The Joyce Gordon Foundation of the Arts presents several core programs annually. First, we host the Oakland Youth Art Explosion (OYAE). OYAE is a two-day program consisting of a youth art exhibit and reception, along with an outdoor street festival exclusively for youth. The festival includes free workshops by professional artists, music, dance performances, spoken word, and a youth entrepreneur vendor market. The program seeks to empower and inspire youth to take an active role in the arts community here in Oakland, while also providing a platform for emerging young artists to showcase their work. Through this program, young people will gain valuable skills in curation, project management, and leadership, while also contributing to the cultural landscape in our community.

Second, we host an annual Holiday Youth Jazz Benefit Concert. We employ young musicians from the Oakland School of the Arts and invite them to perform a concert for community members at the Joyce Gordon Gallery. Musicians are paid for their time and celebrated for their talents. This program also includes a youth entrepreneur vendor market during and after the show. We use funds raised from ticket sales to purchase jackets for distribution to underserved youth throughout Oakland.

In 2025 we presented the Handful of Keys masterclass series, featuring a series of free 6 piano masterclasses led by master artists and educators in our community. Classes delved into the Black cultural traditions of jazz, blues, R&B, gospel, funk, and beyond.

Finally, we are preparing to launch a Women in Jazz, Blues, & Beyond lecture/performance series at eight Title 1 public schools in historically Black neighborhoods of West Oakland, East Oakland, and Richmond. This free program will be offered in celebration of Women’s History Month and Jazz Appreciation Month, educating youth about the contributions of pioneering women in jazz blues, and beyond.