Events

Join our email list to be the first to know about upcoming events, programs, and more.

Upcoming Events

Members

  1. Events
  2. Members

Events Search and Views Navigation

Event Views Navigation

Today

Spotlight Sundays: Buffalo Soldiers and the Philippine American War—A Multimedia Experience

OMCA Garden 1000 Oak Street, Oakland, California, United States

In honor of Filipino American History Month, join us for a moving multimedia experience highlighting stories of African American soldiers and Filipinos during the Philippine–American War. Developed by John Calloway, this artistic showcase combines live music, Indigenous dance, and spoken word to narrate powerful depictions of this history and the fight for freedom. The program will be emceed by Mario Nomi from the Oakland based Filipino Advocates for Justice. 

$1 – $30

Member Preview for Born of the Bear Dance: Dugan Aguilar’s Photographs of Native California

You’re invited to the Member Opening for OMCA’s newest exhibition! Born of the Bear Dance: Dugan Aguilar’s Photographs of Native California offers guests a first look at a significant collection that highlights Indigenous endurance and explores the vivid tapestry of contemporary Native California life. Reserved tickets are highly encouraged but not required for Member Preview Hours.

Free for Members

Member Tours: The Art and Practice of Native Basket Weaving with Featured Basketmaker, Jennifer Bates

OMCA Great Hall 1000 Oak, Oakland, California

Join us for a tour of the art and practice of Native basketry with Jennifer Bates. Bates (Northern Sierra Mewuk) has been a basketmaker for over four decades.  She began learning traditional Mewuk basketry by studying with tribal elders as a child and continues to teach basketry from traditional methods of gathering and processing raw materials into her weaving.

Free for Members

Spotlight Sundays: Celebrating Maize Through Screenprinting and Conversation with Xicanx Artists, Melanie Cervantes & Elizabeth Blancas

OMCA Lecture Hall 1000 Oak, Oakland, California

Join us for an engaging outdoor event in OMCA’s Oak Street Plaza. This program will explore Indigenous Xicanx heritage and its deep connection to maize (corn). Engage with a screenprinting poster activity and informal talk with featured artist, Melanie Cervantes & guest artist, Elizabeth Blancas, who will delve into the themes presented in our special exhibition, Calli: The Art of Xicanx Peoples. We invite you to connect, learn, and celebrate with us!

Free

Before You Are Here: Decolonial Cartographies and the Indigenous Bay Area

James Moore Theater 1000 Oak St,, Oakland, California, United States

Celebrate Native Heritage Month with the release of the Before You Are Here map and event uplifting Ohlone voices and perspectives exploring the histories and representations of Bay Area Indigenous territories and their present manifestations.

$1 – $30

Semi—Annual Member Shop Sale

OMCA Great Hall 1000 Oak, Oakland, California

It’s sale time! Join us onsite and online for the semi-annual Member sale at the OMCA Shop. Starting Friday, December 6 through Sunday, December 8, OMCA Members enjoy double their regular discount on regularly priced items in our Shop–that’s 20% off!

Member Benefit Alert!

Member Tours: Art that Asks Questions

OMCA Gallery of California Art 1000 Oak St, Oakland, California, United States

In this installation of Member Tours, OMCA’s experienced Gallery Chats facilitators will guide guests through inquiries of who we are, how we see the world, and what we even consider to be art. These selected works from OMCA’s Gallery of California Art — from different eras, in different genres and styles—aim to challenge how we see our world and expand our understanding of how art functions in our everyday lives. Come join us!

Free for Members

Spotlight Sundays: Weaving Identity through Generations with Consuelo Jimenez Underwood and The Butterfly Effect

OMCA campus

Through the lens of ancestral tapestries Weaving Identity through Generations will explore homelands and the experience of belonging. This intergenerational offering will begin with an artist’s presentation and conversation in OMCA’s James Moore Theater with Calli: Art of Xicanx Peoples featured artist Consuelo Jimenez Underwood and Chair of the Latinx Research Center at UC Berkeley, Laura E. Pérez. 

