Oakland Art Places Project

CCAD is in the process of developing a pilot program entitled ArtPlaces that creates an infrastructure to address space issues for artists in Oakland. We are focusing our efforts on a multi-layered approach of services and building projects to meet the growing demands for art places in Oakland. Currently, there will not be an "official" sub-committee of the commission but rather a casual forum to aid staff in developing the project. Commissioner Chris Johnson, leads meetings with the assistance of CCAD Staff Christin Hablewitz. Guests are invited because of their expertise in real estate development, art places issues, nonprofit development, community development/housing, etc.

ArtPlaces Goals

• Address issues of space for artists in Oakland
• Provide services/information (database, loan programs, incentives, technical assistance) for artists to help them identify and obtain (rent, lease, own) art places for themselves or their arts organizations.
• Encourage and facilitate the development of new buildings for art places for artists by encouraging relationships with developers, artists/arts organizations, and building owners/sellers.

Services

Inventory & Data Base Of Existing & New Spaces
The ArtPlaces program will maximize the utility and accessibility of existing art spaces in Oakland. We would also like to look at spaces that are unused and unimproved and make them usable. For this component we are collaborating with California Lawyers for the Arts to create ArtHouse-Oakland. ArtHouse-Oakland is developing an inventory of affordable live/work spaces, studio spaces, performance and exhibition spaces in Oakland. The database can be linked via the internet at each of our websites. ArtHouse also has an educational component of workshops and seminars that help non-profits strengthen their internal capacities of their organizations to find, secure and maintain arts spaces.

Information On Current Programs: Modification & Incentives
CCAD will work closer with other City departments and community organizations to understand and disseminate information of current programs and incentives that aid artists to obtain (rent, lease, own) art places. ArtPlaces will also look at what kinds of modifications or incentives can be done. Possibly, CCAD can create a working document outlining the various programs for artists.

Examples: Improve access to existing city programs, such as the Five-unit Rehab Program, First Time Home Buyers Program, and the Buyers Assistance Center; as well as, other Loans, Subsidies, Artist Protection Zone, Zone Changes: Live-Work & Work-Live (even recently there has been changes to improve flexibility for artists), Incentives, Tax waivers, StopGap Planning Measures, etc.

ArtPlaces Building Projects
Another goal of ArtPlaces is to help expedite the development of new art places in Oakland. The City of Oakland and the Craft and Cultural Arts Department can assist in the development and implementation of new multi-use/multi-tenant art spaces.

The first step towards developing these projects will be to work with the groups involved, identify all the players, as well as the vision, goals, scale and timeline for each project. Start-up funding should be identified to get the project underway. After this initial preparatory work, CCAD will contract a nonprofit development organization to manage implementation of the project.