Destiny Arts Center

In recognition of the Hewlett Foundation’s 50th anniversary, the Hewlett 50 Arts Commissions initiative supports the creation and premiere of 50 exceptional works of performing arts. Destiny Arts Center’s "The Black (W)hole" is a multi-disciplinary theater project that addresses urban youth homicide and gentrification in Oakland by centering Black culture as a vehicle for resistance and spiritual renewal. This supplemental grant will help the organization reconfigure the project in response to changes forced by the COVID-19 pandemic restrictions on public gatherings. This grant advances the Hewlett 50 Arts Commissions initiative.

Destiny Arts Center exists to eliminate isolation, violence, and prejudice in the lives of young people aged three to eighteen through free and low-cost dance, theater, martial arts, violence prevention, and youth leadership classes. Taught by professional instructors after school, these classes serve low-income youth and youth of color both at the Center’s main Oakland site and at twenty-four schools and community centers throughout the area. Each year, the program reaches more than 4,000 youth and 20,000 audience members in North Oakland neighborhoods that are rife with crime, poverty, under-performing schools, and drug addiction. Under dynamic new leadership, the organization has launched a new brand identity and web site and is planning a move to a permanent facility in the next year. Renewed support would help the Center continue to build its creative and organizational strengths

Destiny Arts Center exists to eliminate isolation, violence, and prejudice in the lives of young people aged three to eighteen, through free and low-cost dance, theater, martial arts, violence prevention, and youth leadership classes. Taught by professional instructors after school, these classes serve low-income youth and youth of color, both at the Center’s main Oakland site and at twenty-four schools and community centers throughout the area. Each year, the program reaches more than 2,000 youth and 20,000 audience members in North Oakland’s neighborhoods. After purchasing a new facility in 2013, Destiny Arts Center seeks to maintain youth programming at current levels, build out internal administrative capacity, and develop a long-term strategy for growth. Renewed support will help the organization redefine its role in North Oakland following these changes, and re-position its educational programming to best fit that new role.