Anyka Howard

Anyka is a mother, an artist/activist, curator, and social entrepreneur. In 2010 Anyka founded Betti Ono, a creative social enterprise and center for arts, culture, and community.

As Director and Curator, she has produced over 60 exhibitions and public programs featuring local and national artists and has received the Alameda County Supervisors’ Commendation for Service in the Community twice.

Betti Ono, with Anyka’s leadership, has attracted more than $2 Million in neighborhood level investments, transforming the downtown Oakland community with award-winning, internationally recognized programs.

Anyka excels at integrating art, enterprise, and social impact strategies to leverage creative capital, cultural products, and networks for good.

A mover and shaker in the industry, she has earned many awards and honors, including: “10 San Francisco Art Personalities You Should Know” by Complex Magazine; the “Social Changemaker” award from the Oakland Indie Awards (2016); and “Most Socially Engaged Curator” from the East Bay Express (2015).

She is committed to strengthening the Bay Area arts community as an arts advocate and advisor. In June 2015, Anyka initiated the formation and design of a grassroots arts action and advocacy body, the Oakland Creative Neighborhoods Coalition, with a mission to “#KeepOaklandCreative, affordable and vibrant!”

She has previously held leadership roles at the Oakland Museum of CA (OMCA) and the San Francisco Foundation, and has served as liaison and advisor to external partners such as the City and County of San Francisco Arts Commission, City of Oakland Mayor’s Task Force on Artists Affordable Housing and Workspaces, and the Northern California Grantmakers Arts Loan Fund Steering Committee.