Balay Kreative is Pressing Pause— But Not Forever
It’s time to be real. Times are tough, and the world feels like it’s turning upside down.
While we may have a new Mayor and hope for a shift in direction, San Francisco’s “Doom Loop” has real consequences—especially for small nonprofits like ours. Going into 2024, we had to make the painful decision to cut $250,000 from our budget and lay off a staff member.
Fast forward to 2025, and even with the funding we’ve secured, we’re forced to shave another $300,000 from our operating budget. In just two years, our programming budget has dropped nearly 50%. We can no longer operate as if it’s business as usual. And we are not alone.
“The arts should be at the center of our city’s economic recovery, but instead, they’re the first to go.”
The Board of Kultivate Labs has had to make the incredibly difficult decision to wind down and press pause on Balay Kreative because we can no longer afford to operate our arts arm. Funding for Balay Kreative has seen the biggest hit—dropping by a staggering 80% from 2024 to 2025.
And just when we thought the pain couldn’t get worse, last week’s announcement from the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) put another 30% of Balay’s 2025 funding at risk.
“The Challenge America grant program has provided vital funding to arts organizations serving rural and underrepresented communities for over two decades…
With this cut, those communities are left without support.”
And why was it cut? Because in 2026, America needs a birthday party—at the expense of DEI-focused arts programs like ours. Rather than funding grassroots organizations that serve working-class communities and artists of color, the NEA is redirecting resources to a nationwide celebration of the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence.
Because what better way to support the arts than to defund the very programs that make them diverse and accessible?
Balay Kreative Studios Was Always an Experiment—And It Worked
Balay Kreative was never meant to be a traditional artist residency. It was a pop-up studio concept, inspired by the 2019 community outreach we conducted to assess the need for artist workspaces and maker spaces. Over the years, we incubated artists, built creative collaborations, and tested what a permanent cultural hub for Filipino creatives could look like.
And it worked. Balay Kreative brought together a community of artists, entrepreneurs, and culture bearers—something the funding cuts can’t take away. Even as we pause, the ripple effect of Balay Kreative continues to grow.
Two of our resident artists have taken what they cultivated here and opened their own arts spaces in SOMA Pilipinas:
🖤 Resident Jenn Bann has launched Bituin Studios, a tattoo studio and art gallery that uplifts Filipino artistry and community storytelling.
💛 Balay Kreative co-creator and resident artist Gina Rosales is opening Brave New Spaces at 447 Minna, a creative hub designed to foster collaboration and artistic expression.
Even as Balay Kreative pauses, the seeds planted here are blooming across our cultural district.
We remain committed to securing a long-term home for Filipino creatives in San Francisco. We know the need is there. And when the time is right, we’ll be ready to build something bigger.
A Special Thanks to Nicole and Iggy
None of this would have been possible without the leadership and dedication of Nicole and Iggy, who have been the stewards of Balay Kreative for the past 3 years. Their passion for the arts, their commitment to our community, and their tireless work in supporting and uplifting Filipinx creatives have made a lasting impact.
As they transition out of their roles, we want to take a moment to thank them for everything they have done. Their stewardship of Balay Kreative has helped shape a program that has nurtured artists, sparked new collaborations, and strengthened our cultural district.
While this chapter of Balay Kreative is closing, the legacy of their work will continue to inspire the next phase of our creative journey.
What’s Next?
1️⃣ Balay Kreative’s studio space at 863 Mission Street will wind down operations at the end of February 2025 to make way for the construction of Republika, the original vision for this location, which is fully funded.
2️⃣ Our current Kreative Growth cohort will continue as planned. We remain committed to supporting our artists through the remainder of their program.
3️⃣ Kristian, a fellow Balay Kreative resident and Kultivate Labs Board member, will oversee the wind-down alongside Nicole and Iggy to ensure a smooth transition.
4️⃣ We will work with our funders to adjust the terms of our current grants, so we can continue our mission in a sustainable way.
5️⃣ We need your support. If you believe in the importance of spaces like Balay Kreative, now is the time to act. Advocate for arts funding, support independent artists, and stay engaged with Kultivate Labs as we plan our next steps.
This Is Not the End
We know this is hard news to hear. We feel it too. We are heartbroken, frustrated, and tired of seeing arts and culture funding slashed while our communities fight to keep our creative spaces alive.
But if Balay Kreative has taught us anything, it’s that Filipino creativity is resilient.
This is a pause. Not a farewell.
Thank you to every artist, supporter, and community member who has been part of Balay Kreative’s journey. You are the reason this space was so special, and your impact will live on far beyond this moment.
Stay connected. Stay creative. And let’s keep fighting for the arts.
With gratitude,
Desi Danganan
Executive Director, Kultivate Labs