Since 1996, the Brava! Theater Center for Women in the Arts has served as a home to many artists and inner city youth programs, but in recent years it has faltered financially, hovering on the brink of bankruptcy and an operational takeover by the city.
In the face of that threat, a new acting executive director was placed at the helm of the organization to implement her vision of reconnecting with and involving Mission residents and Mission-based cultural organizations.
The new acting executive director, Stacie Powers, has worked with community nonprofits and theater arts projects since 1983, when she began work with the San Francisco Mime Troupe. She intends to save the Brava! by increasing community usage of the 364-seat capacity theater.
“The Brava Theater Center can be an arts complex.” Powers said. “The goal is to accommodate five to six different organizations in the theater and to help stimulate the local business economy.”
As part of the fresh effort to revitalize the theater and encourage community involvement, Powers has launched a web campaign with crowdfunding platform Indiegogo.com, hoping to raise $50,000 in 60 days.
She also opened the theater to house resident artists such as: Loco Bloco, a drum contingent; Futuro Picante, a youth salsa band; Teatro Vagon; Classical Revolution; La Bohemia Productions; Volti Chitresh Das Dance; Freshmeat Productions; Thrill Peddlers and The 1st Annual Son Jarocho Festival.
Powers says her predecessors made financial decisions without considering the Mission community and focused on bringing in funds from outside, ultimately neglecting local needs.
“They didn’t align programs to serve the community better,” she said, adding that the previous directors neglected to pay the mortgage for six months before Powers was hired. “You can’t do the work without the space.”
In 2011, the city looked into a possible asset transfer, but because of Brava’s outstanding mortgage debt, they declined.
Powers said she understands the community.
“The bigger picture, why I’m here [at Brava! is] I’ve watched so many organizations do great things here,” she said. “I’m happy to go around and get people involved, to try and help revive the place.”
Looming overhead expenses mean Brava! will have a hard time getting through the summer if something isn’t figured out soon. Powers said she did a comprehensive analysis of the theater’s financial situation and is exploring funding options.
In the meantime, competitive rental rates have been set to entice local organizations to use the space.
Powers said that some $200,000 in funds is needed to stabilize the organization and another $500,000 is needed to complete construction projects that have been on hold.
“We had a great community meeting on April 7 attended by UCSF, S.F. Mime Troupe, former Brava board members and others,” Powers said. “I sense an air of relief from the community … this is going to be a community effort.”
I was a staff writer for El Tecolote 10 years ago. I wrote two articles on the difficulties Brava was having with the community, including threats of evictions to their tenants, Puerto Vallarta Bar and Cafe Funari. The articles are in the archive, circa 2000 and 2002.