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Special Exhibitions & Features

Exhibition Great Hall Born of the Bear Dance: Dugan Aguilar’s Photographs of Native California Learn More & Get tickets
Feature Art Gallery Ancestral Visions Learn More & Get tickets
Feature Art Gallery Collecting a Moment Learn More & Get tickets
Feature Natural Sciences Gallery OMCA Kids: Nature Playspace Learn More & Get tickets

Events

Friday Nights at OMCA with Non Stop Bhangra

Friday Nights at OMCA is ready to get into the rhythm with Non Stop Bhangra (NSB), the Bay Area’s ultimate dance party experience! Kicking off the 2025 Friday Nights season with high-energy beats, colorful performances, and an immersive cultural celebration, NSB brings the vibrant rhythms of Punjab, India, to life. Dance lessons, live drumming, and DJ sets will keep the energy flowing all night long, making it the perfect release for the whole family to enjoy.

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Friday Nights at OMCA with MacArthur Maze

This Friday, join us at OMCA for an unforgettable night featuring the vibrant sounds of MacArthur Maze! This East Bay hip-hop ensemble, led by DJ D Sharp, brings together five talented emcees and four producers to deliver a powerhouse performance full of organic Bay Area vibes.

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Friday Nights at OMCA | Earth Day in the Bay

This Friday, celebrate Earth Day in the Bay at OMCA! Join us for an unforgettable day in OMCA’s outdoor garden, filled with performances, games, and hands-on activities that will engage visitors of all ages. This free event, in partnership with Oakland Unified School District (OUSD) teachers and students, celebrates sustainability and environmental themes with arts, sciences, and local culture, all working towards a greener future for the Bay Area. Voices of all ages will be featured, making it an inclusive, fun, and meaningful way to connect with the Earth and each other.

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Spotlight Sundays: Celebrating Native Heritage through Photography—A Conversation with Ashley Salaz and Haley Day Rains

Join us for this month’s Spotlight Sundays as we dive into the power of photography in honoring and amplifying Native heritage. This thought-provoking panel discussion features two dynamic Native creatives: Oakland-based Coharie and Nahua photographer Ashley Salaz and Mvskoke photographer, scholar, and filmmaker Haley Day Rains. Moderated by Drew Johnson, OMCA Curator of Photography & Visual Culture, the conversation will explore how photography serves as a vital tool for storytelling, cultural preservation, and community connection.This program is part of the exhibition Born of the Bear Dance: Dugan Aguilar’s Photographs of Native California—on view through June 2025—and draws on Dugan Aguilar’s legacy of documenting the vibrancy and resilience of Indigenous communities. The discussion will address key themes of representation, reciprocity, and the ways in which photography can be rooted in and shaped by community. Don’t miss this unique opportunity to engage in this meaningful conversation. 

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Galleries & Garden

Gallery of California Art
Gallery of California History
Gallery of California Natural Sciences
Garden

Spotlight on OMCA

2024 CAMMY AWARD WINNER LORI FOGARTY

The annual CAMMY Award recognizes extraordinary museum supporters, professionals, and institutions that have made outstanding contributions to California museums. OMCA is elated to announce that this year, CAM has recognized one of our very own, Executive Director and CEO, Lori Fogarty! This award highlights her dedicated leadership throughout her extensive career, including within her role of nearly two decades at OMCA, an institution that centers community engagement, field innovation, and a commitment to inclusivity and diversity. Congratulations, Lori!

WINNER OF THE 2022 NATIONAL MEDAL FOR MUSEUM AND LIBRARY SERVICE

The Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) awarded OMCA one of only six recipients of the 2022 National Medal for Museum and Library Service, the nation’s highest honor for museums and libraries making significant and exceptional contributions to their communities.

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We’re a museum, garden,
and gathering place in the
heart of Oakland.