ACCESSIBILITY NOTE: Captions and American Sign Language interpreters from Bay Area Communication Access will be available during the livestream event.

While gathering in person is out this year, the local event partners, Villa San Francisco, KQED, SFMOMA, San Francisco Public Library and California Humanities, are reuniting to produce a dynamic two-hour virtual showcase.

For the 2021 Night of Ideas, keynote speakers and performers were asked to meditate on the theme of “closing the distance,” an adaptation of the international theme “proche” or “close.” The program will present a variety of perspectives on how we can collectively move closer to each other and to a better future by reimagining our civic spaces and society to be more inclusive. 

​Viewers can expect to see performances featuring some of the area’s iconic scenery and tributes to our artists and essential workers that have kept spirits up during these challenging times.

Hosted by KQED's Mina Kim, the evening will feature a special conversation with San Francisco Mayor London N. Breed about leading through the recovery ahead, the role that artists and culture-makers have to play in renewing our civic bonds, and more.

Join us an explore a program representing a breadth of the wider Bay Area's diverse thought and expression, including: