BLACspace Cooperative is a hub for a thriving

Black arts and culture ecosystem in Oakland.

[1] Ruth-Marion Baruch. Free Huey Rally, Bobby Hutton Memorial Park. Oakland, CA, August 25, 1968. In Black Panthers 1968, by Ruth-Marion Baruck and Pirkle Jones, 92. Greybull Press, 2002. Accessed at Community Archival Resource Project, Oakland, CA.

[1] Ruth-Marion Baruch. Free Huey Rally, Bobby Hutton Memorial Park. Oakland, CA, August 25, 1968. In Black Panthers 1968, by Ruth-Marion Baruck and Pirkle Jones, 92. Greybull Press, 2002. Accessed at Community Archival Resource Project, Oakland, CA. — [2] Joyce Xi Photography, EastSide Arts Alliance’s Malcolm X Jazz Arts Festival, San Antonio Park, Oakland, CA, 2024.

[3] Photo by Kamau Amen Ra, early 2000's. From the Black Arts Movement collection. Courtesy of CARP / Community Archival Resource Project at EastSide Arts Alliance. — [4] Openi, ‘Brass band outside Omiiroo on 14th & Franklin St.,’ Downtown Oaklan

[3] Photo by Kamau Amen Ra, early 2000's. From the Black Arts Movement collection. Courtesy of CARP / Community Archival Resource Project at EastSide Arts Alliance. — [4] Openi, ‘Brass band outside Omiiroo on 14th & Franklin St.,’ Downtown Oakland, CA. 2012.

[7] Casper Banjo. The Bay Area Black Artists group (BABA). Oakland, CA, 1971. In Black Artists in Oakland, by Jerry Thompson and Duane Deterville, 77. Arcadia Publishing. Accessed at Community Archival Resource Project, Oakland, CA. — [8] 7000 C

[7] Casper Banjo. The Bay Area Black Artists group (BABA). Oakland, CA, 1971. In Black Artists in Oakland, by Jerry Thompson and Duane Deterville, 77. Arcadia Publishing. Accessed at Community Archival Resource Project, Oakland, CA. — [8] 7000 Coils, Sasha Kelley, 2025, Blaqyard, Oakland, CA.

[5] Stephen Shames. Black Panther party member teaches at the Intercommunal youth institute. Oakland, CA, 1972. In Comrade Sisters: Women of the Black Panther Party, by Stephen Shames and Ericka Huggins, 53. ACC Art Books, 2022. Accessed at Community

[5] Stephen Shames. Black Panther party member teaches at the Intercommunal youth institute. Oakland, CA, 1972. In Comrade Sisters: Women of the Black Panther Party, by Stephen Shames and Ericka Huggins, 53. ACC Art Books, 2022. Accessed at Community Archival Resource Project, Oakland, CA. — [6] Zakiya at the BLACspace Design Sprint, 2023.

We connect and sustain a member network of Black-led spaces through mutual aid, community-centered business coaching, and amplifying stories. 

BLACspace is about building a sustainable, self-governed network of support for Black artists and organizations that moves beyond the traditional nonprofit model.

Openi, ‘Meeting of Mirrored Souls,’ January 22nd, 2012, Private Collection, 400 14th St. Oakland, CA, Featured in ‘The Discourse’ (2013).

By holding space to heal and build shared power, we strengthen our roots.

People & Systems

Building legacy teams and strengthening organizational infrastructure through coaching, consultant matchmaking and staffing support.

1

Mutual Aid

Facilitating members to share offers and resources to meet one anothers' needs.

2

Storytelling

Amplifying members reach by integrating content into BLACspace digital marketing channels, boosting visibility and operations. 

3

Funding

Pooling funds so everyone benefits, and leveraging our collective power to spread resources throughout the ecosystem.

4

Space

Uniting BLACspace members, partners, and space-holders to acquire, share, and steward spaces that strengthen the roots of Black arts and culture in Oakland.

5

Events

BLACspace events are designed for capacity-building, collaboration, and resource sharing.

6

African American Museum and Library at Oakland. Esther’s Orbit Room. Oakland,  CA, 1987. In Black Artists in Oakland, by Jerry Thompson and Duane Deterville, 22. Arcadia Publishing. Accessed at Community Archival Resource Project, Oakland, CA.

“We are here to say that we want to stay in Oakland. We deserve to stay in Oakland. We want to make it as a Black presence.”

– Carolyn Johnson, BLACspace Co-Founder

  • BLACspace is a dedicated cooperative that supports Black arts and culture organizations in Oakland, helping them thrive through community-centered consulting, coaching, and a strong mutual aid network.

  • Any Black-led arts or cultural organization rooted in Oakland and aligned with BLACspace’s mission and values is welcome to apply for membership.

  • Members gain access to year-long coaching pods, wellness assessments, workshops, and a broad network of culturally aligned partners. Members also participate in BLACspace events and have a say in cooperative governance after a year of active membership.

  • Unlike traditional consulting, BLACspace merges business expertise with cultural permanence and community trust. We focus on the holistic needs of our community and emphasize cooperation, accountability, and transformative justice.

    We don’t just focus on the back-end operation of organizations. We champion the holistic needs of our community by inviting Black arts and culture entities into our Mutual Aid Membership, where they can connect, share, and access resources within our expansive ecosystem.

  • Cultural reforestation means helping Black arts and culture grow and flourish in Oakland by nurturing the people, spaces, and stories that form the cultural roots of our community. Through this, we work to restore and maintain a thriving, Black-centered cultural ecosystem.

BLAC         

FAQs

Howard L. Bingham. Black Panthers reading the Little Red Book, Oakland, CA, 1968. In Black Panthers 1968, by Howard L. Bingham, 12–13. AMMO Books, 2009. Accessed at Community Archival Resource Project, Oakland, CA.