In the wake of the Ghost Ship fire it became evident that many of Oakland’s arts spaces, while serving as safe havens for the community, require upgrades in order to conform to modern building and fire codes. There are many sociopolitical issues at play that have forced our already struggling arts community to inhabit these spaces. Rather than responding to this tragedy by shutting such spaces down and evicting tenants, we should work together to support our arts community.
In this spirit, Intersection for the Arts and SPUR are joining forces to present a series of events focused on the issues surrounding safe arts spaces in Oakland. In the first session of this three-part series, we’ll look the needs of current spaces that are at risk of being displaced. Come hear about the city regulations that pertain to event spaces, learn about safety measures and get resources to assist in upgrading spaces. The evening will be both informative and supportive. Building owners and tenants are strongly encouraged to join as this will be an opportunity to connect with and share knowledge and resources with other arts spaces. In these increasingly difficult times we have to work together to ensure the survival of our vital arts community. Co-presented by Intersection for the Arts.
+ Thomas Dolan / Thomas Dolan Architecture
+ David Keenan / Omni Commons
+ Sarah Lockhart / artist
+ Jonah Strauss / Oakland Warehouse Coalition
+ The DIY Communities Safety Fund
+ We Are The Artists of the Bay Area (WABA)