We have huge news. For more than 2 decades, Youth Art Exchange (formerly Out of Site) has engaged generations of youth leaders and artists in San Francisco. Our youth and artists have created community and art throughout our city in borrowed, shared, and pop up spaces - at least 49 that we've counted. And now we’ve found our home.

We are creating two new youth and community arts hubs on the ground floor of Mission Housing Development Corporation’s 100% affordable housing buildings in the Mission (La Fénix at 1950 Mission Street) and the Excelsior (Kapuso at Balboa Upper Yard). We’re raising $1.5 million for these spaces, our programs, and our future through our YAX to the MAX campaign. This will grow our capacity to offer youth places to learn, gather, exhibit - and thrive.

These new spaces will better serve existing YAX youth (90% youth of color and 80% low income youth), and help more youth to participate as young artists. By being on the ground floor of affordable housing units, we will provide safe, relevant places for residents to send their children, serving them where they live and reducing barriers to the arts. We’re asking our alumni, families, friends, and fans to contribute to the next chapter.

We are already halfway to our goal of $1.5 million and have a special announcement to inspire you to give to the campaign. The Walter + Elise Haas Fund has pledged to match the first $200,000 donated before March 1, 2023. Thanks to the Walter + Elise Haas Fund your gift will be doubled if you donate now!

YAX and Mission Housing Development Corporation are partnering in a strategic & creative way. By YAX being on the ground level of two of their new affordable housing sites, more youth will have easier, closer, and deeper access to our programs. We're excited to work with residents of the sites and support affordable housing in San Francisco.

YAX Studios at La Fénix at 1950 Mission Street. 2083 interior sq ft + a 2000 sq ft outdoor courtyard space. With galleries, a youth lounge, film photography darkroom, a mobile woodshop, music + sound production studios, and flexible classrooms, there are also shared spaces for youth and community programming.

YAX Studios at Kapuso in the Balboa Upper Yard. 1100 sq ft just steps from the Balboa Park station that will house a screenprinting shop, fashion design studio, and gallery/event space in the heart of the Excelsior.