Festival supports fine arts and other educational programs for Oakland public schools.
Oakland native and internationally acclaimed R&B artist Goapele and musical artist D Smoke take the stage at the inaugural Oakland Grown: Student Art & Music Festival on Saturday, October 19 from 12:00 – 4:00 p.m., hosted at the Oakland Museum of California.
The Oakland Public Education Fund (the Ed Fund) is partnering with the Oakland Unified School District (OUSD) Office of Visual and Performing Arts (VAPA) to produce this family-friendly festival to raise critical funds that will support fine arts and other educational programs for Oakland public school students.
Tickets include museum admission, performances by talented Oakland students, visual arts displays, and art activities, culminating in a special concert by Goapele and D Smoke.
She is a singer/songwriter, entrepreneur, actor, and activist who has solidified her position amongst our time’s most prolific R&B and soulful visionaries and creators.
Singer, songwriter, producer, entrepreneur, and humanitarian Goapele has solidified herself amongst numerous prolific R&B and soulful visionaries and creators of our time. She attended OUSD schools and is an alumnus of Skyline High School.
Her roots and musical background at Berklee College of Music fueled her to create commanding songs that examine life’s complexities with openness and precision relatable to the ordinary person.
For Goapele, songwriting and creating music is therapeutic, making her entire musical catalog an authentic collection told through a lens of truthful experiences. Her timeless music has been featured in numerous films, television series, and soundtracks.
Outside of her music career, the Oakland native has been a passionate activist and philanthropist for years—always finding time to give back to her community. As a devoted mom of a growing daughter, and stemming from her youth, she is a big supporter of women’s and girls’ empowerment and has been part of various organizations over the years.
“I’ve always wanted to positively impact the world, be a part of positive change. I strive to create things that leave a lasting feeling in people,” she says. “Anytime my music and creative expression ignite or inspire someone else, it’s a dream come true for me,” she says.
Daniel “D Smoke” Farris is a musical artist, actor, and former teacher. His talents as a raw lyricist, classically-trained musician, and cultural activist earned him the top spot in the first season of the Netflix hip-hop competition show, “Rhythm + Flow.” His acting credits include “Mayor of Kingstown” on Paramount Plus.
As a Black, bilingual rapper, musician, actor, philanthropist, and former LAUSD teacher, he uses his experiences to create music and opportunities that bridge cultural, social, and economic divides.
Student performances include the Roosevelt Middle School Orchestra, Westlake Middle School Warrior Eagle Choir, Skyline High School Drama, Montera Middle School of Rap, La Escuelita Elementary, Carl B. Munck Elementary Dragons Dance Company, Oakland Performing Arts Intensive, and Castlemont High School—plus student art displays around the OMCA garden.
Get tickets to the Oakland Grown: Student Art & Music Festival →
Thank you to our generous sponsors!
Salesforce – JPMorgan Chase & Co. – Golden State Warriors – Metrovation
Amalgamated Bank – Bank of Marin – Loraine Binion – East Bay Community Foundation – Rupa Chandra Gupta – LaSalle Mortgage – Sofia Novarro – Pixar – Port of Oakland – Gunther Stein
Tickets: $5/youth, $25/individuals, $60/family, $100 VIP