Spectrum Gala & Art Auction 2024

On Thursday, March 14th, Access Institute hosted its Annual Spectrum Gala & Art Auction, transforming Pier 27 in San Francisco into a vibrant hub of philanthropy and creativity. The event raised over $400,000 to support Access Institute’s mission of providing free and low-fee mental health care to those in San Francisco with the greatest needs.

Guests explored a captivating silent art auction featuring works by over 50 emerging and established artists, carefully curated by Art Curator Stephanie Tuttle. This year’s theme, “Celebrating Our Collective Strength,” resonated throughout the evening. From honoring the inspiring Samuel Tucker, MD, to heartfelt stories highlighting Access Institute’s life-changing impact, every moment underscored the vital importance of accessible mental health care. International best-selling author Mark Lukach, serving as Spectrum’s Emcee, brought warmth and enthusiasm to the event.

​The live and silent auctions showcased exclusive, art-related experiences and items that sparked excitement among attendees. Paired with fine wines and gourmet delights, the evening fostered connections and conversations all in support of Access Institute’s mission of making mental health care available to all San Franciscans who need it most.

Mental Healthcare in the Age of AI

On June 7, 2023, at Lyon & Swan in San Francisco, Access Institute hosted an engaging discussion on the advances in Artificial Intelligence that are poised to reshape mental healthcare. The invited panel of experts included, Sahir Ali, Ph.D. (Biomedical Scientist, Precision Medicine & A.l.), Michael Tan (Author, “The Death of Uncertainty: a Story of AI and Free Will”), Amber Trotter, Psy.D. (Clinical Psychologist, Psychotherapist, Writer at Damage Magazine). Bart Magee, Ph.D. facilitated a conversation regarding the technology’s potential benefits, risks, and ethical challenges and discussed how to manage this revolutionary technology’s impact on society and our collective mental health.

Spectrum Gala & Art Auction 2023

Over 300 community members, civic leaders, artists, mental health professionals, and our honorees, Sheryl Lee Ralph and Senator Vincent Hughes, came together at Pier 27 on the beautiful San Francisco waterfront on March 16, 2023. The transformative evening featured art, live and silent auctions, fine wine and gourmet food. This year's event met its fundraising goal of $575,000 to support the psychological health and well-being of our community.

Author Event: Mark & Giulia Lukash

On November 10, 2022, Access Institute board member Stephanie Young, Ph.D. hosted and evening at her home featuring an intimate conversation with Mark and Giulia Lukach and Access Institute Founder, Bart Magee, Ph.D. Mark and Giulia bravely discussed how they navigated Giulia's bipolar diagnosis, hospitalizations and road to recovery. Mark's book, "My Lovely Wife in the Psych Ward" illuminates the realities of caring for someone with a mental illness, finding support and creating a family environment that fosters healing.

In Conversation: Monica Ghandi, M.D.

Access Institute hosted an intimate evening of conversation and connection at Prospect Restaurant on October 6, 2022. The goal of the evening's conversation was to help foster connection and renewal in a city and community still recovering from the social and emotional impacts of the pandemic. Bart Magee, Ph.D. and Monica Ghandi, M.D. (UCSF Professor of Medicine and Associate Chief, Division of HIV, Infectious Diseases and Global Medicine) explored those impacts, offered pathways toward healing, and engaged the audience in a lively discussion.

The State of Altered States

Access Institute hosted a panel discussion and community-building event on September 16, 2022, with experts in the field; Jason Butler, Ph.D., Genesee Herzberg, Psy.D., Karen Peoples, Ph.D., and Evan Sola, Psy.D., exploring the current research, emerging clinical practice, and future trends in psychedelic medicine.

Catalyst: Launch Event

Saint Joseph's Arts Foundation & Access Institute jointly sponsor, Catalyst, a series of interactive community events where the arts and psychology come together to spark inspiration and connection. Bart Magee, Ph.D., facilitates conversations and experiences with leading artists, exploring the intersections between the arts, mental health, human development, and culture.

Our premiere event was Wednesday, April 13th, 2022. Artists Andy Diaz Hope, Victoria Wagner and Phillip Hua joined Access Institute's Co-founder and Executive Director, Bart Magee, Ph.D. for a much needed, vibrant exchange. Our audience participated in a playful, collaborative process. 

Spectrum Gala & Art Auction 2022

On March 10th, Access Institute's annual Spectrum Gala & Art Auction returned to an in-person event with the theme "Resilience Reimagined".

We hosted over 200 community members, civic leaders, artists, mental health professionals, and honored guests for a spectacular evening at Pier 27 in San Francisco. 

Our Spectrum 2022 honoree was Karan Singh, Chief Clinical Operations Officer of Ginger and Headspace Health. Karan shares our vision to make mental healthcare accessible to all.

We are especially grateful for this year's incredible signature art auction.  The amazing collection of over 40 pieces was donated by our community of talented and generous artists. 

Donum Estate Benefit Event

On August 1st, we enjoyed a lovely benefit event in support of our critical mission. A massive thanks to our Board Members who made this possible and to Donum Estate Winery for hosting us. 
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The event featured Food + Wine Pairing curated by local chefs plus an exclusive tour of the art exhibits and winery not open to the general public. This incredible location was featured recently in a video for Christie’s  and also Artful Living Magazine.  It was a fabulous afternoon!