Berkeley: Business owners, artists paint new future for area around Ashby BART
San Francisco Chronicle, by Loolwa Khazzoom (07-15-05)

When Sam Dyke opened his People's Bazaar antiques store on Adeline Street in South Berkeley more than three decades ago, he was in a hub of activity: Bakeries, hardware stores, banks and many other small businesses ensured a steady flow of foot traffic.

Then came the Ashby BART station.

"BART as an eminent domain bought those properties (and) turned those businesses away. Many never reopened. We lost many small businesses because of that -- especially minority businesses," he recalls.

But now, the very entity that tore apart the old neighborhood is at the center of its revitalization. With the help of renowned architect Bill Leddy, plans are under way to turn the station -- located at the corner of Ashby Avenue and Martin Luther King Blvd., on the border of North Oakland and South Berkeley -- into an Art Village/BART Village. (full article)

SOUTH BERKELEY ASHBY ARTS DISTRICT AWARDED NATIONAL ART GRANT
City of Berkeley Press Release (06-15-05)

Berkeley, California (Monday, February 28, 2005) The Ashby Arts District, representing eight non-profit organizations and performance venues in the South Berkeley/North Oakland area, is dedicated to increasing public awareness of the arts. This year, the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) awarded the Ashby Arts District a $10,000 grant to publish and distribute a monthly arts calendar highlighting events and performances throughout South Berkeley. The grant also supports the compilation and sharing of a database of nearly one thousand local artists, musicians and other performers to allow broad saturation of performances within the District. (full article)

Gala Benefit Celebrates City’s Newest Addition: The Ashby Arts District
Berkeley Daily Planet, By Megan Greenwell (08-05-03)

As Berkeley artists and their patrons gathered for a Saturday night fundraiser, Berkeley Mayor Tom Bates bestowed official city recognition on the newly created Ashby Arts District.
Formed to unify area arts organizations and raise awareness about arts activities, the district will “encourage cooperation, communication, and respect within this culturally rich district,” Bates said, and “provide recognition and support for the creative work and opportunities that exist.”

Benefit performances on Saturday and Sunday featuring musical theater group Rosin Coven and the duet of Alexander Tsygankov and Inna

Shevchencko on domra and piano served as the district’s inaugural event.

Joint sponsoring the district are the Epic Arts Studio and several area arts organizations. Epic, a non-profit organization that works to promote community development through arts programs, initiated formal partnerships with existing area arts venues to better publicize neighborhood arts events. (full article)

There Goes the Neighborhood - Ashby Avenue gets artsy.
By Jonathan Kiefer (07-30-2003)

Among the many things that make an arts district different than a Wal-Mart or a Starbucks is that when an arts district moves in, people don't lament the loss of their neighborhood. Even in Berkeley, where you'd have to be delusional or a recluse to think there's a shortage of local culture, a little more is always welcome.

Or a lot more. That's the thinking behind the formation of the Ashby Arts District, which officially opens this weekend with a benefit concert at the Transparent Theatre. People from Epic Arts, La Peña Cultural Center, the Jazz House, and other nearby expression outlets will congregate to get their collective culture on. Each evening will feature performances by Rosin Coven, a local Edward Gorey-esque cabaret and chamber ensemble; and two musicians from Moscow, Alexander Tsygankov and Inna Shevchenko, who've played Carnegie Hall and the White House, among other venues, and are now finally ready for Ashby. (full article)