First Sundays
2025-01-05 11:00 - 17:00 (America/Los_Angeles)
ThursDates at OMCA with Photography Workshop & Scavenger Hunt with Black Film Guild

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.

In between exploring the galleries, pick up some locally-made goods from our shop, or relax outside in our updated garden.

Visitors are encouraged to reserve tickets online in advance to secure your preferred entry time and reduce your wait. Tickets are available at the admissions desk on a first-come, first-served basis.

GET GENERAL ADMISSION TICKETS

GET SPECIAL EXHIBITION TICKETS

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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

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

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

OMCA Architecture Walk and Talk

Walk through OMCA’s landmark building and gardens with members of the Council on Architecture.

Learn More

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

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OMCA Architecture Walk and Talk
2025-01-05 13:00 - 14:00, 2025-02-02 13:00 - 14:00, 2025-03-02 13:00 - 14:00 | OMCA campus
ThursDates at OMCA with Photography Workshop & Scavenger Hunt with Black Film Guild

Walk through OMCA’s landmark building and gardens with members of the Council on Architecture, and learn about the history, design, and evolution of this award-winning structure with guides who are passionate about OMCA and Oakland.

No reservations or tickets are required. Walk and Talk begins near the Mid Level ticketing desk and lasts approximately one hour.

If you’d like to visit OMCA’s Galleries or Special Exhibitions, please purchase a ticket online in advance or at the ticketing desk on the day of your visit.

GET Museum Admission TICKETS

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Thursday After Hours at OMCA with Sketchboard Co. Live Figure Drawing
2025-01-09 17:00 - 20:00 | OMCA campus
ThursDates at OMCA with Photography Workshop & Scavenger Hunt with Black Film Guild

Thursday After Hours at OMCA | Sketchboard Co. Live Figure Drawing and Gallery Chats

Adults 18+

Bring your sketch pads and appetites to kick off the second season of Thursday After Hours at OMCA. Mix and mingle over music by DJ DiVita and delightful cocktails prepared in OMCA’s Town Fare Café. After bites and beverages, head over to the Gallery of California Art for uninstructed live figure drawing sessions hosted by Sketchboard Co.

We welcome all skill levels, including those who have never drawn before and want to try drawing. Art supplies and clipboards will be available for use, and your artwork will be yours to take home or exchange with others. Nude or partially clothed models representing the diversity of the Bay Area will be posing in the galleries for times ranging from 2 to 20 minutes. Since drawing will take place in the galleries, please be mindful of space and bring only the following media from home: sketchbooks (max size 9×12 inches) and pre-sharpened enclosed graphite, charcoal, or conté pencils.

In addition to a dynamic event experience, every Thursday After Hours also offers guests a well-rounded gallery experience with Gallery Chats. Unlike the traditional museum tour, Gallery Chats invites visitors to chat, ask questions, and connect with our OMCA facilitators who combine content knowledge with lived experience to encourage meaningful dialogue and fresh interpretations of our galleries. Gallery Chats take place in our Special Exhibitions and our Galleries of California Art, History, and Natural Sciences. Gallery Chats and Thursday After Hours programming are included with the price of general Museum admission for guests, and totally free for Museum Members. Town Fare Café will be open to visitors until 8 pm.

The OMCA garage will be open until 9 pm on Thursdays Jan 9—Mar 27.

Program Schedule:

5—8 pm Bites, Beverages, and music by DJ DiVita | Town Fare Café

5—8 pm Core Galleries and Special Exhibitions

5:30—7:30 pm Gallery Chats | All Galleries

5:30—7:30 pm Sketchboard Co. Live Figure Drawing | Gallery of California Art, Upper Level

Drop-In Drawing Sessions:

5:30—6:15 pm

6:45—7:30 pm

GET TICKETS

Free Member Tickets

About Sketchboard:

Sketchboard is a BIPOC figure drawing collective, curating eclectic, diverse, and affordable events in the Bay Area over the last 10 years. Our mission is to feature the bodies of people at the intersection of multiple identities, offer living wages to our art models, and create an inclusive environment for the artists in our community.

