It's true, Rock Paper Scissors Collective (RPSC) has been the anchor of the uptown art community on 23rd and Telegraph for over 10 years-- providing opportunities for emerging artists and makers, working with Oakland's youth, and staying open to the changing Bay Area community. Our awesome programs include a Gallery, ArtsLab, Zine Library, On and Off-Site Youth Workshops, Community Events, Youth and Arts Advocacy, Internship Programs, a Handmade Boutique, Adult Classes, and soooo much more.

On a typical Thursday at the Rock Paper Scissors Collective, the first question you'll certainly have is, "what the heck is this place?"

As a visitor to RPSC, you might witness a group of eager students, ready to learn how to insert a zipper into a pouch in a low cost beginner sewing class; one deaf student comes in with her interpreter and everyone sits at RPSC's public sewing machines, ready to create. Next up, it's an LGBTQ letter writing campaign to incarcerated LGBTQ community. Stamps and letters written, the group cleans up and tucks the chairs into the movable gallery wall that turned into a class and events space. A bustle with youth interns from Oakland Public High Schools, RPSC is a community space that prioritizes offering underprivileged youth the opportunity to cultivate creative skills, to use their hands, and to develop a radical community. Upon entering the space, you’ll see a handful of kids working on self-initiated creative projects: making handmade cards on a typewriter, checking out the DIY zine library, or working on a sewing project. With the help of volunteers from colleges such as CCA and UC Berkeley, RPS is able to develop comprehensive programs and creative workshops that are available to youth and to all of our community members to learn in a supportive hands-on environment.

When this class cleans up, all happy students leave with their creations and the next group rolls into the space; Still you may ask, "what the heck is this place?" It's a bastion of creativity and acceptance. RPSC does not limit its services based on identity or skill level. RPSC is a safe space for youth, and an intricate part of Oakland’s diverse distinctive creative culture, a volunteer organization where everyone is welcome to come in, get hands on, and support one another, a center for skill share, exhibition, and exploration of creative expression.

We've heard from lots of folks that they love the non profit RPSC. This love is often coupled with an assumption that we will simply be here forever.

WE WON'T.

NOT WITHOUT YOUR HELP.

We’ve been given so many recognitions and awards for the groundbreaking work that we’ve done over the past decade, but those plaques, banners, radio, news and ribbons don’t pay our bills.

WE NEED YOU TO BE the BONES OF THE CREATIVE CULTURE:

First and foremost, we are asking for your help in raising the funds to make sure we can pay our rent and keep the lights on next month. But that will only get us through next month, and it is really hard to program classes, events, internships, youth and community projects 3-6 months out when volunteers aren't sure we'll be here next month.

So, what we are really asking for is your help in raising the bare bones minimum to operate in 2015.  We might as well ask big and trust that the community of Oakland thrives in creative programming open to all.

Every dollar will help. If everyone on our email list gave $10, we'd be halfway there.

With the security of knowing our rent will be paid and our lights will be on, we can focus on creating, staffing and running the programming that we are known for. We hope to have a full semester of classes, a full season of 12 group exhibitions in the gallery, and a great year of working with the community to produce murals, zines, events, art events and more.

WHY YOU SHOULD CARE:

Well in addition to all the things we've mentioned above....Did you know that RPSC is the sole remaining founder of the Oakland Art Murmur and First Friday? What an explosion of cultural and creative capital! This event is a major part of what put Oakland on the international Art Map.It all started from this little organization that could, it started from a group of volunteers dedicated to building community, and collaboration, through Arts.

Rock Paper Scissors Collective provides an essential platform for expression that is available to all Oakland residents and is a welcoming and friendly space for supportive creativity. We have served tens of thousands of artists and arts supporters. Can you imagine not being able to use your voice for creativity, not having the tools or knowledge to create and express your inner self? Rock Paper Scissors Collective is that essential brick and mortar for these expressive activities. We need to continue to provide the tools, opportunity, space, and sharing of ideas to ensure that all of Oakland can have an opportunity to express themselves.