San Francisco’s signs and storefronts represent the intersection of architecture, aesthetics, and advertising. From the radioactive-green cocktail glass outside a Market Street piano bar to the crimson glow of a Excelsior District drug store, the city has an abundance of hand-crafted neon signs and classic storefronts. Join us for an online tour via photos, footage, and ephemera of San Francisco’s historic and brilliant storefronts. Hosted by Martin Treu, author of Streets, Signs and Storefronts, along with Al Barna and Randall Ann Homan of SF Neon. In partnership with SF History Days.

Free | Suggested donation $10 | Registration required, click green button above.

If you plan to attend more than one event in the Neon Speaks 2020 schedule, consider registering for the All-Event Virtual Passport (sliding scale $10-$50 suggested). You'll get a daily schedule for each day of events with a Zoom link to join. If you want to watch an event at a later date, passport holders get special access to all recorded events for 3 months.

Banner: Saint Francis Fountain,2801 24th Street, SF. Photo by Randall Ann Homan. Above: Bi-Rite Market, 3639 18th Street, SF. Below: Grooves Inspired Vinyl, 1797 Market Street, and Central Drug Store, Mission Street, SF. Photos by Al Barna.

Neon Speaks Festival & Symposium brings together neon advocates, artists, and preservationists to celebrate and share information. Our mission is to educate and advocate for the artistic legacy of neon: a brilliant archive of design, craft, and community history.

Neon Speaks is produced by Al Barna and Randall Ann Homan of San Francisco Neon in proud partnership with the Tenderloin Museum and the Museum of Neon Art. Neon Speaks is funded by loyal sponsors and by grants from SF Heritage and the National Trust of Historic Preservation. Thank you.

Find out how to donate as a sponsor for 2020 if you are interested in supporting Neon Speaks via the Tenderloin Museum/501(c)(3). Your support helps make Neon Speaks possible and helps us offer free registration to individual events.

FAQs

How do I get the Zoom link to join this event?

Zoom link to join will be sent via an email from Eventbrite on the morning of the event to those who registered. Be sure to join the Zoom webinar 10 minutes early. If you have trouble joining, try restarting your Zoom app.

Is it OK to share the Zoom link with a friend?

Instead of sharing the Zoom link, please ask friends to register so that we have an accurate count of attendees.

Can I watch recordings of the Neon Speaks events?

Yes, if you register for the All-Event Virtual Passport (sliding scale $10-$50 suggested) You'll get a daily schedule for each day of events with a Zoom link to join. If you want to watch an event at a later date, passport holders get special access to all recorded events for 3 months.

When will you announce individual events, tours, and symposium schedule?

Visit neonspeaks.org to see the full schedule, list of speakers, and more details.

Can I purchase neon books, pins, and t-shirts like last year?

Yes. In September and October there will be a virtual Neon Speaks Book Fair hosted by SF Neon and the Museum of Neon Art with a curated list of books and other neon-related items .

Terms & Conditions

All-event virtual passes allow one attendee to all events for Neon Speaks 2020. Each Individual ticket allows one attendee to that individual event.

Registration and tickets are being handled through Eventbrite.com. Confirmation of your purchase will be sent upon completion of registration via email. The day of the event, Eventbrite will send you a reminder email with a link to join the event online. If you do not see confirmation in your inbox, please check your spam folder. If you have any questions please contact us at neonspeaks@gmail.com for assistance.

Most events will be photographed and possibly live streamed and recorded. By registering or accepting a ticket to this conference you are granting your explicit permission to be photographed, videotaped, and published.

In the unlikely case of cancellation of Neon Speaks due to unforeseen circumstance, Neon Speaks and San Francisco Neon will not be responsible for expenses incurred by pass/ticket holders.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, there may be last minute changes to schedule and participants.

Still have questions? Contact the organizers at neonspeaks@gmail.com.