What Is Our Freedom?
Music. Movement. Liberation.
The inaugural Our Freedom: A Festival of Music & Movements gathered 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.
First Congregational Church of Oakland
Through the Lens
Festival Moments
Explore moments from Our Freedom through the lens of photographer Bruce Forrester. These images capture the music, community, creativity, joy, and movement that define the festival experience.
Click to see festival photos
Photography © Bruce Forrester – Warm Light Photography
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
Support the Movement
Help Sustain Our Freedom
Our Freedom was made possible by the generosity of our community. Contributions continue to support artist compensation, scholarship tickets, accessibility, and community organizations like Restore Oakland and Sogorea Te' Land Trust — and help carry this work forward.
Make a Donation
Every contribution helps sustain Our Freedom and the community it serves.
Secure donation via PayPal.
Scan to Donate
Standing With Us
Community Partners
Sponsors
Community Partners
Featured Artists & Vendors
Want to support Our Freedom as a sponsor or partner?
Guided By
Our Values & Principles
Healing Justice
Centering collective care, restoration, and embodied practices that reconnect us. Inspired by and supporting Restore Oakland.
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.
Art as Transformation
Honoring creativity as a vital force for social change. Music, movement, poetry, and visual art as tools for collective liberation.
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
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
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.
María García
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?
Stay in the Loop
Sign up for festival updates, lineup announcements, and ways to get involved.