Oakland has a diverse creative community spread across different neighborhoods and disciplines. Creatives work in small studios, shared spaces, and independently, often connected through local events, workshops, and personal networks rather than large industry scenes.
Whether you're a designer, illustrator, filmmaker, or working in any creative field, this guide will help you find your people in the city. From casual meetups to vibrant community events,
Oakland
offers countless opportunities to connect, collaborate, and get inspired.
Creative Lunch Club is a global community for people working in the creative industries. Whether you are a graphic designer, a photographer, a marketer, or a filmmaker, the Creative Lunch Club gives you the chance to regularly meet other creatives in your city for lunch.
Made-in-Oakland, Chapter 510 helps young people tap the power of their stories with writing workshops, bookmaking, and publishing, creating a joyful, safe space for Black, brown, and queer youth.
At Rock Paper Scissors Collective in Oakland, you’ll find a friendly, volunteer-run arts hub with low-cost workshops, gallery shows, zines, youth programs, and community events. A good spot to learn, make, and connect with local creatives.
The Groundfloor in Oakland blends relaxed creativity with real focus. Open, airy spaces and a friendly crew make it easy to get things done. Great when you want room to think without feeling isolated.
Temescal Works is a friendly neighborhood coworking spot in Oakland with flexible desks, private offices, meeting rooms, and event space, plus a snack store and pet friendly vibes. Great for getting work done and finding community.
Port Workspaces is a friendly Oakland coworking and office community in beautifully restored historic buildings, with flexible memberships, Zoom-ready meeting rooms, bay views, and fun touches like a tube slide at Jack London Square. With spots at Jack London Square and Port Labs near Uptown, you get easy transit, unlimited coffee, and a supportive vibe to get stuff done.
RBA Creative is an Oakland spot for fine art and photography, offering exhibition space, a full-service studio, and community events. Stop by for Second Saturday shows or rent the studio when you need a solid setup.
ArtHaus Works is a 102-year-old warehouse turned creative hub with art everywhere, comfy lounges, and private workspaces in all sizes. Day passes plus perks like conference rooms, stocked kitchens, and a roof deck make it easy to get stuff done.
Frank Bette Center for the Arts is a welcoming community hub in Alameda with rotating exhibits, fun classes, and creative events like plein air paintouts and poetry nights. Open Friday to Sunday, 11 am to 5 pm.
Bandaloop Studios is the main training and rehearsal space for BANDALOOP, a performance company specialising in vertical and aerial dance. The studio offers workshops, classes and terrain specific training in movement and technique.
Creative Growth is a pioneering Oakland art studio uplifting adult artists with disabilities. Expect bold, joyful work and a welcoming community vibe.
The Groundfloor in Oakland blends relaxed creativity with real focus. Open, airy spaces and a friendly crew make it easy to get things done. Great when you want room to think without feeling isolated.
The Compound Gallery is a contemporary art hub in Emeryville with rotating shows, a curated art shop, working studios, and hands-on workshops.
MUDWORKS STUDIO is a welcoming ceramics spot with classes in wheel throwing, handbuilding, and slip casting. Grab a membership if you want a creative community, and check out their private lessons and events.
Get your hands muddy at Cass Ceramics, an Albany, CA studio with wheel-throwing, hand-building, glazing classes and guided studio time.
Local Economy is a sunny Oakland community hub with coffee from Painted Leopard, creative workshops, readings, and game nights. It is an easy antidote to chaos and isolation. Swing by for member-powered events and indie-made goods.
Flowerland is a beloved Albany nursery and shop with lush plants, seasonal goodies, and charming gifts, already around since 1947.
Fig Leaf Gardens is a relaxed backyard oasis in Oakland’s Redwood Heights with fruit trees, veggie beds, a chicken coop, beehives, a pond, and a 60-year-old fig tree. They host workshops and events and welcome volunteers to help the garden thrive.
Check out Reuse For Arts & Crafts, a friendly Berkeley spot for affordable, eco-minded art supplies and unique handmade finds. They champion creative reuse with donated materials and lots of inspiration for your next project.
At Book Society, shelves meet wine glasses in a cozy community spot with curated reads, monthly book and wine pairings at a self-serve sip station, light bites, and lively events like author talks and book clubs. Membership perks and a comfy lounge make it easy to settle in and connect.
Bathers Library is a community-supported art book library, shop, and delightfully weird work and performance space in downtown Oakland, with a storefront open Thursday to Saturday 12 to 6 and a mix of workshops, residencies, and events.
Check out Wolfman Home Bookstore, a chill spot for book lovers with a wide mix of new and used titles, small press gems, greeting cards and quirky limited editions.
Grab a drink at Mad Oak Bar N Yard, a chill Oakland hang with a roof deck and patio, 40 beers on tap, fresh cocktails, and late night bites. Weekday happy hour runs 4 to 6 with drink deals and rotating food specials.
The New Parish is a beloved Oakland spot for live music and nightlife, known for intimate vibes, a cozy courtyard, and an eclectic lineup that keeps things lively.
Parlour is a laid-back Cal-Italian spot in Oakland serving seasonal Bay Area plates from a wood-fired oven with classic and modern cocktails, plus a tasty weekend brunch.
Oakland’s go-to for strong cocktails and quirky vibes, Cafe Van Kleef is where you grab a fresh grapefruit greyhound and settle in for a good time.
ERA Art Bar and Lounge mixes curated contemporary art, diverse music, and boutique cocktails in a stylish two-level space. Think vaulted ceilings downstairs and vintage leather seating with a private bar upstairs.
