Two years back, the San Francisco Art Institute (SFAI) faced closure after declaring bankruptcy due to accumulating debts, a botched merger with the University of San Francisco, and a decision to shut down following the graduation of its last 2022 class. At one point, administrators even contemplated selling Diego Rivera’s famous mural “The Making of a Fresco, Showing the Building of a City” (1931) before halting educational activities.
The fate of the campus remained in limbo for a year until Laurene Powell Jobs, a philanthropist and businesswoman, purchased the site and the Rivera mural for $30 million via her nonprofit in early 2024. Her goal was to rejuvenate the institution as a vibrant center for artists in San Francisco. Although SFAI, which had illustrious faculty and alumni like Mark Rothko and Annie Leibovitz, ceased to exist, a new initiative was underway.
On June 5, Powell Jobs’s nonprofit BMA Institute revealed plans to establish the California Academy of Studio Arts (CASA) on the historic SFAI grounds. CASA will operate as a free, non-accredited studio program, offering a yearlong experimental experience to up to 30 emerging artists annually. The academy will also engage with the local community through exhibitions, workshops, and artist talks.
The launch of CASA will reintroduce public access to Rivera’s mural, which has not been available since 2023. Powell Jobs expressed that CASA aims to honor the legacy of Black Mountain College by fostering connections and experimentation among artists. Listening forums led by artist Abbye Churchill and Hans Ulrich Obrist are underway to shape CASA’s programming to meet contemporary artistic needs.
Renovations on the campus will commence this fall with Jensen Architects, Laplace, and Page & Turnbull handling design and historic preservation. The updates will include private studios, collaborative spaces, and communal areas, all reflecting SFAI’s original ambiance. The opening date for CASA has yet to be announced.
