In 2022, Pro Arts faced a significant transition as it lost its home of 13 years at Oscar Grant Plaza in downtown Oakland. Despite this challenge, the organization remained resilient, adapting to its new circumstances with determination and innovation.
Rather than being defined by the loss of a central location, Pro Arts embraced a decentralized approach to its operations. Transitioning into an umbrella organization, Pro Arts continued to hold space within the greater community of Oakland, fostering collaboration and support for a diverse array of organizations, projects, and collectives.
This decentralized model allowed Pro Arts to maintain its presence and impact in the community from 2022 until 2024, even without a central location in Oakland and a dedicated exhibition space. By operating in this manner, Pro Arts reaffirmed its commitment to serving as a catalyst for artistic expression, cultural exchange, and social change within Oakland and beyond.
In 2023, Pro Arts collaborated with EastSide Arts Alliance on a visionary project titled InterGalactic Blvd - An Oakland Portal, which ran from October 14, 2023 - November 25, 2023 at EastSide Arts Alliance. Led by acclaimed artist Rigo 23, this project re-imagined the International Boulevard in Oakland as an Intergalactic Boulevard - a portal for intercommunal connection. Through a dynamic blend of visual art, poetry, and grassroots community organizing, the project engaged with pressing social issues and challenged entrenched systems of oppression.
Today, we proudly celebrate the achievements of Pro Arts both as an independent art institution and as the first art commons in Oakland. Over the years, Pro Arts has invested material and immaterial resources in more than 30,000 artists and cultural workers in Oakland and beyond, serving as an LGBTQ+ inclusive space, and promoting experimentation and discourse.