$1 – $30

Member Tours: Oakland Nature Walk with OMCA’s Curator of Natural Science, Ryder Diaz

Gallery of California Natural Sciences 1000 Oak St,, Oakland, California, United States

This month’s installation of Member Tours at OMCA is calling for nature lovers (and the nature curious) to wear your walking shoes, pack your binoculars*, and come ready to explore the wonders of Oakland’s natural history. Join us for a special nature walk led by OMCA’s Curator of Natural Science, Ryder Diaz. 

Free for Members

Community Conversations: Reclaiming Democracy, Building Belonging

James Moore Theater

OMCA’s Spotlight Sundays is excited to introduce “Community Conversations,” a new series in partnership with The Othering & Belonging Institute (OBI). This new series of conversations will create a space to foster public dialogue and engagement around emerging community topics.

The program’s first installment this January will explore the topic of Reclaiming Democracy, Building Belonging. The panel will include john a. powell, Director of OBI and Professor of Law, African American and Ethnic Studies at the University of California, Berkeley along with a diverse set of other visionary community organizers and youth leaders. The panel will be moderated by Ashley Gallegos who leads the Places of Belonging work at OBI.

$1 – $30

Spotlight Sundays: Gospel at the Museum

James Moore Theater

SOLD OUT—This Black History Month, immerse yourself in the rich history and power of gospel music at the museum. Created by Dr. Adam “Ology” Rogers—radio station owner, music producer, and community organizer—this multimedia experience explores the deep connection between gospel music and African American history. Emceed by KPOO radio personality DJ Sherita (Re Re) Evans, this soul-stirring performance is more than just a show—it’s a living testament to the power of faith, music, and storytelling as instruments of hope and empowerment.

SOLD OUT

Ongoing events

Evening hours Thursday After Hours

Experience Thursday After Hours at OMCA – your weekly night out at the Museum rich with cocktails, culture, and community. Mingle at Town Fare Cafe by Chef Michele McQueen, where you can enjoy drinks and light bites against a backdrop of music, or explore the galleries  which come alive at night with a mix of pop-up performances, chats, live drawings, and more–  just for adults! 

Learn more
Evening hours Friday Nights at OMCA with Off the Grid

Friday Nights at OMCA with Off the Grid, Oakland’s favorite free weekly block party is back, April—October!

Gather with family, friends, and community every Friday 5—9 pm for live music, hands-on activities, Off the Grid (OTG) food trucks, and late-night access to our galleries and special exhibitions, with a Museum ticket.

Learn more
Gallery Events Gallery Chats at OMCA

Join us for Gallery Chats, an opportunity to chat with and ask questions of our enthusiastic and knowledgeable OMCA Facilitators.

 

Learn more
Third Sundays Spotlight Sundays

Every third Sunday, OMCA invites visitors to Spotlight Sundays, a series of conversations, performances, and experiences that showcase California visionaries.

Learn more
First Sundays First Sundays

Every first Sunday of the month, General Admission to OMCA’s Galleries of California Art, History, and Natural Sciences is free and tickets to Special Exhibitions in our Great Hall are offered at a discounted price of $6.

Learn more
Gallery Events Group Tours

Interested in bringing a group to engage more deeply with our gallery content? Sign up for a Group Tour where knowledgeable facilitators share insights and help make meaning with your group in OMCA’s galleries.

Learn more

Annual events

Community Event White Elephant Sale

The Oakland Museum Women’s Board started the White Elephant Sale over sixty years ago. The annual event is not-to-be-missed.

Learn more
Community Celebration Lunar New Year

OMCA celebrates the Lunar New Year and explores the shared connections between the diverse Asian cultures of the Bay Area. These family-friendly programs will include both virtual and in-person offerings that celebrate and honor Lunar New Year traditions through storytelling, performances, activities, cooking demonstrations, and more. OMCA holds space for our AAPI communities to come together and uplift each other with both in-person and virtual healing circles.

Learn more
Community Celebration Día de los Muertos

In collaboration with OMCA’s Día de los Muertos Committee, we honor Day of the Dead every October and November.

Learn more