The former San Francisco Art Institute (SFAI) campus has been transformed into a privately funded nonprofit arts center called the California Academy of Studio Arts (CASA). Backed by philanthropist Laurene Powell Jobs, who purchased the Chester Street campus for $30 million last year, CASA will host 30 emerging artists annually in an unaccredited studio program. Artists will have access to private studios, shared workspaces, and professional mentors, with no tuition fees. The center is led by director Abbye Churchill and plans seminars for participants. SFAI, one of the oldest art schools in the U.S., suspended operations in 2022 and filed for bankruptcy after a failed merger with the University of San Francisco.
This development matters because it repurposes a historic art school campus that had been in financial decline, preserving its legacy while offering a new model for arts education. The center draws inspiration from Black Mountain College, an influential experimental school that produced major artists despite its small scale. The inclusion of a state-protected Diego Rivera mural on the site ensures public access to a significant artwork. The project signals continued philanthropic investment in the Bay Area arts scene and provides a tuition-free pathway for emerging artists to develop their practices.