History

“We all come here on different ships — but we’re in the same boat now…”
— Martin Luther King, Jr.

Founded directly after the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. in 1968, the East Bay Center for the Performing Arts built its mission upon the twin ideals of social justice and artistic excellence. Strengthened by the contribution of hundreds of performing artist from around the world, the Center established an open and rigorous combination of instructional programs and partnerships with which to forge engaged young artists. These young artists find for themselves the means to develop skills, to think, to lead, and to contribute to the many worlds around them. Starting from its humble beginnings in a local church, the East Bay Center now serves 2,000 students each year from its home in the center of the Iron Triangle Neighborhood in downtown Richmond, California.

A visit to the East Bay Center will bring you a riot of diversity, talent, and energy. Effort is its hallmark and positive is its vibe. We asked the Center’s Artistic Director Jordan Simmons to share an impression of the circumstances that surround him. He thought carefully and shared the following:
(It’s) a million years of culture under one roof — the language of Langston Hughes, the chord changes of John Coltrane’s Giant Steps, the brilliance of African poly-rhythms, the film works of Luis Valdez, the mastery of digital media, the mystery of writing a play, the structure of Mexican poetry, the irreverence of Commedia dell’Arte, the micro-tonal singing of the Mien people, the breakdown of a Hip-Hop dance, a new film by Lani Amaro, age sixteen, a new jazz composition by Reginald Johnson, age fifteen, a new youth summit led by student Daniel Hooper, age seventeen…

The Center comprises one of the richest programs in the performing arts and world cultures that you will find in any urban setting. Its depth is there by plan.
All of the Center’s efforts go into serving its programs and strengthening its outreach. When we look to the future, we see a deepening of our programs to the community we serve.