Hunters Point Naval Shipyard

Prior to decommissioning in 1974, the shipyard was a Navy repair station. In 1976, a private contractor leased the yard and began subletting buildings to civilians, including The Point's founder, Jacques Terzian. His business fabricated found-object based furniture and wall installations. He saw the possibility of transforming several of the neglected buildings into affordable workspaces for artists. With co-developers Paula Terzian and David Terzian (daughter and son), The Point was soon home to 300 artists.

When the Navy did not renew the contractor's lease in 1985 in anticipation of the USS Missouri Home porting, the artists and other civilian tenants formed an effective alliance now known as Shipyard Arts & Businesses, to protect their shops and studios. This group was joined by a broad coalition of community leaders and environmentalists. The coalition stalled evictions from the shipyard for 4 years. Artists' donations of artwork for auction raised thousands of dollars for this effort. Finally in late 1989, the Missouri home porting was cancelled and existing tenants were allowed to stay.

Today, with the transfer of the Shipyard to the city of San Francisco, there is still work being done to insure Hunters Point Shipyard will become an even more vital part of the City's fine arts community through groups such as Hunters Point Citizensí Advisory Committee (C.A.C.) and Shipyard Trust for the Arts (S.T.A.R.).

S.T.A.R. is a nonprofit organization based at Hunters Point Shipyard. It was formed in 1995 to develop art programs and increase public involvement with the arts and artists at the Shipyard.

S.T.A.R.'s mission is to preserve and expand secure affordable studio and work space at Hunters Point Shipyard, thereby enabling artists to remain in San Francisco and actively practice their art. S.T.A.R. continues working to ensure studios remain on the shipyard through the redevelopment process.

For more information:

S.T.A.R.
Tele: (415) 822-0922

Hunters Point Shipyard
Bldg.101, Rm.1317
P.O. BOX 883594
San Francisco, CA
94188-33594