The nightmarish fire that killed 36 people in an Oakland arts space over the weekend has many locals fearful of a crackdown on similar venues. Young artists had already been feeling the effects of rapid gentrification caused by the Bay Area tech boom, while officials are juggling the conflicting desires to a) cultivate the arts and b) protect the artists from physical danger. Many Oakland spaces like the Ghost Ship, as the building destroyed in the fire was known, are likewise not regularly inspected for hazards by the city’s chronically underfunded safety departments.
Oakland mayor Libby Schaaf has now announced a plan to create safe and affordable art spaces for the local community — to the tune of $1.7 million. Apparently the blueprints for these investments had been drawn up some time ago, though the recent tragedy has made them more important than ever. “These investments come at a critical time, as artists and arts organizations are at risk of displacement due to Oakland’s escalating housing and commercial space costs,” the city of Oakland said in a press release. The announcements “represent recommendations of a multi-disciplinary taskforce that Mayor Schaaf convened in 2015 to help stem the displacement of artists and arts organizations from Oakland.”
As part of the investment, nonprofit real estate organization Community Arts Stabilization Trust (CAST) will launch a new program to help arts organizations facing displacement. It will then acquire real estate in Oakland to turn into affordable, safe spaces for artists and cultural organizations, while saving the buildings already at risk. Additional staffers will be brought on to support these new spaces in the city.
Meanwhile, the families of the Ghost Ship victims still need our help during this heartbreaking time. You can find a list of fund drives and Bay Area benefit concerts here.
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Text Hannah Ongley
Image via Instagram