As one of the Bay Area’s most racially and economically diverse cities — with a vibrant arts and culture scene reflective of that diversity — Oakland plays a unique role in the region. Longtime institutions like the Fox Theater, Oakland Museum of California and Axis Dance Company have been joined by the likes of Hoodslam, Art Murmur, the Indigenous Red Market and the Crucible to create an unparalleled, and broadly accessible, arts and cultural scene. However, the same havoc that the pandemic wreaked on Oakland’s economy has also fractured its social and cultural core. Can fast-tracking the resurgence of this critical piece of Oakland have an outsize impact on the city’s economic recovery? And how will arts and culture need to pivot to respond to social behavior change as the pandemic lifts? Hear from three Oakland leaders as they discuss these questions and more.
+ Joshua Simon / Community Arts Stabilization Trust
+ Roberto Bedoya / City of Oakland
+ Andrew Jones / Uptown Downtown Oakland Benefit Districts
+ Elena Serrano / EastSide Arts Alliance