I nform ati onal Report
fro m Oa kla n d Cu lt u ra l
Affa irs Divisio n (CAD)
Roberto Bedoya
Cultural Affairs Manager
Economic & Workforce Development
Diane Sanchez
Chair
Cultural Affairs Commission
Cu lt u ra l Affa irs Divisio n Ove rvie w
• The Mission: Increase investment in Oakland in a way that contributes to the growth of the City’s economy, fosters fiscal sustainability, expands job opportunities for all Oakland residents, and enhances the City’s sense of place and quality of life.
Cu lt u ra l Affa irs Divisio n Ove rvie w
• Programs & Activities: The Cultural Funding Program and the the Public Art Program. It provides professional
development opportunities for artists and arts
organizations, nurtures philanthropic partnerships, and supports special events.
Cu lt u ra l Affa irs Divisio n Ove rvie w
• Advisory Bodies: The Cultural Affairs Commission and the Public Art Advisory Committee are advisory bodies
appointed by the Mayor and City Council. The Funding
Advisory Committee is a volunteer committee of arts
community members.
Be lo n g in g in Oa kla n d : A Cu lt u ra l De ve lo p m e n t P la n • Tagline:
Equity is the Driving Force. Culture is the Frame.
Belonging is the Goal.
Be lo n g in g in Oa kla n d : A Cu lt u ra l De ve lo p m e n t P la n • Oakland’s first cultural plan adopted by City Council in 30 years (summer 2018).
• Telescopic & Microscopic Review included: community,
civic leaders, grantees, research into the economic &
social impact of the arts, and a survey of the public
Be lo n g in g in Oa kla n d : A Cu lt u ra l De ve lo p m e n t P la n • Implementation of the Cultural Plan:
1. Recognize Oakland’s cultural vibrancy exists in all
sectors, in all neighborhoods, and in all communities
Be lo n g in g in Oa kla n d : A Cu lt u ra l De ve lo p m e n t P la n • Implementation of the Cultural Plan:
2. Understand the health of cultural life is inextricably tied to the existence and quality of cultural spaces, neighborhood places, and the civic cultural commons
Be lo n g in g in Oa kla n d : A Cu lt u ra l De ve lo p m e n t P la n • Implementation of the Cultural Plan:
3. Promote the necessity to work across government and
collaborate with City colleagues to effectively
promote cultural equity program
Cultural Funding Program Overview
Ornamental Gates at Gardens at Lake Merritt
Artist: Shawn Lovell
Dedication/Kiazi & Massengo (drummers)
(photo: Spencer Wilkinson)
Dia de los Muertos
installation in Fruitvale
neighborhood (photo:
Vanessa Whang).
Naomi Diouf (dancer/Artistic Director
Diamano Coura West African Dance
Company)
Cultural Funding Program Overview
• Awards approximately $2 million to Oakland artists and nonprofit organizations.
• Four Grant Categories: Neighborhood Voices for Individual Artists, Neighborhood Voices for Organizations,
Organizational Assistance, and Neighborhood Voices for
Festivals.
Cultural Funding Program Overview
• Grants are awarded by City Council after a competitive and transparent application process that includes a public peer panel review and discussion session, and
recommendations vetted by the volunteer community
members called the Funding Advisory Committee
Cultural Funding Program Grants FY 2022 -23
FY2022-23 Funding
Category
No. of
Applications
Received
Total Awards % of Applications
Awarded
Average Award
Amount Amount Awarded
Organizational Assistance 31 23 74% $32,609.00 $750,000.00 Individual Artists 44 20 45% $10,000.00 $200,000.00
Festivals 45 26 58% $16,744.00 $435,350.00
Organization Programs 34 20 59% $20,000.00 $400,000.00
CITY-FUNDED TOTALS 154 89 59% $19,838.25 $1,785,350.00
Creative Economies of
Belonging (NEA) 19 17 89% $26,500.00 $450,500.00
GRANTMAKING TOTAL 173 106 65% $21,170.60 $2,235,850.00
• 1.5% for Art Ordinance for
Capital Improvement Projects
(CIP) funded through an 1.5%
allocation from all eligible City
of Oakland capital
improvement projects (CIP),
eligible grant revenue as well
as private contributions.
Public Art Program Overview
Makkewekes” at Lakeside Green
Streets (Snow Park)
Artist Team: Wowhaus
• 0.5 - 1% Art Ordinance for Private
Development Projects funded through
the 2014 OMC adopted requirement
for 0.5% of residential or 1% of
nonresidential private development
costs.
Public Art Program Overview
Ornamental Gates at Gardens at Lake Merritt
Artist: Shawn Lovell
“
21st & San Pablo – Junction
Artist: Randy Colosky
Public Art Program Overview
• Program staff oversee implementation of City projects, maintenance of the Civic Art collection, compliance with private requirements, act as facilitator and artist advocate for projects on public property (City/Caltrans/BART).
• Public Art Advisory Committee (PAAC) review projects
and advise the City Administrator, Mayor, and City Council.
