With support from the California Arts Council, Geoffrey’s Inner Circle will pursue our ongoing programming and operations as a small arts and cultural organization and further our mission as a multidisciplinary arts venue and Black cultural center to uplift and promote Black culture and diverse Black art forms in Oakland through accessible educational and performance initiatives, engaging youth, seniors, and low-income individuals.
Geoffrey’s Inner Circle is a multidisciplinary arts venue and Black cultural center, operating as a hub of Black life in Oakland since the late 1970s and in its current downtown location since 1993. Geoffrey’s has for over 40 years consistently produced arts & culture programming including music and comedy shows, jam sessions, festivals, community events, vocal and instrumental masterclasses with resident and visiting artists, an annual 10-week youth arts intensive, free summer camp programs for youth, livestreams and lecture/performances for youth, and political events. Geoffrey’s centers Black musical forms including jazz, blues, gospel, hip-hop, R&B; Black spoken word and rap traditions; and Black traditions of dance including lindy hop, swing, turf, hip-hop, and West African dance; and features programming celebrating Black History Month, Black Music Month, and Kwanzaa.