BEO’s origin began with the San Francisco Basque Club (SFBC) and the Basque Cultural Center (SFBCC).
SFBC, formed in 1960, included activities such as dance, klika, and pilota, and was centered around Broadway and Larkin in San Francisco, close to the Basque restaurants and hotels in North Beach. However, in 1979 these locations were torn down.
In an effort to rebuild a new gathering place for the Basque community, a small group of members formed a new corporation, the SFBCC. The SFBCC, also called Euskal Etxea (Basque house), opened its doors in 1982, and has since diversified its offerings into a successful restaurant and event venue.
The SFBC, whose membership list also includes members of the SFBCC, continues to sponsor cultural activities such as dance, klika, and pelota and is often hosted at the BCC.
As clubs and their members were settling into their roles, a third club, the BEO, was formed as an educational arm, filling the gap between traditional arts (dance, klika and pelota) and an event venue. Its purpose: preserve Basque history and cultivate awareness of the Basques through its rich traditions in the arts.
Here we host a biennial Basque Cultural Day, where distinguished speakers lecture on varying Basque themes and topics; organize the “Basque Film Series” and is the “go-to” for Basque movies and all Basque clubs; and maintain the Martin Minaberry Library, whose catalog contains over 1,000 items on many subjects regarding The Basque Country and the Basque people.
Today the BEO is a proud partner of the SFBCC.