Gap Inc. will open its 2 Folsom headquarters as an artist residency and live music venue, expand a makers business program with Nest to serve 30 Bay Area entrepreneurs, and fund a large-scale public art installation on Pier 24 in partnership with ICA SF.
Gap Inc. will launch The House at 2 Folsom: an artist residency, quarterly live-music performances, rotating installations, commissions, and maker workshops.
The company is expanding its partnership with Nest to bring the Makers Future Fund to 30 Bay Area craft-based business owners, providing six months of training, coaching, peer support and a $2,500 grant per participant.
Programs begin with The House window installations and the Makers Market scheduled for December 4–5, 2026, signaling immediate activation of these investments.
Gap Inc. announced a set of concrete investments in San Francisco's creative economy focused on three areas: an on-site artist residency and live music program at its headquarters, expanded business support for local makers through Nest, and a public art partnership to place a large-scale installation on Pier 24's exterior. The company frames these moves as building on nearly 60 years in the city and aims to create opportunities for artists and cultural institutions while activating public spaces.
The House: an artist residency and live music series at 2 Folsom
Makers Future Fund expansion with Nest
Gap Inc. is expanding its existing partnership with Nest to deliver the Makers Future Fund (MFF) to 30 Bay Area craft-based business owners. MFF is a six-month program that pairs customized capital access with skill-building: participants receive weekly classes, individualized coaching, peer support, and a $2,500 grant to address barriers to growth and build resilience. The expanded cohort will participate in virtual and in-person events, including the Gap Inc. x Nest Holiday Makers Market on December 4–5, 2026.
Public art on the waterfront with ICA SF
Gap Inc. is partnering with the Institute of Contemporary Art San Francisco (ICA SF) and the Port of San Francisco to transform the exterior of Pier 24 into a temporary, large-scale contemporary art installation by a renowned Bay Area artist. The installation will be visible to residents and visitors along the waterfront. ICA SF will also advise Gap Inc. on further programming and artist opportunities connected to The House and other initiatives.
Gap Inc. leaders framed the efforts as investments in the people and institutions shaping San Francisco's next chapter. Internal leaders highlighted creativity as central to the company's roots in the city and as a driver of economic vitality and community-building. Nest emphasized that the Makers Future Fund aims to strengthen financial resilience and practical business skills for makers.
Programs begin with window installations at The House and the Makers Market in early December 2026. The Makers Future Fund cohort will run for six months and includes a mix of remote and in-person programming. The Pier 24 installation is described as temporary and intended to reach thousands of waterfront viewers.
Watch for announcements about residency application details, selected artists for The House and Pier 24, the specific artist chosen for the Pier 24 installation, and the list of makers participating in the expanded Makers Future Fund. The December holiday market will give a first public view of how the expanded maker support connects to retail and events.
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