Inaugural Oakland Art Month Debuts in May 2018

Features Packed Calendar of Arts Events & Performances, Including 1st Annual Oakland Mural Festival

(Oakland, CA) – Visit Oakland, the city’s official destination marketing organization, celebrates the Oakland creative and arts community with the debut of Oakland Art Month in May 2018. The entire month of May is dedicated to promote the artists and events that highlight the diversity of Oakland’s creative community.

Oakland has long been home to innovators, creatives, and artists that collectively form the soul of The Town. As a vibrant arts and music hub for Northern California, year-round entertainment can be found throughout the city. By highlighting May’s arts events, Visit Oakland hopes to introduce visitors and locals to new art forms and encourage them to revisit old favorites. By doing so, Visit Oakland hopes to establish Oakland as a top of mind arts destination in California and the country.

“Oakland thrives on its diversity and those who venture to here will be delighted in the variety of artistic disciplines on display during the month,” says Mark Everton, CEO of Visit Oakland. “We’re looking forward to shining a light on the genius of those individual artists whose creations wow us all.”

“Bandaloop has been in Oakland for thirty years incubating and creating globally recognized vertical dance,” says Thomas Cavanagh, Executive Director of Bandaloop. “I can think of no better city to call home with innovation, experience and the leading edge of arts being front and center street side and on public display.”

One of the most anticipated events of Oakland Art Month is the inaugural Oakland Mural Festival. From May 12-19, at least seven murals will be simultaneously painted in Jack London
Square so that visitors can witness live artwork being created. Visit Oakland, the primary sponsor of the event, is working in partnership with the organizers of the larger Bay Area Mural Festival. It is an extension of Visit Oakland’s efforts to promote public-facing outdoor murals throughout the city in order to aid beautification and community pride efforts.

Coinciding during Oakland Art Month is Blurry Vision, a two-day music festival during the weekend of May 12 & 13. Headliners SZA, Migos and Oakland’s own Kamaiyah will perform at
this hip-hop and R&B show at Middle Harbor Shoreline Park.

Full calendar and information is located at oaklandartmonth.com. Follow @visitoakland and #oaklandartmonth on social media for the latest updates.

 Visit Oakland would like to thank like to thank the following organizations and individuals for their time and support in the development of Oakland Art Month.
City of Oakland Cultural Affairs

Fuming Guerilla Productions

Luka's Taproom & Lounge
AXIS Dance

TURF Feinz

Oakland Art Murmur
Bandaloop

Howard Flax

Oakland First Fridays
Bay Area Mural Festival

Jack London BID

Oaktown Jazz Workshops
EBMUD Art Committee

Kenneth Rainin Foundation

The Crucible
CIM

Sistas-Wit-Style

Vogue
Downtown Oakland Association

###

ABOUT VISIT OAKLAND
Visit Oakland is a non-profit organization marketing Oakland, California as a travel destination. Visit
Oakland offers a wide variety of complimentary services and materials for travelers interested in visiting
Oakland. For more information, see our website at www.visitoakland.com.