Betti Ono Foundation 15th Anniversary Documentary Screening

A documentary screening is a small event on paper. But this one is really about Oakland cultural memory — who built it, who held it together, and wh(kqed.org)m, *Art & Everyday People: The Story of the Betti Ono Foundation*, at the New Parkway Theater in Oakland. The screen(eventbrite.com)ed as free and nearly gone. (kqed.org)for Betti Ono’s 15th anniversary. The film traces the organization’s start, its impact in Oakland, and what comes next now that Betti Ono is operating as a foundation rather than just the downtown gallery many people remember. (kqed.org) ### Who made the film? Ariana Proehl produced and directed it. Anyka Howard — Betti Ono’s founder — is the executive producer. The film was edited by Amyra Soriano, and the score came from Oakland musician and e(kqed.org)eventbrite.com) ### Where and when did it happen? The premiere took place Wednesday, April 29, 2026, from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at the New Parkway Theater, 474 24th St. in Oakland. Doors opened at 6:30 p.m. There was also an informal afterparty scheduled for 8:30 to 10 p.m. at Night Heron on Telegraph Avenue. (eventbrite.com) ### Did people need tickets? Yes — basically, this was a free event but not a walk-up free-for-all. Betti Ono used an Eventbrite RSVP page, and the listing showed “few tickets left,” which is the cle(eventbrite.com) to reserve a spot. (eventbrite.com) ### Why does Betti Ono matter in Oakland? From 2011 to 2021, Betti Ono’s Broadway space worked as more than a gallery. It hosted exhibit(eventbrite.com) writeup describes it as a cultural anchor, and Betti Ono’s own history page frames the mission more directly — building power through culture, especially for Black, Brown, immigrant, Indigenous, LGBTQ+, and other marginalized communities. (kqed.org) (eventbrite.com)tion says Howard has produced more than 60 exhibitions and public programs over the years. The film turns that long run into something portable — a way to reconnect the people who built the scene and to explain Betti Ono to people who only know the name, not the history. (bettiono.com) ### What shows up in the film? Turns out the film leans hard into community archive. KQED highlights photo montages, a reunion feeling, and appearances by artists and cultural figures tied to the sp(kqed.org)k Seneferu. That matters because the point is not just one founder’s story — it’s the network around the place. (kqed.org) ### So what’s the takeaway? This screening was one night. But the bigger story is that Betti Ono is using film to carry a downtown Oakland institution into its next phase — not as(bettiono.com)es can outlive their storefronts. (kqed.org)