The 25th Street Collective

Hi 25C-ers! The Downtown Plan is resuming (it started 4 years ago, while more and more get displaced) and now has a very speedy time frame for completion. The Art+Garage District group has kept working on this and now (with "community input") look what the City presented as the "Preferred Option" for the Art+Garage District: "Allow housing, provide height bonus, implement art overlay." What do you think??

Come check out this interesting spot: shared metal and wood shop, co-working studios, (yes, storage) and...that's right...you guessed it: sewing lab !!

Keep checking in ! We are continuing to work on the Uptown area and other areas in Oakland to create "Cultural Preservation" districts with policies, not just banners, to prevent more displacement and retain Oakland's authentic art and culture...

Roberto Bedoya, Cultural Affairs Manager for the City of Oakland, is hosting informal conversations about the city's new cultural planning activities. Share what you hope for and value about the cultural life of Oakland. Pick a time and date when you register! Spread the word! August 24 4pm-6pm @ Peralta Hacienda Center for History and Community, at 2488 Coolidge Avenue, Oakland CA 94601 August 26 10am-12pm @ Farley's East 33 Grand Ave, Oakland, CA 94612... September 9 4pm-6pm @ RBA Creative 3718 MacArthur Blvd, Oakland, CA 94619 September 14 6pm-8pm @ E. M. Wolfman General Interest Small Bookstore 410 13th St, Oakland, CA 94612 See more

If you haven't been....

Wednesday MAY 3rd is OAKLAND MAKERS + ARTISTS DAY during Small Business Week! FREE engaging workshops include: UPTIMA BUSINESS BOOTCAMP on "How to Approach, Cultivate, and Convert Customers"; City of Oakland will present "Art Grants Info"; there's a great MARKETING Luncheon; then CREATIVE SOLUTIONS to REAL ESTATE (Meet artists and fabricators from 23rd Ave who are buying a space together and others who are currently sharing with 40 fabricators) Full listings and registration is BELOW: http://oaklandmakers.org/oakland-makers-artists-day/

And today...our sorrow deepens. With a melting, broken heart we need to honor a former vibrant member of our Collective, Sara Hoda of "Art is in Coffee". She, with her unfailing kindness and compassion for children and commitment to engaging community in the making of art...perished in the fire. Sara, we will continue this never-ending fight to preserve our authentic Oakland culture and create safe, affordable spaces to make art and change lives.

Through the heartache of the tragedy, our community will be mourning the senseless and preventable loss of creative, youthful spirits at the Ghost Ship for a long time.There are several ways to support the devastated families financially on line. A candlelight vigil is planned for Monday 8PM at The Lake's Pergola and Fountain.

Happy First Friday 25C friends! If you go today, you'll find that the 25C no longer exists...a 40% rent increase was a bit too insurmountable. But it's not farewell...we've been working on getting the Uptown Arts District officially designated by the City of Oakland. Sign the petition here and please share with Oaklanders and supporters to create Cultural Arts Districts EVERYWHERE as a way to prevent further displacement and preserve diverse, artist and maker communities in all Oakland neighborhoods.

July 1-7, 2016 is INDIE WEEK !! The American Independent Business Alliance, along with Oakland Grown, Oakland Makers and other local partners are working together to honor the independent spirit and freedom held by 28 million small business entrepreneurs throughout the USA and encourage all of us to SUPPORT LOCAL ART and BUSINESS ... see you tonight at First Friday !! http://www.amiba.net/resources/localhero/

And, we'll have the lovely Jeannine Komush from Tangleweeds! http://tangleweeds-jewelry.com/

Join us for our VERY LAST First Friday !! July 1st 6-9:30PM Honoring key artisan Nancy Nadel with The Oakland Chocolate Company https://www.facebook.com/Oakchoc/

Friends, time to grow the movement: Oakland needs real policies that will protect art and artists in Oakland. Come to the Parkway at 5 today!