The
Vision
Rhythmix Cultural Works (RCW) is a new community arts center in the
East Bay that brings people of all ages together for a wide range
of high quality arts experiences. With a 200 seat theater space, art
gallery, book arts store and classroom, RCW offers affordable space
in a state-of-the-art facility for live performance, exhibitions,
art education and cultural exchange for youth, families and adults.
Through exhibits, workshops, classes and performances, RCW supports
local, regional and international artists in the presentation of their
work and hopes to encourage community participation in the arts.
Rhythmix Cultural
Works, a 501(c) (3) organization, was established in 1999 as the umbrella
for RhythMix world music ensemble and RCW cultural exchange programs.
The RhythMix ensemble successfully reached thousands of children in
over 100 schools through the San Francisco Symphony Adventures in
Music, Young Audiences and Bread & Roses programs. RCW has coordinated
six successful cultural study and exchange trips to Cuba and Japan
since 1999. Inspired by these experiences, Janet Koike, Executive
Director of RCW, purchased and renovated a warehouse in Alameda to
provide a home for RCW as a place where professional artists, emerging
artists, students and community could converge.
The
Goals
• Offer the local community access to a wide range of high quality
art experiences.
• Encourage community awareness through participation in the
arts.
• Provide artists support to develop and present new work and
find new audiences.
• Establish an affordable, new venue for
local artists, community events and gatherings.
The
Programs
• Performances of dance, music and theater by local and visiting
artists.
• Exhibitions of both regional and international
fine arts, crafts, multimedia, and digital art.
• After-school classes in
dance, movement, music and visual arts.
• Summer programs for youth
• Weekend events for the whole family
• Evening and weekend programs
for adults
• Workshops for professionals in dance, music, theater and more.
• International cultural exchange programs.
• Artist interaction with the community.
The
Community
On June 2, 2007, RCW opened its doors to over 1400 people with a day
of free community performances from Alameda High School Jazz Band,
Chipman Middle School Drum Corps, Alameda Children’s Musical
Theater, hands-on art workshops and the opening of “The Art
of Food” gallery exhibition. The Grand Opening gala performance
included Bay Area artists: the San Francisco Mime Troupe, Brenda Wong
Aoki, Mark Izu, Billy Allard, Samba Rio, Maze Daiko, Halau Makana,
and DJ Vordo, representing a wealth of diverse arts and artists in
the Bay Area.
RCW is a community-based
arts center inclusive of regional and international arts. Its community,
primarily comprising Alameda and Western Alameda County, will grow
to embrace individuals from the broader Bay Area and visitors from
around the nation and the world.
Diversity
is a key component of RCW’s mission. Instructors and classes
will reflect the great range of cultural backgrounds in the Bay Area.
Performances and exhibitions will daw uona rich diversity of creative
talent. RCW serves a wide range of ages: children, youth, families
and adults all have opportunities to participate in its programs.
RCW continues to establish relationships with local arts organizations
and offers an affordable venue for community arts groups and gatherings.
Virago Theater staged two runs in 2007 and Alameda Children’s
Musical Theater held 6 weeks of summer camp in 2007. Alameda Spiritual
Living Center (ASLC) conducts services on Sunday mornings. RCW has
hosted gatherings of the Alameda Collaborative for Children Youth
and their Families, the Greater Alameda Business Association, and
the Alameda Chamber of Commerce.
RCW is deeply committed to serving local artists. The intimate performance
space is an ideal venue for smaller and emerging artistic groups that
do not have access to rehearsal and performing spaces. RCW is a place
for artists to converge and collaborate, enabling the promotion and
presention of their work to new audiences.
International partnerships are bringing widespread attention to the
community. RCW's ongoing relationship with Kodo Arts Sphere America
(KASA), provides opportunities for the American public to learn about
Japanese drumming, folkloric dance and song from world-famous Kodo
artists. RCW is bringing these and other international artists to
its facility for workshops and performances.
The
Facility
RCW is housed in a repurposed industrial building, the first of its
kind in Alameda and unique by any standard. The renovated facility
includes an art gallery, a multipurpose classroom and a 175-185 moveable
seat performance space with professional stage lighting and sound.
With both permanent residents and daily visitors, the facility offers
a lively addition to Alameda's Northern waterfront, enhancing recent
revitalization efforts by the city and creating a friendly gathering
place for the community.
Click
here to see photos of the renovation!
