Artists are Superheroes!

During the pandemic, we have frequently been asked, “Are your grantees even offering classes right now?” The answer: YES, because creativity is a superpower! The arts organizations and teaching artists that AOK funds have worked tirelessly since the first moments of the shutdown; they’ve diligently retooled their programs for distance learning and are accomplishing incredible things. Here is our latest newsletter dedicated to highlighting the important work of AOK’s 2020-2021 Grantees.

Arts education is not “extra.”

Arts education is education!

Numerous national studies show that consistent participation in the arts has such a powerful impact on social, emotional, and intellectual development that it can significantly narrow or eliminate the achievement gap. Yet 80% of Oakland’s students—98% of whom are students of color—are denied the advantage of an arts education based on their access to generational wealth. Wealth disparities in communities of color are directly tied to institutionalized oppression. Denying students of color the profound advantage of an arts education based on their generational wealth is structural racism.

Access to arts education is a social justice issue, and Arts for Oakland Kids is an Arts Justice Fund.

For 24 years, Arts for Oakland Kids has been working to remedy this injustice by providing grants to arts organizations and independent artists to provide hands-on arts education in Oakland’s financially-oppressed schools, but we can’t do it without you.

Your contributions to Arts for Oakland Kids (AOK) will ensure that Oakland’s students of color receive the exemplary arts education they deserve.

Announcing Our 2020-2021 Project Mini-Grant Recipients!

Congratulations to this year’s Arts for Oakland Kids Project Mini-Grant recipients! We extend our heartfelt gratitude and admiration to the tireless, brilliant artists and organizations that reach Oakland’s kids every day with life changing arts education. Thank you for all that you do in this world!