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.
Learn About 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!
Your contributions help AOK fund arts education programs in every art form.
News & Events
The Event is this Saturday! Get Your Tickets Today!
Top 5 Reasons to Buy a Ticket to Our Art-a-Thon! Arts for Oakland Kids is holding a fun, online, telethon-style event—the Made In Oakland Art-a-Thon—on February 6 at 7pm. Here are 5 [...]
When we work together, we can accomplish anything!
As a community, for our community, let's grant $100,000 Check out our grantees!
SAVE THE DATE for AOK’s Made in Oakland Art-a-Thon
Join us online on February 6, 2021 from 7pm for a one-night-only evening showcasing original works created by 5 stellar Oakland Students, performed by 7 fabulous Oakland Stars! [...]