What EASTSIDE ARTS ALLIANCE does

EastSide Arts Alliance is a privately held nonprofit founded in 2000 and headquartered in Oakland, California, that operates as a grassroots community organization serving Third World artists, cultural workers, and community organizers of color in the San Antonio and East Oakland neighborhoods. The organization runs the EastSide Cultural Center (a multi-use theater, sound and visual arts studio, exhibition gallery, and gathering place at 2277 International Blvd), the 2285 Gallery for rotating exhibitions, Bandung Books (a Third World bookstore at 2289 International Blvd), the Community Archival Resource Project (CARP) housing archival materials on Bay Area social movements from the 1960s onward, and the Greg Morozumi Reading Room for cultural and political education. Programming includes the 26th Annual Malcolm X JazzArts Festival, the 22nd Annual International Queer Women of Color Film Festival (in partnership with QWOCMAP), Film Fridays, youth workshops, political education series, and curatorial exhibitions such as 'If Every Poster Was a Stone' (Palestinian solidarity) and 'El Espiritu de Fruitvale' (Chicano Movement history).

The organization employs approximately 15 staff and operates a community-led go-to-market model with no software or technology products. Revenue is generated from three primary streams: individual donations and a 25th Anniversary Giving Campaign (July 2025–June 2026) targeting $250,000; multi-funder foundation and government grants from the Zellerbach Family Foundation, William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, Kenneth Rainin Foundation, Fleishhacker Foundation, Akonadi Foundation, Center for Cultural Power, the National Endowment for the Arts, the California Arts Council, California Humanities, the San Francisco Arts Commission, and San Francisco Grants for the Arts; and minor earned income from grassroots-rate theater rentals at $50/hour plus $40/hour per technician and Bandung Books retail sales. Founded by Greg Jung Morozumi, Elena Serrano, Susanne Takehara, and other cultural workers, the organization is notable as one of the only grassroots organizations of color to own and operate an independent community cultural center free and clear of debt, and is governed collectively rather than through conventional executive leadership.

Strategic posture centers on cultural infrastructure advocacy through the co-founded Deeply Rooted Collaborative influencing Oakland's General Plan 2045, sustained partnerships with NAKA Dance Theater (since 2007), QWOCMAP, the Palestinian Youth Movement Bay Area, the Bay Area Lesbian Archives, and a broad Bay Area nonprofit coalition network. The 15-employee organization is privately held with no parent company or institutional ownership and is sustained entirely through donations, grants, and community support.

Name

EASTSIDE ARTS ALLIANCE

Legal name

EastSide Arts Alliance

Website

https://eastsideartsalliance.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2000

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

EastSide Arts Alliance is a 25-year-old Oakland nonprofit operating the EastSide Cultural Center, Bandung Books bookstore, 2285 Gallery, and the CARP archive to serve Third World artists, cultural workers, and community organizers of color through exhibitions, performances, and political education.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community arts and cultural center services

NAICS

Museums, Historical Sites, and Similar Institutions (7121), Performing Arts, Spectator Sports, and Related Industries (711)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Performing Arts Organizations (Theater, Dance, Opera, Music) (BPAGAHAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Arts Education & Community Arts Programs (BPAGAHAC), Community Arts, Culture & Creative Placemaking Enterprises (BPAGALAO), Media Arts & Film/Photography Nonprofits (BPAGAHAJ)

Keywords

• Community arts center
• Cultural space rentals
• Exhibition gallery programming
• Community bookstore sales
• Community archive services

Headquarters

HQ city

Oakland

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Donations and Individual Contributions: The organization relies heavily on tax-deductible donations from individuals and community members. The 25th Anniversary Giving Campaign aims to raise $250K through one-time gifts and monthly sustaining donors.
2. Venue and Space Rentals: EastSide Cultural Center Theater is available for rental at $50/hour for small events, gatherings, and rehearsals. Special technical services (Audio Tech, Lighting Tech) are available at $40/hour per technician.
3. Bookstore Sales: Bandung Books, a Third World bookstore, sells curated books, music, videos, and posters. The bookstore also stocks items like the Broken Promises zine for $10.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

EastSide Arts Alliance operates a grassroots community cultural center complex in East Oakland, providing multi-use theater rental, exhibition gallery programming, a Third World bookstore, an archival resource hub for BIPOC social-movement history, and community arts education programs. Its earned and donated revenue supports exhibitions, performances, film screenings, political education workshops, and youth arts programming (such as Girl Project) targeted at Third World artists, cultural workers, and community organizers of color.