Catch a movie at Grand Lake Theater, a classic Oakland movie palace with dual-projector 3D, the Mighty Wurlitzer before Friday and Saturday evening show.
Swing by the Grand Lake Farmers Market at Splash Pad Park in Oakland every Saturday 9am to 2pm for 100+ vendors, fresh produce, coffee, pastries, and easy picnic vibes among palm trees. They accept CalFresh EBT/SNAP, Market Match and WIC.
Mercury 20 Gallery is an Oakland artist-run spot with rotating contemporary shows, from juried group exhibitions to intimate backroom features. Swing by on Fridays and Saturdays or set up an appointment to catch Bay Area artists pushing new ideas.
Ace Makerspace is a friendly 24/7 creative hub in Oakland with tools, classes, and a welcoming community for beginners and pros alike. Drop in for a tour or jump into laser cutting, 3D printing, textiles, woodworking, and electronics.
Make something awesome, meet cool folks, and grow your creative practice at Mighty Mighty Studio with hands-on workshops, peer-led cohorts, and art-centered gatherings in Oakland.
Frank Bette Center for the Arts is a welcoming community hub in Alameda with rotating exhibits, fun classes, and creative events like plein air paintouts and poetry nights. Open Friday to Sunday, 11 am to 5 pm.
The Loom Oakland is a creative district with brick and timber vibes, spacious event venues, and flexible office and warehouse spaces for makers and teams. With Fabrik's container village, pop-ups, murals, and a supportive community, it’s a fun spot to build, host, and hang out.
Yoshi’s is an Oakland go-to for live jazz, soul, blues, and more, with a restaurant that’s perfect for pre-show bites and drinks.
Paramount Theatre is a beloved Oakland venue for concerts, comedy, talks and special events. It's also home to the Oakland Symphony and Oakland Ballet, so there's always something great on the calendar.
The Crucible is a West Oakland industrial arts nonprofit where you can dive into blacksmithing, welding, glass, ceramics, woodworking and more, with classes for all levels plus youth programs, team builds, and scholarships.
With roots in Jingletown and a new Uptown space, Gray Loft Gallery brings together contemporary artists and exhibitions. Drop by for First Friday vibes and rotating shows.
Three Thirty Three Arts sparks community vibes with collaborative public art, from hands-on mural jams to performances, while lifting up emerging artists with real-world experience and support. Come paint, create, and connect.
Transmission Gallery is a contemporary art spot in Oakland showing figuration, funk, expressionism and socially engaged work.
Oakland Art Murmur is your hub for Oakland’s visual art scene, spotlighting gallery shows, artist talks, and community events like First Friday and East Bay Open Studios.
Awaken Cafe & Roasting is a lively downtown Oakland hangout for freshly roasted coffee, tasty bites, beer and wine, and community events.
RBA Creative is an Oakland spot for fine art and photography, offering exhibition space, a full-service studio, and community events. Stop by for Second Saturday shows or rent the studio when you need a solid setup.
ArtHaus Works is a 102-year-old warehouse turned creative hub with art everywhere, comfy lounges, and private workspaces in all sizes. Day passes plus perks like conference rooms, stocked kitchens, and a roof deck make it easy to get stuff done.
Explore local creativity with East Bay Open Studios, a free community event where artists across the East Bay open their workspaces to the public. Meet makers, discover new art, and get inspired while supporting a vibrant arts scene.
Oakland First Fridays is a free monthly street fest along Telegraph Avenue that brings together art, music, food, and community on the first Friday of every month. Each month brings a fresh theme and spotlights local artists, performers, and small businesses.
Get creative at Paint & Picnic Alamo, a charming outdoor studio and private garden (Storybook Glade) for not-your-average paint-and-sip parties, team-building, and special celebrations—by appointment only.
That Art Party hosts playful, art-filled experiences centering BIPOC adults, turning creativity and community into a self-care ritual. Expect watercolor, doodling, and vibes that help you unplug and reconnect.
Bandaloop Studios is the main training and rehearsal space for BANDALOOP, a performance company specialising in vertical and aerial dance. The studio offers workshops, classes and terrain specific training in movement and technique.
MUDWORKS STUDIO is a welcoming ceramics spot with classes in wheel throwing, handbuilding, and slip casting. Grab a membership if you want a creative community, and check out their private lessons and events.
Get your hands muddy at Cass Ceramics, an Albany, CA studio with wheel-throwing, hand-building, glazing classes and guided studio time.
Make something awesome, meet cool folks, and grow your creative practice at Mighty Mighty Studio with hands-on workshops, peer-led cohorts, and art-centered gatherings in Oakland.
The Crucible is a West Oakland industrial arts nonprofit where you can dive into blacksmithing, welding, glass, ceramics, woodworking and more, with classes for all levels plus youth programs, team builds, and scholarships.
The Art & Culture section of Visit Oakland features galleries, colorful murals, and icons like OMCA and the African American Museum and Library, plus self-guided art and historic tours including a Black Panther route.
When I joined Creative Lunch Club, I didn’t expect to connect with people who live in the same neighbourhood as me. It’s pretty cool to build a community of creatives in your vicinity, especially because it’s easier to nurture those connections when you live in a big city. I love it.
So lovely and energizing to connect with other designers, bonding over shared experiences, loves/qualms about our work, how to avoid creative burnout, what we’re looking forward to, and so on. Looking forward to continuing to make these thoughtful connections and have meaningful conversations.
I love Creative Lunch Club because it harnesses the most human way of connecting, sharing a meal. It's an effortless way for creatives to build diverse connections and friendships across various fields and meet people they wouldn't otherwise.
