From 2014-2020, The Flight Deck was a home for multidisciplinary artists to present work, share resources and practice radical acts of imagination in the heart of downtown Oakland. Created and managed by Ragged Wing Ensemble, The Flight Deck presented over 200 events by hundreds of artists to thousands of audiences annually. As Oakland’s only shared Black Box theater, The Flight Deck served up a unique mix of arts and culture events, and the community around it was rich and vibrant.
In 2020, Ragged Wing did not renew the lease on the building. The venue is now operated by PianoFight. Click here for more information on why this happened. To book the space, please contact>[email protected]>. To follow Ragged Wing’s current story, visit www.raggedwing.org.
In support of #BlackLivesMatter and the many protestors nationwide fighting racism & injustice, The Flight Deck is joining #OpenYourLobby to offer A SAFE INDOOR SANCTUARY for demonstrators. We will provide: A safe indoor place of rest
Free supplies as needed, including water, snacks, first aid, hand sanitizer
Bathroom access
Wi-fi and outlets for charging phones
The Open Your Lobby venues are not intended to be used as places of protest, but rather as a resource for protestors to prepare, rest, and recover. We will NOT permit police inside the building. It is unlawful for police to enter without a warrant or unless granted permission.
The Flight Deck is located at 1540 BROADWAY between 15th and 16th St
May 19, 2020
Dear Ragged Wing & Flight Deck community,
When shelter-in-place first began, we were gearing up for The Art of Leaving, a festival celebrating the legacy of The Flight Deck and the act of letting go. At first, we planned to reschedule the event for the summer of 2020, but now, given the state of public health, the event will be fully canceled. We all share in the loss of collective ritual this event would have provided, but like many things in this global moment, and like the venue itself, we need to let it go.
Ragged Wing is embracing this time of metamorphosis. When COVID-19 hit we were already mid-pivot - reinventing our business model and imagining the next chapter. Now, we are putting our efforts into providing accessible ways to heal through creativity and connection. Tune in to MOMENT 2 MOMENT, our transformative talk series, on Thursdays at 5pm and join the dialogue. Sharing stories is how we humans build wisdom. It is the key to our survival. Please consider a DONATION to Ragged Wing to keep this program free and available to all.
There are several exciting announcements coming soon, so stay tuned…
May each of you be well and healthy, Anna ShneidermanAmy Sass Executive DirectorArtistic Director