Jill Soloway Keynotes YBCA 100 Summit

On Sunday, October 28, the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts presents the 3rd Annual YBCA 100 Summit, with keynote speaker Jill Soloway.

Each year, Yerba Buena Center for the Arts releases the YBCA 100 list, celebrating the innovators, provocateurs, and thought leaders who are using their platform to create cultural movement. On this list, honorees can come from the Bay Area or the farthest reaches of the earth, and the famous can sit alongside the unsung hero. This year, the list takes on a renewed urgency and importance. In the face of uncertain social and political headwinds, we must give voice to those who can lead us towards a more hopeful and equitable future.

The Summit features three sessions and showcases 15 YBCA 100 Honorees, including nationally celebrated artists and activists along with Bay Area thought leaders.

Jill Soloway, creator of the groundbreaking Amazon series "Transparent" and "I Love Dick" will present the keynote address.

Other speakers include Abdi Soltani, executive director of the ACLU of Northern America; journalist Jose Antonio Vargas, CEO of Define American; Bart board member Lateefah Simon; Malkia Cyril, founder and executive director of the Center for Media Justice; and Boots Riley, filmmaker, producer, and lead vocalist of The Coup.

The event features live performances by dancer/choreographer Lil Buck; jazz pianist/composer Samor Pinderhughes, award-winning poet Saul Williams; spoken word poet and LGBTQ activist Staceyann Chin; and comedian Zahra Noorbakhsh.

Through talks and performances, YBCA 100 honorees share the urgent questions that drive their work. In turn, we create space and time for YOU to respond to these questions and engage in dialogue with our honorees and each other. Not in the mood for conversation? Feel free to simply soak in the inspiration, knowledge, and energy of the day!

In 2015, the questions identified at the YBCA 100 Summit were, "How do we design freedom?"; "What does equality look like?"; and "Why citizenship?" Over the past two years, these questions have guided YBCA's curatorial process, resulting in groundbreaking visual and performing arts presentations, including YBCA's inaugural Transform performing arts festival.

It also spurred DREAM, a public art and community partnership project commissioned by YBCA with visual artist and 2016 YBCA 100 Honoree Ana Teresa Fernandez; and Cuban political artist and 2016 YBCA 100 Honoree Tania Bruguera's "Talking to Power: Hablandole al Poder," a survey exhibition that presented all of her long-term politically and socially engaged art.

Tickets are $45 for the full day/ $20 per session.