What Is Our Freedom?

Music. Movement. Liberation.

The inaugural Our Freedom: A Festival of Music & Movements invites the Bay Area community into a day-long celebration of freedom, justice, music, and movement.

We understand movement in every sense of the word: from social movements and liberation struggles to embodied practices that restore, heal, and reconnect us. Our Freedom uplifts voices too often pushed to the margins and honors art as a vital force for transformation, collective care, and social change.

Held one week after the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Declaration of Independence, Our Freedom is an intentional response to the ongoing distortion of what freedom means in this country. Rather than celebrating freedom as an abstract ideal, the festival centers lived experience, resistance, joy, and the work still required to realize justice for all.

Vibrant artwork depicting musicians, singers, and the Golden Gate Bridge with flowers, created by Francis Mead for Our Freedom Festival

A visual expression of freedom, created exclusively for Our Freedom Festival by Francis Mead.

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Festival Venue
First Congregational Church of Oakland
2501 Harrison Street, Oakland CA 94612
πŸ“…Saturday, July 11, 2026
🎢Over 20 Artists β€” All Day
Get Directions β†’

Who Will Perform?

Exceptional Artists Across Genres, Generations & Disciplines

Talented artists — local and national — united by their commitment to affirming messages of freedom and justice. Featuring musicians, visual artists, movement performers, poets, and community organizations. Highlighting women, queer, and BIPOC voices.

Click on an artist to learn more

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+ More Artists To Be Announced!

The lineup is still growing — stay tuned

Standing With Us

Community Partners

Sponsors

Community Partners

Want to support Our Freedom as a sponsor or partner?

Become a partner

Saturday, July 11, 2026 β€” Festival Day

The Schedule

10:00 – 11:00 AM
Opening Welcome
Grounding, land acknowledgment, and opening ceremony to set our collective intention for the day.
11:00 – 12:30 PM
Music & Movement Workshops
Interactive workshops and performances blending music, movement, and social change.
12:30 – 1:30 PM
Lunch
Food trucks and vegan catering available. Nourish your body and connect with community.
1:30 – 6:00 PM
Afternoon Performances & Workshops
A full afternoon of music, poetry, visual art, movement, and healing — across genres and generations.
6:00 – 7:00 PM
Dinner
Evening meal available for purchase. Rest and recharge before the evening concert.
7:00 – 8:30 PM
Evening Music Performances
Artists take the stage for powerful evening sets celebrating freedom and joy.
8:30 – 10:00 PM
Allstar Concert
Our Freedom ensemble piece directed by Melanie DeMore.

Guided By

Our Values & Principles

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Healing Justice

Centering collective care, restoration, and embodied practices that reconnect us. Inspired by and supporting Restore Oakland.

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Land Rematriation

Honoring Indigenous sovereignty and the land we gather on. In partnership with Sogorea Te' Land Trust.

Accessibility

Financial, physical, and cultural access for all. Scholarship and work-trade options ensure no one is excluded.

Liberation

Uplifting women, queer, trans, and BIPOC voices. Centering lived experience and the ongoing work of justice.

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Art as Transformation

Honoring creativity as a vital force for social change. Music, movement, poetry, and visual art as tools for collective liberation.

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Fair Compensation

We are committed to compensating all participating artists fairly for their time, talent, and transformative work.

The People Behind

Festival Production Team

turtle woman maryam

turtle woman maryam

Co-Producer · Oakland

A formerly incarcerated Elder trans woman active in liberation movements since the 1960s. Her work is rooted in restorative justice, yoga, prison abolition, and liberation song. Co-organized the End of Isolation Tour and the Kol festival of Jewish music across the Diaspora.

Eva Orbuch

Eva Orbuch

Co-Producer · Oakland

A musician, community organizer, coach, and consultant. Founded the Thrive Street Choir and the Kol retreat. Director of Blue Heart, a member-funded organization supporting visionary groups at the frontlines of social change.

MarΓ­a GarcΓ­a

María García

Virtual Assistant · Venezuela

A digital marketing specialist with over four years of experience in content creation, community management, and digital outreach. Bilingual in Spanish and English, supporting festival communications and audience engagement.

Join The Movement

How Can You Participate & Support?

We are currently finalizing the festival lineup and would love to explore participation with aligned artists, donors, sponsors, organizations, and vendors.

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Click here to Sponsor

We are seeking sponsorships to make Our Freedom accessible and impactful for all.

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Click here to Get Involved

If you'd like to perform, vend, or have a role in the event, we'd love to hear from you.