Mission:

CounterPULSE provides space and resources for emerging artists and cultural innovators, serving as an incubator for the creation of socially relevant, community-based art and culture. CounterPULSE acts as a catalyst for art and action; creating a forum for the open exchange of art and ideas, catalyzing transformation in our communities and our society. We work towards a world that celebrates diversity of race, class, cultural heritage, artistic expression, ability, gender identity & sexual orientation. We strive to create an environment that is physically and economically accessible to everyone.

History:

CounterPULSE represents the merger of 848 Community Space established in 1991, and the Bay Area Center for Art and Technology, incorporated in 1985. This partnership combined 848’s strength as a cutting-edge performance space with BACAT’s expertise in literary, historical, and media arts. Since 2005, CounterPULSE has been located in San Francisco’s South of Market neighborhood.

848 Community Space played a unique and significant role in the SF performance community since the early 90’s. No other single space has supported a comparable breadth of performance. 848 hosted the first performances or premieres of many of SF’s most exciting and successful dancers and choreographers. 848 also hosted San Francisco’s longest-running Contact Improvisation Jam, and has been a key site in the global network of improvised dance and somatic experimentation. With a special focus on women visual artists, 848 nurtured emerging and risk-taking art for over a decade, and has been a pioneering venue for experimentation.

Projects of BACAT which continue to flourish at CounterPULSE include Shaping San Francisco, which produces a people’s history of San Francisco now found online at FoundSF.org, a lively Wednesday night discussion series, and bicycle history tours.

In 2006, CounterPULSE pioneered STREAM/fest, a festival designed to expose audiences to multimedia-based performance by both emerging and established artists. In 2007, CounterPULSE produced Under the Radar, a multidisciplinary dance performance by Jess Curtis/Gravity exploring disability and virtuosity with an international cast of performers with and without physical disabilities.  This project leveraged support from 5 organizations and 7 foundations in 3 countries to create a touring performance, symposium and series of community workshops – establishing an infrastructure to support future projects of this scope.  In 2009, CounterPULSE launched Performing Diaspora, a festival, residency, and commissioning program designed to support artists who are deeply rooted in traditional dance forms, yet seek to innovate within those traditions.  Through all of its programs, CounterPULSE combines a high level of professionalism with a supportive, artist-centered process, empowering artists to produce innovative work and foster dialogue with a diverse community.