A New Cultural Anchor
For 26 years, the Center for the Art of Translation has brought the world’s voices to readers like you. We’ve made the work of literary translators visible through our award-winning book publisher Two Lines Press, by bringing poetry translation into classrooms through our education program, and by hosting hundreds of events with international authors and translators—all without a permanent home of our own.
That’s about to change.
We’ve launched an ambitious $17 million campaign to open a literary and cultural center at the corner of Leidesdorff and Commercial in downtown San Francisco—steps from the Transamerica Pyramid, at the intersection of Chinatown, North Beach, and the Embarcadero.
Thanks to support from our core individual donors and philanthropic partners, we’ve raised $13.3 million toward our $17 million goal. Now we’re inviting you—our community—to help us raise the final $3.7 million to make this vision a reality.
What We’re Building
CAT is transforming a three-story, 7,400-square-foot building that’s been part of this San Francisco since 1908. Working with local architecture firm Jensen Architects, we’ve already begun a major renovation. When we open in 2027, the Center will be a home for:
- A state-of-the-art event space with livestreaming capabilities to connect local and global audiences.
- The West Coast’s only bookstore dedicated exclusively to translated literature—a welcoming destination where anyone can walk in and discover a perspective from somewhere else in the world.
- Opportunities for translators and writers to gather, learn, and build community.
- Educational programming that brings poetry in translation to students and educators, helping them explore international writing and develop an appreciation for diverse languages and cultures.
- Shared resources for the larger Bay Area literary and arts community—providing technical
resources and venue access to other arts and culture organizations struggling with displacement and rental costs.
Why It Matters
At a time of growing division, we need spaces where people can connect across cultures and languages. With your help, we’re building exactly that kind of place—where readers, translators, and writers can gather around stories from around the world.
A permanent home changes everything. It means we can serve our community the way we’ve always imagined: with year-round programming, a public bookstore and event space, and shared infrastructure that supports not just CAT, but also the larger literary ecosystem.
Our Record
In the past decade alone, the Center for the Art of Translation and its events, publishing, and education programs have:
- Spotlighted 100+ languages in our publishing program, online journal, and translation-focused events
- Reached 151,000 readers through public events across the Bay Area and US, and through Two Lines Press, distributed throughout the US and UK
- Served 20,000+ students & teachers through our education program, Poetry Inside Out, bringing poetry translation into grades 3-12
- Hosted 32,000+ attendees at 325+ events, including our annual Day of Translation partnership with the Center for Fiction
- Published 71 books in translation, including five National Book Award finalists and winners of the PEN Translation Prize and Helen & Kurt Wolff Translator’s Prize
What Your Donation Supports
We took our first major step in 2022, when a group of generous donors contributed the funds to purchase the building. Since then, we’ve raised $13.3 million of our $17 million goal, bringing us close to completing the construction and renovation. Your gift completes the final phase, which ensures we can open our doors debt-free and sustainable in 2027.
Here’s where every dollar goes:
$5.6M | Building Purchase
554-556 Commercial Street (funded)
$8.1M | Renovation & Technology
Seismic upgrades, ADA accessibility, elevator, A/V equipment, recording/livestream capabilities (in-progress)
$2.3M | Program Expansion
Events, workshops, education programs, shared resources, new staff (needs funding)
$1M | Operations & Maintenance
Upfront investment protecting future resources for artistic work (needs funding)
Help Finish What We Started
We’re 78% there. Your gift brings us closer to opening day. Every donation matters, and every supporter becomes part of building a home for literary translation in San Francisco—a place where people gather around ideas, not algorithms, to engage with our shared human curiosity and build connections across cultures.
After 26 years as a nonprofit, we’re creating a permanent home where languages meet, stories cross, and people recognize their connection to one another. We need you to make it all happen.
Will you join us?
For more information about the campaign or to get involved, contact Dan Lau, Advancement Director dan@catranslation.org(opens in a new tab).
In the News
Listen to an interview with our founder and board chair, Olivia Sears, where she talks about the new space in conversation with our Bay Area neighbor, Adam Levy, from Transit Books and translator Bruna Dantas Lobato on KQED’s Forum(opens in a new tab).
Read a feature about the space we’re building in Publishers Weekly(opens in a new tab).
For media inquiries, contact Alyson Sinclair, Communications Director, alyson@translation.org(opens in a new tab).
Read the press release here(opens in a new tab).
