City of Oakland California

Cultural Plan Development

The City of Oakland is developing a Cultural Plan that will be a guided document that defines cultural priorities. Community engagement is planned throughout the process. Click here to learn more. 
 

Special Event Permitting Process Survey 

The City of Oakland has convened a Special Event Permitting Task Force to make it easier to comply with special event permit requirements – to make it easier to hold events of all kinds in the City. 
 
Now the Task Force wants your input to ensure it is on track towards creating an easier and more streamlined process. Thank you in advance for taking the time to complete this survey. 
 

CAST/NCCLF Real Estate Readiness Workshops for Arts Groups

OTHER NEWS:

Roberto Bedoya named Cultural Affairs Manager

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Cultural Funding Grants

The City of Oakland Cultural Funding Program provides a competitive grant- funding process for Oakland-based art and cultural activities that reflect the diversity of the city.
 

Public Art

Public Art provides an opportunity to enliven, enrich and enhance our visual environment and public spaces. The best public art creates a focal point for activity, a meeting place and a landmark -- and lets residents and visitors enjoy the tremendous creative talent found in our city. Funding through the Public Art Ordinance, Capitol Improvement Projects and Measure DD allows for amazing new temporary and permanent installations throughout the city. Learn more about Public Art in Oakland. 

For more information on the latest Calls for Artists and other artist opportunities, visit our Public Art Calls for Artists page. 

Arts Advisory Committees

The City's arts programs are managed by Cultural Arts & Marketing staff with oversight from the Public Art Advisory Committee and Funding Advisory Committee. 

Mayor's Artist Task Force on Affordable Housing and Workspaces

Last year, Mayor Schaaf convened a task force to identify strategies for stemming the displacement of artists from Oakland.

1. A summary of the Task Force’s recommendations are included in the Task Force memorandum.
2. A more complete compilation of the Task Force’s work is in the final White Paper.

Resources for Arts Organizations and Artists Facing Displacement

New Grant and Technical Assistance Program: Keeping-Space Oakland - Applications due February 10, 2017
Keeping Space – Oakland is CAST’s new pilot program dedicated to preserving real estate for Oakland’s arts and culture organizations that are facing displacement. Through direct financial grants, one-on-one technical assistance and strategic real estate cohort training, CAST’s goal is to provide safe, stable and permanent real estate solutions for Oakland’s local arts organizations. Applications are due February 10 at 11:59 p.m.

Apply today at http://cast-sf.org/keeping-space-oakland/

Rainin Foundation's Arts Real Estate Strategy - A Model
The Kenneth Rainin Foundation recently launched the Rainin Arts Real Estate Strategy website to share a solution for arts and cultural organizations facing displacement in cities and communities across the country. The collaborative strategy provides a roadmap for arts organizations, cities, funders and others to address the real estate needs of arts and cultural nonprofits. The strategy is based on the Rainin Foundation's success of two projects in San Francisco and on more recent initiatives in Oakland.

To download the report, visit the website at http://krfoundation.org/artsrealestate/

Comprehensive Counseling and Emergency Financial Assistance - The Actors Fund
The Actors Fund is a national human services organization that helps everyone— performers and those behind the scenes — who works in performing arts and entertainment.  Serving professionals in film, theatre, television, music, opera, radio and dance, The Fund’s programs include social services and emergency financial assistance, health care and insurance counseling, housing, and employment and training services. With offices in New York, Los Angeles and Chicago, The Actors Fund has been—for 132 years—a safety net for those in need, crisis or transition.

Visit www.actorsfund.org. If you’d like to speak with a counselor for assistance and more information, call (323) 933-9244 ext 455.