“Sustainability” is one of the more versatile words you’ll hear these days.  In several conversations there could be several different trustees of any sustainability movement.  You might hear an environmentalists referring to eco-friendly practices to save the planet; philanthropists and foundations talking about the future funding strategies of a cultural or charitable activity, or; what [...]

The (Oakland) in the title of this submission can probably be swapped out for many cities across the country, but the concept of cultural sustainability has been an increasingly pressing issue for me of late. I look at my role in the arts community, my existence as an African American and what distinction should be [...]

Oakland Mayoral Inauguration
ArtistSpeak! Event, Mayor Quan’s vision for the arts
Analyze Oakland cultural plans from the past 20
new initiatives in Oakland- Gateway Park and the Oakland Media Center

This is a re-post of my contribution from the piece Brenda Payton Jones did for The OakBook, which she is now Editor. As I held all along, whoever was to be the next Mayor, needed to truly understand the value and dynamics of the arts in Oakland and make a commitment to incorporating the arts [...]

Now that ArtistSpeak! is over, it’s time now to reflect, regroup and remember what the goal of the forum was and focus on the future of the arts in Oakland.  Regardless of who is victorious on November 2nd, what’s certain is that the arts community must come together in a coordinated and sustained manner.  Well [...]

Thanks to everyone who attended the ArtistSpeak! event last Thursday.  Approximately 125 people heard from our panel and contributed their thoughts to the conversation.  Moderated by long-time journalist Brenda Payton Jones and hosted by the Oakland Museum of California, panelists included Drew Lisac, President of Altamira Enterprises and Uber Arts Advocate; Margo Dunlap, Executive Director [...]