Third Place hubs to launch in 2025.
Rotating Art Platforms (RAP): Bringing art beyond the living room - and beyond the festival - to the public: 6 million visitors were inspired this past year by Charlie Gadeken’s Elder Mother Tree in Golden Gate Park, now in Las Vegas. With the aim of urban revitalization and socioeconomic mobility for women, BIPOC, and LGBTQIA+ artists, we’re collaborating with Building 180, Illuminate SF, & the Port of SF to build a network of permanent placements for temporary, rotating, large-scale art in public spaces, beginning with the placement of Zulu Heru’s Farmer the Rigger in The Embarcadero/Pier 29 and Cjay Roughgarden, Stephanie Shipman, and Jacquelyn Scott’s Naga and the Capitainess in Golden Gate Park following its rotation in Petaluma.
give your time, talent, treasure & ties
Every voice matters. Every gift counts. Every dollar builds a bridge.
COVEN is a California Public Benefit Non-profit Corporation (EIN: 93-4043245, with 501c3 pending) based in San Francisco, CA, and is fiscally sponsored by the public 501c charity Legacy Global Programs (EIN: 20-8099462), the Trustee and authorized signer of The Synecdoche Trust which holds the subaccount for charitable funds on behalf of COVEN.
Donations are a tax-deductible, unrestricted contribution to support COVEN programming and artists. Donations can be made via credit card or bank transfer via our nonprofit donation platform Zeffy.
Contributions can also be made in the form of check, EFT/ACH, wire transfer, Donor Advised Fund (DAF) grant, or securities via the Donation Instructions below. If you would like to contribute with a corporate match, crypto, in-kind, or real asset (artwork, real estate, vehicles, equipment, etc), please email bonnie@coven.art.