Sp e c ia l P ro g ra m : Be lo n g in g in Oa kla n d : A J u st Cit y Cu lt u ra l Fu n d • Public -private funding collaborative between CAD, the East Bay Community Foundation, and the Akonadi Foundation
• In 2020: 12 grants of $25,000 to artists and arts organizations • In 2021: 8 two -year grants of $800,000 to projects with varied topics such as Black fathers, Indigenous visions of the land, Black joy and Black genius, and other marginalized voices.
Sp e c ia l P ro g ra m : Cu lt u ra l St ra t e g ist s-in -G overnment • Goal to co -create new ways of fulfilling equity aspirations where City workers collaborate with cultural strategists In its pilot iteration, the CSIG Program embedded 6 CSIGs into 5 City entities • With Oakland Fund for Public Innovation, CAD secured a $900,000 grant from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation to expand the program to place CSIGs in 11 different City entities.
Sp e c ia l P ro g ra m : Cu lt u ra l St ra t e g ist s-in -G overnment
1. African American Museum and
Library at Oakland
1. Dept. of Race and Equity
2. Dept. of Transportation
3. Dept. of Violence Prevention
4. Economic and Workforce
Development Dept. (Public Art)
5. Human Services Dept. (Head
Start)
6. Office of the City Administrator
(Communications)
8. Oakland Public Works
(Environmental Services Div.)
9. Office of the City Council
President
10. Office of the Mayor ( AssistHub )
11. Planning & Building
Speci al Program : Poet L aureate
• In 2021 the Cultural Affairs Commission supported the research, development, and launch an adult Oakland Poet Laureate Program • Competitive application review process by commission members and external literary arts community
• Oakland poet, Dr. Ayodele Nzinga was appointed by the Mayor to serve in this two -year role.
Cu lt u ra l Affa irs Divisio n St a ffin g
• The Division is at a 38.5% vacancy rate.
Position Budgeted Filled Vacant
Manager 1 1 0
Program Analyst III (Public Art) 1 1 0
Program Analyst III (Cultural Funding Program) 1 1 0
Program Analyst II (Admin/Cultural Affairs Commission) 1 1 0 Program Analyst II (Public Art) 1 0 1
Program Analyst II (Cultural Funding Program) 1 0 1
Program Analyst II PPT (Admin) 0.5 0 0.5
Total 6.5 4 2.5
Cu lt u ra l Affa irs Co m m issio n Ove rvie w
• 1980 Ordinance No. 9969 C.M.S adopted creating the
Oakland Arts Council (present day Cultural Affairs
Commission or CAC)
• 2011 CAC enters a decade long hiatus
• 2018 Cultural Plan is adopted by Council; Plan calls for re-establishment of the CAC
Cu lt u ra l Affa irs Co m m issio n Ove rvie w
• 2020 The CAC is re- established with new members and
shelter -in- place begins a week prior to their first meeting • 2020 to present CAC has regular meetings and engages
with elected officials, City departments and volunteer
boards, and the cultural community
Cu lt u ra l Affa irs Co m m issio n : Ac t ivit ie s Hig h lig h t s • City Relationships: Planning and Building (DOSP + General Plan staff), Public Works (Bureau of Environment), Parks & Recreation Advisory, Committee, Special Activity Permits Division
• Public Relationships: Center for Cultural Power, Artist As First Responder, Sogorea Te’ Land Trust, East Bay Arts and Culture Alliance, Alameda County Arts Commission, East Bay Venue Coaltion Cu lt u ra l Affa irs Co m m issio n : Ac t ivit ie s Hig h lig h t s • Community Engagement Activities: co -hosted virtual and in person including town halls, information sessions, and celebrations • Advocacy: advocate for resources for arts and culture in Oakland with City Council, Alameda County, State of CA, and private funders.
T he G oods and the G ood
• Economic impact of the non- profit cultural sector is $83 million (217 non- profits).
Employ 1,489 FTE, hire 2,500 contractors, serves over 800,000 audience members. • Oakland is home to 1,055 arts and cultural business. Produces $390 million in gross sales and hire 4,064 employees.
• The city is also home to over 35 community serving organizations that support cultural creativity and social justice work.
T he G oods and the G ood
• The Division supports the social networks that make Oakland a livable city through grantmaking, public art, and special projects that focus on Belonging
• Our city’s distinctness and identity is rooted in the value and belief in the public good that manifest in social networks animated by our grantees that affirm our ethically just and aesthetically diverse civic life.
T he G oods and the Good
• U.S. Surgeon General on the Healing Effects of Social Connection and Community in this post COVID -19 and racial reckoning moment:
“A Culture of Connection is vital to creating the changes needed, in society. The culture of connection rests on core values of kindness, respect, and commitment to one another”
T he G oods and the Good
The Cultural Affairs Division values and supports the economic and social impact of our sector and underscores these values through its work on operatizing belonging.
LEARN MORE
Learn about the City’s Cultural Funding Program, the Public Art Program, professional development programs for artists and arts organizations, and volunteer advisory bodies of the City.
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