Feature Article of the Day :
Feature Article of the Day : The OSA / Fox Theater Project OSA has weathered two unforeseen, forced moves in the last three years. In mid-2004, the school lost its original facility and a temporary campus was created from scratch on an empty parking lot. Then, while OSA was still repaying the debt incurred during the first move, the City of Oakland appropriated part of the school’s site for an affordable housing project. As the campus shrank, the students and faculty adjusted and acclimated to learning and teaching in a fenced campus comprised of trailers set in the middle of San Pablo Avenue.

In Fall 2008, the school will finally relocate to its permanent home: Downtown Oakland's historic Fox Theater. This 1928 classic movie palace—dark for 30 years—will open in October as both OSA’s magnificent new home and a commercial venue, enhancing the region’s arts community. The school will occupy the wraparound building that is part of the historic structure, and have access to the main stage for performances. The move represents a successful $60 Million renovation campaign to restore the theater. OSA collaborated with the City of Oakland and other strong partners whose stories you can read at: www.foxoakland.org. However, the school must now pay the contractors the final $3 Million in order to fund tenant improvement costs (“TIs”). OSA’s TIs will include such highly specific, arts-related items as the installation of dance studios, theater equipment and soundproof music rooms. OSA will increase its enrollment to 400 in the school’s first year at the new space, and 500 by the Fall 2010. Students, families and audiences will have direct access to the Fox Theater campus by BART, bus, foot and car. Seven years of pre-paid rent has been graciously provided for OSA by Viacom/CBS Outdoor Inc.! OSA’s move into the Fox Theater will impact the California’s economy by helping to attract businesses and homebuyers. Recent studies show fewer families purchasing real estate in the state’s urban centers because of dismal public school test scores. OSA’s academic achievements will combat this factor. Beyond having a direct impact on the region, the school’s accomplishments in the highly visible new facility will create more positive perceptions of Oakland. On a national scale, the OSA/Fox project will serve as a model for other urban centers seeking to bring vibrant services downtown and restore otherwise decaying buildings. The school’s permanent presence will also mean a safer and more successful California, since increased graduation rates directly correlate to decreased crime and unemployment rates. At the Fox Theater, OSA will make its state-of-the-art facility available to the wider community through after-school, evening, weekend and summertime programming. The school will also coordinate a visible performance schedule for the enrichment and enjoyment of Bay Area residents and visitors. In addition to producing art exhibitions and literary publications, OSA’s students produce their own complete season of professional-caliber performances each year. Shows at the Fox will include cabaret performances, plays, musical concerts, art exhibitions, poetry readings and dance concerts. Each of the OSA’s arts emphases has garnered similar opportunities and accolades. Two examples follow. 1. Last month, Maestro John Rutter personally invited the OSA Concert Choir to perform at Carnegie Hall in New York City, in April 2009. Maestro Rutter will be conducting Monteverde's Gloria, and OSA’s students will share the stage with the New England Symphonic Ensemble and world-class soloisits. 2. OSA’s Dance graduates have transitioned directly into dance companies, and gained admission to The Ailey School. OSA’s Dance program is chaired by Reginald Ray-Savage, founder of Savage Jazz Dance Company. Dance Magazine has said of Savage Jazz: "It may be the most layered, sophisticated concert jazz company in these western climes." To continue providing talented young students with every educational advantage while transitioning seamlessly into the Fox Theater, OSA will rely upon private support. Public funding will not cover the school’s highly specific needs, such as those listed in paragraph two. Nor can it be used to meet any unexpected financial challenges associated with the upcoming move. The need for philanthropic leadership at this pivotal juncture is compounded by the fact that OSA lacks the alumni and parent societies of an established or private school. OSA’s alumni have just entered college, and are three to four years away from holding full-time jobs. OSA’s families are generous, but many are severely low-income and can’t afford large donations. You or your company can play an integral role in OSA’s capital campaign. Please consider joining our community of philanthropic support by helping to cover the school’s tenancy improvement costs in the Fox Theater. All gifts are deeply appreciated. OSA is pleased to acknowledge any gift of $100,000 or more by naming a classroom or other space after the donor, or an individual/entity of the donor’s choosing. Display windows are also available at the Fox Theater, for $25,000 per year. Nameable Spaces Prices Units Classroom/Tech Lab/Language Lab $100K 17 Telegraph Avenue Entrance Gallery $150K 1 Audio/Visual Recording Studio $150K 4 Instrumental Music Studio* $150K 1 Vocal Music Studio** $150K 1 Science Laboratory $150K 2 Dance Studio*** $250K 3 Second Floor Gallery $250K 1 18TH St. Display Windows $25K / yr 1 19th St. Display Windows $25K / yr 1 Third Floor Gallery $250K 1 Black Box Theater $500K 1 Student Center $300K 1 Please visit www.foxoakland.org for more on the project. Should you have questions, or wish to visit the school and/or take a hardhat tour of the Fox Theater, please do not hesitate to contact Soma Mei Sheng Frazier, Director of Institutional Advancement for Oakland School of the Arts, at 510.873.8800 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .