Community Arts Stabilization Trust

Community Arts Stabilization Trust (CAST) purchases and leases physical space for the use of arts and culture organizations effected by the rising costs of real estate in San Francisco and Oakland. It provides financial vehicles, capacity building, and technical assistance that enable arts entities to sustain the creativity necessary to promote lively and stable neighborhoods. This grant to CAST advances the Infrastructure component of the Performing Arts Program’s strategic framework by acquiring and preserving space that benefits communities, artists, and youth.

Community Arts Stabilization Trust (CAST) was founded in 2012 by the Kenneth Rainin Foundation, in partnership with Northern California Community Loan Fund (now known as Community Vision Capital & Consulting). Its mission is to create stable physical spaces for arts and cultural organizations at risk of displacement, and in doing so mitigate the effects of gentrification caused by urban development. CAST also provides significant capacity building and technical assistance to arts tenants. Since its founding, CAST has secured 39,000 square feet, at four locations in San Francisco, for arts and culture organizations, with another 124,000 square feet in the development pipeline in San Francisco and Oakland.