Future of Us: A Celebration of Community Voices on the US's 250th Anniversary
Before imagining what could be, we invite you to reflect on where we've been.
The Future of Us Festival is launching on the US's 250th Anniversary with a full day of art, music, and wisdom rooted in our collective histories, in service of our collective futures.
✨ 50% of ticket sales from the 250th event will go directly to support American Indian Cultural District. Learn more about their mission and work here.
About the Event:
The Future of Us is marking the generational milestone of the US's 250th anniversary by coming together to celebrate community visions, creative expression, and civic voice.
This event is the kick-off for the Future of Us festival. We're creating a container for reflection and contemplation, showcasing local storytellers, civic leaders, and keepers of collective imaginings.
It's part of the festival's Signature Event series: for ten days, Future of Us is taking over The Pearl in Dogpatch as its official HQ, offering a dynamic line-up of art, music, ideas, and interactive experiences.
What to Expect:
Art Exhibits: Immersive installations featuring 100+ original works created by artists to turn real community visions – collected across our year-long Visions Tour – into future worlds you can feel.
Live Music: Live sets and performances curated by Nothin But Hits to turn our rooftop lounge into a space for joy, culture, and connection.
Speakers & Workshops: Intimate talks and hands-on sessions that explore the ideas, perspectives, and possibilities shaping what's next.
Lounge areas: Cozy spaces with conversation prompts and reflection cards to spark conversation. Talking to strangers highly encouraged.
Gift Shop: Festival prints, custom candles, and limited-edition keepsakes – take a little of the future home with you.
Food & Drinks: Light snacks and local, non-alcoholic beverages.
Bar opens at 3pm (drinks available for purchase)
Lineup & Schedule of Events:
Come & go as you please!
Note: Programming is located on the rooftop and exposed to the elements. The first and second floors are open to all ticket holders throughout open hours and include the core exhibitions. Rooftop space is limited, registration does not guarantee access to rooftop programming. Access is on a first come / first served basis.
12:00 - 2:30pm
Programming led by American Indian Cultural District
⚡ Featuring Speakers & Performances include:
Sharaya Souza, Executive Director and Co-founder of the American Indian Cultural District
Molly Fay Vallejo McGettigan Arthur, Waking up to Our Own History
Mary Jean Robertson, Voices of the Native Nations
Maize Blackmountain, Mohawk (Akwesasane) Artist and Native Activist
3:30 - 6:00pm
"Living Legends: Learning from San Francisco's Past to Shape Its Future"
Panel, poetry, oral histories & live music
⚡ Featuring Speakers & Performances include:
Charles "Chuck" Collins, SF Futures & SF Arts Commission
Barbara Wilson, Community Leader
Tida Beattie, Future Culture Fellow & Founder of Collabyrinth
Nairobi Williese Barnes, Oakland's 2023 Youth Poet Laureate
Ian Kelly, Musical Artist
7:00 - 10:00pm
"Same as It Ever Was: Exploring the History of Our Imaginations"
Flash talks, meditation workshop & live music
⚡ Featuring Speakers & Performances include:
Sophia Francesco, Lead Artist of "Healing Patterns" Exhibit
Terria Smith, Author of "I Love You So Many"
Nairobi Williese Barnes, Oakland's 2023 Youth Poet Laureate
Alexandra Santon, Violinist
Ruby Ibarra, Musical Artist
Planning:
A Day in Dogpatch
Think of Future of Us HQ as a pop-up civic third space. You are welcome to show up and stay a while, or come and go throughout the day. Enjoy the rooftop, hang out in the lounges, and make sure to put aside plenty of time to browse the stories and visions dreamed up by your neighbors across the country.
New to Dogpatch? This neighborhood is a hybrid of the best of SF – art meets science, history meets the future, nature meets design.
Eat, drink, play & shop at Building 12
Check out beautiful Bayside Parks and Green Spaces
Learn more about all the wonderful food, drink, and activities the neighborhood has to offer
Parking & Transportation
Street parking is available but limited. We recommend rideshare or public transportation. The Pearl is easy to reach by Muni and a short walk from the T-Third line.
Accessibility & Considerations
The HQ is wheelchair accessible; the event spans three floors, including both stairs and elevators. The exhibits are largely visual, but written materials are currently only available in English. Accessibility is important to us – if you have specific accommodation requests, please reach out to [email protected] to discuss what's possible.
⚡ About the Future of Us Festival
Launching on America's 250th anniversary, the inaugural Future of Us festival is a 10-day celebration of civic imagination and possibility. We're turning community-sourced, expert-crafted visions of the future into art, storytelling, and participatory experiences. Curated by a coalition of artists, scientists, storytellers, and civic builders, the festival features 100+ events spanning every corner of the city (floral labyrinths, speculative future worlds, dance parties with a purpose, and neighborhood meet-ups), it's a living exploration of what a more creative and generative civic culture could feel like. Organized around four themes (Green Futures, Social Futures, Science & Tech Futures, and Media Futures), Future of Us is breaking down the barriers between art, ideas, and each other, and everyone is invited to co-imagine what comes next.
⚡ Learn More: future-of-us.com
⚡ Check out the Schedule of Events: future-of-us.com/events
⚡ Follow Us: https://www.instagram.com/futures.us
About the Organization
Future of Us is stewarded by The Plenary, Co., a 501(c)3 civic arts and sciences nonprofit based in Dogpatch, and co-led by a coalition of partners. All donations are tax-deductible. Make a donation here.