BAYVIEW OPERA HOUSE RECEIVES GOVERNOR’S AWARD FOR HISTORIC PRESERVATION 2011

Announced today by the State Historical Resources Commission:
Bayview Opera House Save America’s Treasures Project Recognized as
Notable Achievement in Preserving the Heritage of California

SAN FRANCISCO, October 28, 2011: On November 17, 2011, members of the Bayview Opera House Ruth Williams Memorial Theater (BVOH) and the San Francisco Arts Commission (SFAC) will travel to Sacramento to receive the 2011 Governor’s Historic Preservation Award. The only one of its kind in the State of California, the award recognizes the BVOH’s recent completion of a “Save America’s Treasures” historic preservation project, which resulted in the restoration of the 122-year-old Opera House’s original Douglas Fir floor and auditorium stage and the building’s acceptance into the National Register of Historic Places. The Bayview Opera House is one of four city-owned cultural centers located in San Francisco and is a central community space for arts and other social activities for the Bayview Hunters Point neighborhood.

“The Governor’s Award will help us shine a spotlight on the Bayview Opera House, a remarkable San Francisco treasure that continues to be relevant and serve the community through its many arts programs,” says Barbara Ockel, Interim Managing Director of the BVOH. “The over 500 children who participate annually in our programs will tell you that this place matters to them!”

Formerly known as the South San Francisco Opera House, the BVOH is the oldest standing theater in San Francisco and survived both the earthquake and fire in 1906. It is the first and only building in San Francisco’s District 10 to be included in the National Register of Historic Places. Historic preservation efforts have traditionally been focused on more affluent areas. Neighborhoods like the Bayview district have not yet been surveyed for historic structures.


“Recognizing the historic significance and preserving the architectural integrity of such an important cultural facility as the Bayview Opera House has to be part of city-wide efforts to revitalize the Bayview,” said Vanessa Hawkins Dandridge, San Francisco Redevelopment Agency Project Manager for Bayview Hunters Point.

The preservation project is a shining example of what can happen when a federal agency, a city agency and a local non-profit join forces to preserve a community treasure. The National Park Service provided the funding through its Save America’s Treasures program; the San Francisco Arts Commission, the building owner, helped facilitate the process and entered into a 50-year preservation easement with San Francisco Architectural Heritage; the BVOH managed the project and secured additional funding from the San Francisco Historic Preservation Fund to nominate the building to the National Register of Historic Places, as required by the grant agreement. Local contractors Architectural Resources Group, Bluewater Environmental Services and California Wood Floors provided excellent discounted services to accomplish the work on budget and on time.

The beautiful historic facility is available to rent for public and private events and is a local favorite for movie screenings, musical and theatrical performances, as well as family reunions, weddings, and corporate parties and meetings. The BVOH is a recent membership grant recipient of the San Francisco Travel Association and is open for historic tours and convention business.


About the Bayview Opera House
The South San Francisco Opera House was built by the Masons in 1888. Now known as the Bayview Opera House Ruth Williams Memorial Theatre (BVOH), it is a nationally recognized historic building. Run by the non-profit, Bayview Opera House, Inc., the facility is dedicated to providing high quality arts education for at-risk youth year round for free or at a low cost. The organization also presents many cultural events throughout the year for all ages, including art exhibits, concerts, plays and community celebrations. It is also available for rent for other arts organizations and private parties, is easy to reach by public transit and features a large private parking lot. For more information visit, bvoh.org.

About the San Francisco Arts Commission
The San Francisco Arts Commission (SFAC) is the City agency that champions the arts in San Francisco. We believe that a creative cultural environment is essential to the City’s well-being. Established by charter in 1932, the SFAC integrates the arts into all aspects of City life. Programs include: Civic Art Collection, Civic Design Review, Community Arts & Education, Cultural Equity Grants, Public Art, SFAC Gallery, Street Artists Licensing, and the San Francisco Symphony Youth and Community Concert Series. The agency’s core values are committed to the principle that all residents have equal access to arts experiences in all disciplines, that programs are provided comprehensively and evenly throughout the City, and that they are innovative and of the highest quality. Visit sfartscommission.org.