Jonathan Bernbaum Memorial Award

Alternative Exposure grants fund the unincorporated, independent work of artists and collaboratives who invigorate and transform the San Francisco Bay Area arts community. The awarded public projects will take place in San Francisco, Alameda, Contra Costa, and Santa Clara counties.

This year we are honored to present the second Alternative Exposure Award in memory of Jonathan Bernbaum. Multi-media and video artist Jonathan Bernbaum tragically died in the 2016 Oakland Ghost Ship Fire at the age of 34. The Jonathan Bernbaum Memorial Award honors his work and his commitment to the Bay Area artistic community by supporting a project that focuses on performance or multi-media work. This year’s Jonathan Bernbaum Memorial Award recipient, Cone Shape Top, was chosen from amongst the pool of Alternative Exposure applicants.

The 2023 grantees were selected by artist Ramekon O’Arwisters; Sarah Russin, Executive Director of Los Angeles Contemporary Exhibitions (LACE); and Vivian Sming, artist, publisher, and former AltEx grantee.