Product overview

EastSide Arts Alliance is a community organization of Third World artists, cultural workers, and community organizers of color operating multiple cultural spaces and programs in East Oakland. The organization functions as a platform-plus-spaces model, with the EastSide Cultural Center (theater and gallery) as its primary venue, supplemented by 2285 Gallery for exhibitions, Bandung Books as a bookstore and educational resource, and CARP (Community Archival Resource Project) as an archive of Third World histories. Additional offerings include space rentals, cultural infrastructure advocacy, and ongoing programs such as the Malcolm X JazzArts Festival and Film Fridays. The organization does not offer technology products or software services.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Bandung Books: Third World Bookstore in East Oakland dedicated to uplifting and building solidarity between the diverse stories and culture of BIPOC communities. Offers curated books, music, videos, and posters.
• 2285 Gallery
• CARP

Products and services

• EastSide Cultural Center Multi-use theater, sound and visual arts studio, exhibition gallery, and gathering place at 2277 International Blvd, Oakland, that hosts programming and performances throughout the year for Third World communities.
• 2285 Gallery

Named customers4 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Deeply Rooted CollaborativecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerA collaborative of multiracial organizations including Oakland Asian Cultural Center (OACC), BAM (Black Alma Mater), MARA, ESAA, BAM CDC, Deep Waters Dance Theater, and BCZ working to counter legacy of discrimination and ensure marginalized communities participate in Oakland's General Plan 2045. EastSide co-founded this initiative.
• Palestinian Youth Movement Bay AreacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated on 'If Every Poster Was a Stone' exhibition (June-Sept 2025) and ongoing political education programming including the 'Is Art Action?' 3-part series.
• Southern ExposurecoreGTM or Marketing PartnerProvided the Alternative Exposure 2025 Grant supporting the 'If Every Poster Was a Stone' exhibition and related public programs.
• Korean American Artist CollectiveminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCo-funded the 'If Every Poster Was a Stone' exhibition as part of their mission to support politically and culturally engaged Korean American artists.
• NAKA Dance TheatercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-term partnership since 2007 on multiple projects including 'The Revenge of Huitlacoche' (2007), 'The Anastasio Project' (2014), and Live Arts in Resistance (LAIR) program. Co-presented 'Mi Historia, Mi Telar' weaving and healing project.
• Dancers' GroupminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNAKA Dance Theater is a fiscally sponsored project of Dancers' Group, creating indirect partnership with EastSide through shared fiscal sponsorship relationship.
• Fruitvale History ProjectcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDeveloped 'El Espiritu de Fruitvale' exhibition exploring Malaquias Montoya's work in Oakland's Chicano Movement in partnership with this organization.
• Bay Area Lesbian ArchivescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated on 'Sister Hold On: Reclaiming Third World Lesbian Imaginaries' exhibition (Sept-Dec 2024) using archival treasures from the Bay Area Lesbian Archives.
• Black Cultural ZoneminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-sponsored 'Letters to Liberation: Black August (AFROPORTALS)' exhibition with Artist as First Responder, Shared Studios, and Wallace Foundation.
• Pro Arts Gallery & COMMONScoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProduced 'Intergalactic Blvd: An Oakland Portal' exhibition by Rigo 23 in collaboration with EastSide Arts Alliance.
• Palestine Poster ProjectminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHistorical archives of Palestine posters contributed to 'If Every Poster Was a Stone' exhibition.
• Greater Bay Area Arts CoalitionminorGTM or Marketing PartnerEastSide works with this coalition for arts advocacy to lift up the concept of Cultural Infrastructure.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Regional players

• The Crucible: Oakland-based nonprofit industrial arts education organization offering classes, studio space, and events. Regional peer sharing Oakland geography and nonprofit arts-education structure, though focused on industrial/STEM arts.

Direct peers

• Oakland Asian Cultural Center: Oakland-based arts and cultural center serving Asian and Pacific Islander communities via performances, exhibitions, and education. Direct co-member with EastSide in the Deeply Rooted Collaborative and operates a similar community-rooted nonprofit model.
• Kala Art Institute: Berkeley-based nonprofit arts organization supporting artists through residencies, exhibitions, and printmaking. Comparable as a Bay Area community-focused arts nonprofit with gallery/education programming.
• Black Cultural Zone: Oakland-based CDC and cultural coalition that builds Black-led cultural infrastructure in East Oakland. Frequent partner of EastSide; shares grassroots, place-based, culturally-grounded mission and geography.
• Pro Arts Gallery & COMMONS: Oakland nonprofit gallery and curatorial organization supporting contemporary Bay Area artists and exhibitions. Direct programming peer with whom EastSide has co-produced exhibitions (e.g., Intergalactic Blvd with Rigo 23).
• Community Music Center: San Francisco nonprofit providing music education, performances, and community programming since 1921. Comparable Bay Area nonprofit community arts center with education and performance programming.
• La Peña Cultural Center: Berkeley-based community cultural center run as a nonprofit presenting music, dance, film, and education with a social-justice mission. Closely mirrors EastSide's grassroots, mission-driven, multi-venue model serving a specific cultural community.
• SOMArts Cultural Center: San Francisco nonprofit arts organization operating a gallery, theater, and event space focused on social-justice-oriented programming. Directly comparable multi-venue community arts model in the same Bay Area ecosystem.
• East Bay Center for the Performing Arts: Richmond-based nonprofit performing arts center offering classes, performances, and cultural programming with a strong equity and youth-access focus. Comparable as a Bay Area BIPOC-serving performing arts nonprofit with education programming.

Broad incumbents

• Museum of the African Diaspora (MoAD): San Francisco-based institution preserving and presenting African diaspora art and history. Broader incumbent museum in the same BIPOC-arts space and shared Bay Area civic-arts infrastructure.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/eastsideartsalliance
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/eastside-arts-alliance

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Subsidiaries5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about EASTSIDE ARTS ALLIANCE