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Spotlight Sundays

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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

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

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

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

Ongoing & Annual 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! 

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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.

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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.

 

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Third Sundays Spotlight Sundays

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

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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Gallery Events Group Chats

Knowledgeable facilitators share insights and help make meaning with your group in OMCA’s galleries.

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