Arts - Kenneth Rainin Foundation
Zaccho Dance Theatre's "Picture Bayview." Photo credit: Jamie DeWolf

Arts

The Rainin Foundation envisions a world where Bay Area artists thrive. Our work is rooted in the belief that we can achieve greater impact when we partner with others, share knowledge and leverage resources.

We believe that visionary artists push the boundaries of creative expression, tell diverse stories and reflect on contemporary issues relevant to ourselves and the world around us.

By seeding innovative ideas, investigating practices, examining new models of support and collaborating across sectors, we hope to remove barriers to unleash creativity. Our partnership with grantmaking intermediaries allows our funding to operate closer to the ground, as we share power and decision-making with trusted aligned partners in the community.

Arts Program Snapshot

Arts Grants

We fund artists working in dance, film, public space and theater, and encourage experimentation that boldly moves the field forward.

Audience members raising their hands to engage with an artist presentation at the Exploring Public Art Practices Symposium.

Arts Initiatives

We aim to support artists in ways that will sustain their creative practice in the Bay Area and serve our communities.

Three young Black female dancers performing on Lake Merritt in front of a band including a keyboardist, guitarist and drummer.

Arts Learnings

We invest in research to better understand the Bay Area arts landscape and what artists are facing.

Arts News & Stories

An aerial dancer shown upside down, mid-air alongside a building in San Francisco.
Foundation Awards $834,000 For Temporary Public Art

01/13/2026 | Arts

The awards will support artist-driven, place-based public art that engages communities in San Francisco and Oakland around relevant and timely issues.

A collage of headshots
2025 Filmmaking Grantees Announced

12/10/2025 | Arts

SFFILM announced the recipients of the 2025 SFFILM Rainin Grant and the 2025 SFFILM Rainin Filmmakers with Disabilities Grant.

Against a dark backdrop a dancer crouches amid piles of white rice, waving long red fabric banners in each hand. In front of them, sheets of rice pour from above.
Rainin Foundation Awards Over $830,000 In Dance And Theater Grants

08/05/2025 | Arts

The Kenneth Rainin Foundation awarded $832,100 to 33 small and mid-sized arts organizations through our New and Experimental Works Program.

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