Night of Ideas

Villa Albertine, San Francisco Public Library, KQED, SFMOMA and Circuit Network host the 2023 Night of Ideas, Villa Albertine's flagship annual nocturnal marathon of philosophical debates, performances, readings and more, coordinated worldwide by the Institut Francais.

This year, Night of Ideas returns across an unprecedented 22 US cities and more than 100 countries worldwide. The nighttime gatherings enable the public to engage with leading thinkers, scientists, novelists, activists and artists around the theme More? In a world driven by the logic of growth, what does it mean to have "more"? What do we need "more" of: more material abundance, connection, creativity? More justice? More joy? Can we share "more"-and can we sustain it? Will "more" ever be enough?

In San Francisco, Night of Ideas kicks off March 4, 2023 at San Francisco's Main Library, with headliners: Juanita More!; SF Poet Laureate Tongo Eisen-Martin; Oakland Poet Laureate Ayodele Nzinga; Assessor-Recorder Joaquin Torres; rising star French environmental philosopher Baptiste Morizot; celebrated Animal Orchestra composer Bernie Krause; Mary Ziegler, one of the nation's leading experts on reproductive health history, politics and law; Gilda Gonzales, CEO of Planned Parenthood, Northern CA; award-winning children's book authors Mac Barnett and Shawn Harris; A.I. expert Gregory Renard; inventive electronic musician and composer Pamela Z; legendary surf band The Mermen and many more.

Free to the public, the Night of ideas takes place from 7 p.m. to 1 a.m. with programming on all seven floors of the Main Library. Friends of the San Francisco Public Library and Value Culture host a lounge and DJ dance party. The evening will also feature pop-up performances and a small marketplace featuring San Francisco businesses. For more information and to reserve a ticket visit nightofideas.org/san-francisco.

Free