""As simply as I can put it, the arts will not get by without this position," artist and activist Cat Brooks told KQED in July during a protest on the city hall steps. "Anyone who is in the Town, lives in the Town or loves the Town knows that arts and culture is our heartbeat. So if you're interested in the heartbeat of Oakland, this position matters to you.""
""The most positive narrative that we have for Oakland right now is our culture," said Cultural Commission Chair Vanessa Whang at a July 1 city council meeting. "That's why we get mentioned in The New York Times.""
Oakland City Council voted Dec. 2 to reinstate the cultural affairs manager position following campaigns by local artists. The cultural affairs manager oversees public arts funding, raises private grants for cultural programs, and administers public-private partnerships. The position had been eliminated in the 2025 budget after Roberto Bedoya retired in 2024. Artists and leaders from the Oakland Symphony, Oakland Ballet Company and Living Jazz argued the manager serves as a crucial liaison between artists, the city and funders. The manager also oversees the volunteer Cultural Affairs Commission. Oakland allocates about 1% of its budget to the arts.
Read at Kqed
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