In April 2016, BMG re-opened The UC Theatre, turning a former movie theatre into a state-of-the-art music venue with year-round performances in downtown Berkeley. The return of this historic theatre with great community engagement is an excellent addition to Berkeley’s cultural venues. The neighborhood has flourished as more patrons of The UC Theatre visit long-standing and new restaurants and shops nearby. The theatre has created over 150 full and part-time jobs.
The UC Theatre ... Read More
In April 2016, BMG re-opened The UC Theatre, turning a former movie theatre into a state-of-the-art music venue with year-round performances in downtown Berkeley. The return of this historic theatre with great community engagement is an excellent addition to Berkeley’s cultural venues. The neighborhood has flourished as more patrons of The UC Theatre visit long-standing and new restaurants and shops nearby. The theatre has created over 150 full and part-time jobs.
The UC Theatre presents community ensembles and emerging, and established acts for a diverse audience. We aim to amplify local, intergenerational emerging voices alongside older, recognized talent, prioritizing Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) and LGBTQIA+ people. Rather than focusing on a singular niche music platform, we are inclusive of all music genres for all ages of audiences. We present local artists and educational programming for marginalized demographics to promote an equitable and diverse environment both on the stage and behind the scenes. In a typical year, programming includes such artists as Tinariwen, Green Day, Run The Jewels, Natalia Laforcada, Kehlani, Mulatu Astatke, Kolohe Kai, The Story So Far, Toro y Moi, and more. The UC Theatre attracts people of all demographics, including age, race, and economic status. Each year, The UC Theatre serves over 125,000 people annually, hosting over 100 concerts and private events.
Integral to our mission is our Concert Career Pathways (CCP) program, a 9-month, comprehensive career training initiative where young adults (ages 17-25) learn the technical, creative, and business aspects of concert and event promotion while developing the critical and creative thinking skills necessary to become successful in the 21st-century workplace. This hands-on, work-based program is a combination of free workshops, guest lectures, industry tours, paid internships, and job placement upon completion. From our seventh cohort (2022-2023), our graduates are 50% female, 57% identify as LGBTQIA+, 89% are POC, and 50% live below the poverty line.
BMG embraces a wide range of music disciplines, aesthetics, and traditions to engage people from different communities to participate in the arts. Our priorities are informed and determined by meetings and discussions with our Board of Directors, Youth Advisory Board, and Staff who together reflect the diversity of the Bay Area. The Youth Advisory Board consists of CCP alumni and is 60% Women, 60% POC, 20% non-binary, 20% LGBTQ+, 20% disabled.
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