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The Jon Sims Center for the Performing Arts was a multidisciplinary performing arts center in San Francisco, California that supported artistic voices of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) communities. The Center provided resources to support and promote new and existing arts programs.

The Center opened in 1978 following the formation of the Gay Freedom Day Marching Band and Twirling Corps (now the San Francisco Lesbian/Gay Freedom Band. Founder Jon R. Sims, who died of AIDS in 1984, also began the San Francisco Gay Men's Chorus. The Sims Center is widely considered to be the first publicly identified gay cultural art institution in the world.^{[citation needed]}

The Center closed in November 2006 following a financial crisis that included the disappearance of $35,000 in grant money. Longer term problems included the lack of a stable, long-term board and executive director, despite determined efforts to keep the institution alive.

The Sims Center was located at 1519 Mission Street, San Francisco, CA 94103. The building has since been leased to the Academy of Art University.

References

Beeler, P. Heidi. "About Us: History". Jon Sims Center for the Performing Arts. http://www.jonsimsctr.org/History.html. 

Davis, Ken (2007-12-15). "Jon Sims Center money missing". Bay Area Reporter. http://www.ebar.com/news/article.php?sec=news&article=1237.