Gallery Chats at OMCA
OMCA campusJoin us for Gallery Chats, an opportunity to chat with and ask questions of our enthusiastic and knowledgeable OMCA Facilitators.
Admission ticket required
Events
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Upcoming Events
12 events found.
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Gallery Chats at OMCA
OMCA campusJoin us for Gallery Chats, an opportunity to chat with and ask questions of our enthusiastic and knowledgeable OMCA Facilitators.
Admission ticket required -
Spotlight Sundays: A Yalda Night of Song and Poetry
James Moore Theater 1000 Oak St,, Oakland, California, United StatesCoinciding with the Winter Solstice, this month’s Spotlight Sunday celebrates Yalda Night, an ancient Persian holiday marking the longest night of the year. With performances by internationally acclaimed Iranian Bay Area-based singers Mahsa Vahdat and Marjan Vahdat, accompanied by musician and writer Atabak Elyasi, we will weave together stories of renewal and awakening.
$1 – $30 -
Gallery Chats at OMCA
OMCA campusJoin us for Gallery Chats, an opportunity to chat with and ask questions of our enthusiastic and knowledgeable OMCA Facilitators.
Admission ticket required -
-
Gallery Chats at OMCA
OMCA campusJoin us for Gallery Chats, an opportunity to chat with and ask questions of our enthusiastic and knowledgeable OMCA Facilitators.
Admission ticket required -
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.
Free -
OMCA Architecture Walk and Talk
OMCA campusWalk through OMCA’s landmark building and gardens with members of the Council on Architecture.
Free -
ThursDates at OMCA with Sketchboard Co. Live Figure Drawing & Mahjong Game Night
OMCA campusSettle into the warm, after-hours glow of the 2026 ThursDates season with a signature cocktail, laid-back beats from DJ China G, and the kind of unhurried energy that allows connection and creativity to flourish. This Thursday, DJ China G will be setting a groove-worthy atmosphere in Town Fare for a Mahjong (麻将) game night, all while Sketchboard Co. hosts enchanting unrestricted live figure drawing sessions in the Gallery of California Art. Models Paz Hidalgo and Quinn animate each session, bringing gentle butoh dance and experimental movements to their poses.
Admission ticket required -
Basketry Demonstration & Conversation with Jennifer Bates (Northern Sierra Mewuk)
OMCA Lecture Hall 1000 Oak, Oakland, CaliforniaJoin Mewuk basket weaver Jennifer Bates for a special basketry demonstration and conversation exploring the artistry, techniques, and traditions of California Native basketmaking. Jennifer will share her personal practice, discuss the plants and materials used in traditional basketry, and walk audiences through key steps of gathering, cleaning, splitting, and preparing materials. Enjoy an up-close look at her artistry, learn the difference between twined and coiled techniques, and take part in a lively Q&A.
$1 – $30 -
Member Tours: Nature Walk with OMCA’s Curator of Natural Science, Ryder Diaz
Gallery of California Natural Sciences 1000 Oak St,, Oakland, California, United StatesCalling all nature lovers and the nature-curious! For this month’s installment of Member Tours at OMCA, come in your walking shoes 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 -
Introductory Basketry Workshop with Jennifer Bates (Northern Sierra Mewuk)
OMCA Learning Center 1000 Oak, Oakland, CaliforniaIn this introductory workshop, led by Jennifer Bates (Northern Sierra Mewuk) and her apprentice, Jeannette Innerarity (Ione Band of Miwok), attendees will explore basketry materials, learn foundational techniques, and be guided through weaving a basket base. All materials will be provided. This intimate workshop emphasizes close instruction, cultural context, and an opportunity to learn directly from two experienced weavers.
SOLD OUT -
Gallery Chats at OMCA
OMCA campusJoin us for Gallery Chats, an opportunity to chat with and ask questions of our enthusiastic and knowledgeable OMCA Facilitators.
Admission ticket required
Ongoing events
Evening hours
ThursDates at OMCA
Experience ThursDates 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!
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.
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.
Third Sundays
Spotlight Sundays
Every third Sunday, OMCA invites visitors to Spotlight Sundays, a series of conversations, performances, and experiences that showcase California visionaries.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.