Bowes Center Open House

Join us for a FREE community open house at SFCM’s newest cultural addition to the city, The Bowes Center. Activities include: instrument petting zoo, family concerts, Guitar Masterclass with Meng Su, performance by the Telegraph Quartet, interactive audio and visual installation, tours, and more!

Come see the building that incorporates student housing, dining, classrooms, rehearsal rooms, performance spaces, a recording studio, and a radio station all under one roof!

Hours: 10 AM - 2PM
Location: The Bowes Center

Health & Safety

The health and safety of the SFCM community and its patrons is of the highest priority. To help maintain a safe environment on campus for the SFCM community, and in adhering to San Francisco city guidelines, patrons are required to show proof of full vaccination to attend SFCM events. Please visit SFCM's full Event Health & Safety policy to read more about our guidelines.

Bowes Open House FAQ

Welcome to The Bowes Center! Hello and thank you for signing up to take a first-look inside San Francisco’s newest hub for music, community, and collaboration, The Ute and William K. Bowes, Jr. Center for Performing Arts, or as we call it, The Bowes Center!

This Saturday on March 12th, from 10 am to 2 pm, SFCM’s Bowes Center Open House will include free live music performances, an “instrument petting zoo”, masterclasses, self-guided tours, free food, opera, musical theater, and more! We are excited to show the public our newest building where SFCM students are writing the next generation of music!

Before we welcome you inside, we have some important notes!

Health and Safety Requirements

The health and safety of the SFCM community and its patrons is of the highest priority. To help maintain a safe environment on campus for the SFCM community, patrons are required to show proof of full vaccination, including booster dose if eligible, to attend the Bowes Center Open House. In addition, a face covering is required for entry into the Bowes Center and must be worn at all times. Children under vaccination age will be admitted with a face covering.

Schedule

The Bowes Center Open House invites guests to come at and go any time from 10 am to 2 pm!

We want to show you everything the Bowes Center has to offer! To keep our show running smoothly, our self-guided tours, live music, and family fun are staggered through the day. Our live performances are scheduled periodically to show you the best we have to offer, while keeping our hallways clear, and building as safe as possible.

The Bowes Center Open House is Saturday, March 12, 2022 from 10 am to 2 pm. The Bowes Center is located at 200 Van Ness Avenue across from our partners in the arts the San Francisco Symphony and SF Ballet!

Getting Around

The Bowes Center boasts multiple breathtaking performances halls that can seat hundreds of music patrons in each venue. Our 12-story ‘vertical campus’ also has multiple elevators and our elevator assistants can help guide you to the activities on various floors. Because this is a public event and interest is high, guests may experience wait times before getting inside our concert halls. Your patience is appreciated.

Parking

The Bowes Center is in the heart of the Civic Center at 200 Van Ness Avenue. Guests are invited to park at one of the surrounding parking lots including the Performing Arts Garage. Please be aware that the San Francisco St. Patrick’s day parade may impact parking.

Notable Entertainment Times

We promise a series of unforgettable performances! From SFCM’s Timothy Higgins on the trombone scheduled at 10:30, to the beautiful music of SFCM’s ensemble-in-residence the Telegraph Quartet scheduled at 12:30pm, to guitarist Meng Su at 1 pm. For our youngest music fans our “Instrument petting zoo” is scheduled from 11am to 1 pm.

Food

We hope you enjoy a sneak peek at Uccello restaurant before it opens inside the Bowes Center! Because it’s not officially open for eating yet, guests of the Bowes Center Open House will be given a food voucher for free food and refreshments from a local food truck outside. Food is available at a first-come, first-serve and while supplies last basis.

Have Fun, and Welcome!

We are pleased to welcome you to the newest home for music in San Francisco, The Bowes Center. We look forward to welcoming you back to SFCM, where 90 percent of concerts are free and open to the public!

Join us at the Open House!

Family Concerts presented by SFCM Community Engagement

Cha Chi Ming | Ground floor

Student ensembles from our college programs will present performances for families and kids of all ages.

Guitar Masterclass with Meng Su

CHA CHI MING | Ground Floor

Renown Chinese guitarist Meng Su teaches classical guitar students from the Pre-College Division in front of a live crowd.

Telegraph Quartet Performance

Barbro osher recital hall | 11th floor

International award winning ensemble performs with students from the SFCM chamber music program in the Barbro Osher Recital Hall, overlooking the City Hall dome.

Studio G and recording booth at Bowes Center

Immersive Audio and Visual Installation

studio g and recording booth | B2 level

Experience an immersive and interactive audio and visual installation in the state-of-the-art recording studio and recording booth.

instrument petting zoo

2ND Floor

Kids are invited to try a variety of instruments.

Free food

Uccello restaurant | ground floor

Preview the new restaurant located in the Bowes Center before it officially opens a few days later. Grab bites and drinks while enjoying live music.

BOWES center tours

Ute and William K. Bowes, Jr. Center for Performing Arts

Learn more about the building that incorporates student housing, dining, classrooms, rehearsal rooms, performance spaces, a recording studio, and a radio station all under one roof!