At Pro Arts, our mission is to harness the boundless power of the arts as a catalyst for social change and community enrichment. We are committed to cultivating resilient social networks and nurturing vibrant community life through the transformative force of creativity. By providing a supportive environment where artists can thrive, ideas can flourish, and creativity knows no bounds, we strive to elevate the cultural landscape of our communities and extend its influence far beyond. Together, we aim to ignite inspiration, provoke thought, and foster connections that endure, leaving an indelible mark on society.






Our Programmatic Long-Term Goals:

  1. Actively facilitate and support the open circulation of art, culture, and knowledge.

  2. Break down the inside/outside dynamic within our cultural, artistic, and social spheres, fostering inclusivity and accessibility.

  3. Curate and present work that embraces marginal and diasporic narratives, enriching our understanding of the complexities and meanings inherent in artistic contributions from these diverse perspectives.

  4. Empower individuals through art by creating an open and free space for artists and the public to converge and connect as one community.

Exhibitions & New Work Commissions: Our curated exhibitions are at the forefront of showcasing cutting-edge contemporary art. By exploring new themes and experimental approaches, we aim to present diverse perspectives and amplify voices often underrepresented in the art world.

Public Programs: Alongside our exhibitions, we host a rich array of public programs, including artist talks, panel discussions, and workshops. These events serve as platforms for dialogue, learning, and collaboration, enriching the cultural experience for visitors of all backgrounds.

Community Engagement Projects: Pro Arts is dedicated to direct engagement with the local community through projects addressing pressing social issues, promoting inclusivity, and fostering dialogue. Collaborating with community organizations, we develop initiatives that resonate deeply with Oakland's diverse populations.

Workshops: Our workshop series offer hands-on opportunities for learning and creative expression. From artist-led skill-building sessions to community-driven projects, these workshops empower participants to explore their creativity and connect with others in a supportive environment.

Interdisciplinary Art Series: Introducing innovative interdisciplinary art series, we seek to blur the boundaries between different artistic disciplines and mediums. These series showcase diverse artists and highlight pioneering approaches to art-making.

Community Collaborations and Partnerships: Pro Arts actively pursue collaborations and partnerships with local organizations, artists, and cultural institutions. By co-creating content and productions that reflect the vibrancy and diversity of our community, we can leverage our collective resources and expertise to amplify our impact and reach new audiences.

Artist Residency Program: The COMMON Knowledge Platform Artist Residency puts artists and cultural organizers at the center of artistic and cultural knowledge production, and as the main instigators of civic and community empowerment.

PRO ARTS INITIATIVES:

  • The Teaching Institute for Art & Law trains artists and intellectual property producers to understand the social power of the IP they create and to pool their IP into a commons where it can be collectively monetized, and where profits are equitably redistributed to everyone in the commons.

  • The Pro Arts COMMUNION is a DAO and a new business model for artists who are otherwise almost entirely dependent upon grants and sales to sustain their art practice. The morals clause is a space inside of a contract between the artist and the rest of the world, where the artist can create new economic imaginaries with real-world economic effect. 

  • The Performing Pro Arts Incubator support social justice impact projects, led by marginalized and underrepresented artists and cultural workers.

  • The Pro Arts COMMONS Project is a global, peer-to-peer networked community, spearheading a movement towards a post-capitalist art economy. Working together, commoners and affinity groups aim to reframe the value of art and art labor in the context of a sharing economy. We disrupt the logic of capital through sustaining those commons-centric spaces, practices, and value production models that rewire the broken connections between artist, community, and everyday life.

Key Programmatic Successes (2017-2022):

2017:

  • Produced "The New Situationists," the first survey exhibition of the pro-situationist scene in San Francisco, spanning from the 1980s to the present.

  • Launched "Pro Arts @ the Commons," a groundbreaking program recognized by California State Senator Nancy Skinner, featuring temporary public art works and site-specific interventions at Oscar Grant Plaza in Oakland.

2018:

  • Partnered with FoundSF.org for the hybrid festival "Imagining Post-Capitalism," exploring innovative visions for the future.

2019:

  • Introduced Pro Arts Gallery & COMMONS, pioneering a new art economy model and global peer-to-peer knowledge platform.

  • Initiated the Common Knowledge Platform Residency, placing artists and cultural organizers at the forefront of knowledge production and community empowerment.

  • Established a slow tech MAKER SPACE, focusing on disruptive technologies, sustainability, and cooperative culture.

2020:

  • Launched Pro Arts COMMONS Printing Press, providing a platform for creative expression and dissemination.

  • Established the Performing Pro Arts COMMONS Incubator, supporting social justice and relational aesthetics projects.

  • Opened the Pro Arts Recording & Production Studio, facilitating artistic expression through audiovisual mediums.

  • Provided a 'safe' space during civil upheaval following George Floyd's killing, affirming commitment to community support and solidarity.

2021:

  • Introduced the Performing Pro Arts COMMONS Seed Fund, commissioning performances aimed at challenging intellectual property norms with a mission of abolition.

2022:

  • Launched the Teaching Institute for Art & Law, a pioneering project aimed at intersectional exploration of legal and artistic domains, spearheading innovative approaches to education and advocacy.

SUPPORT PRO ARTS

Gifts of any size make a big impact! Pro Arts is a 501 (c) (3) charitable organization. All donations to Pro Arts are tax deductible to the fullest extent of the law.

Our EIN # is 94-2259269.