Accessibility

Oakland Museum of California (OMCA) is committed to providing programs that are accessible, welcoming, and inclusive of our community. Wheelchairs, sensory inclusive devices, and additional amenities are available for checkout on a first come, first served basis at the Ticketing Desk. To request other accommodations, like American Sign Language (ASL), Cantonese, Spanish or another language interpreter, please email visitor@museumca.org at least three weeks before the event.

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Sponsor

Major support for Thursday After Hours at OMCA is provided by The Oakland Museum Women’s Board.

Member Tours: Oakland Nature Walk with OMCA’s Curator of Natural Science, Ryder Diaz
2025-01-11 12:00 - 13:00 | Gallery of California Natural Sciences, 1000 Oak St,, Oakland, California, 94607, United States
ThursDates at OMCA with Photography Workshop & Scavenger Hunt with Black Film Guild

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

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.

The tour will begin at the Mid Level ticketing desk and then will move through the OMCA Garden to learn more about the habitat in our own backyard. Next, Ryder will lead the group out of our 12th Street entrance to learn more about the natural history of Lake Merritt and its surrounding creeks. Without venturing too far off, the group will be prompted to notice the various birds and critters along the way! The walk will conclude back at OMCA’s Gallery of California Natural Sciences with a chance to integrate what visitors saw during the tour. Come join us in the new year for a fun and engaging way to connect with each other and our surroundings—Oakland is better in person.

*Please note that tour spots are limited and that a small number of binoculars will be available. Participation and binoculars will be first come first serve. In the event of rain, this program will be rescheduled.

BECOME A MEMBER

Facilitator

Ryder Diaz (he/they) is OMCA’s Natural Sciences Curator. They have helped to develop science-related exhibitions at Bay Area museums for the past decade. Ryder brings an interdisciplinary background and approach to his work: He has degrees in Science Communication, Population Biology, Metropolitan Studies, and Gender and Sexuality Studies. Outside of OMCA, Ryder co-organizes a monthly bird walk for queer and trans people of color, as well as facilitates an all-volunteer, creekside habitat-restoration project in the Fruitvale.

Accessibility

Oakland Museum of California (OMCA) is committed to providing programs that are accessible, welcoming, and inclusive of our community. Wheelchairs, sensory inclusive devices, and additional amenities are available for checkout on a first come, first served basis at the Ticketing Desk. To request other accommodations, like American Sign Language (ASL), Cantonese, Spanish or another language interpreter, please email visitor@museumca.org at least three weeks before the event. Learn more about our accessibility options.

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Gallery Chats at OMCA
2025-01-11 13:00 - 15:00, 2025-01-18 13:00 - 15:00, 2025-01-25 13:00 - 15:00, 2025-02-01 13:00 - 15:00, 2025-02-08 13:00 - 15:00, 2025-02-15 13:00 - 15:00, 2025-02-22 13:00 - 15:00 | OMCA campus
ThursDates at OMCA with Photography Workshop & Scavenger Hunt with Black Film Guild

Join us for Gallery Chats, an opportunity to chat with and ask questions of our enthusiastic and knowledgeable OMCA Facilitators. Gallery Chats put a twist on the traditional museum tour by encouraging meaningful conversations and fresh interpretations to connect with the artwork, artifacts, and stories in our galleries.

Gallery Chats take place in our Special Exhibitions and our Galleries of California Art, History, and Natural Sciences every Saturday from 1 to 3 pm and are included with Museum and Special Exhibition admission. No reservation necessary.

GET MUSEUM ADMISSION TICKETS

OMCA Members have access to special Member Tours every second Saturday of the month from noon to 1 pm.

Accessibility

Oakland Museum of California (OMCA) is committed to providing programs that are accessible, welcoming, and inclusive of our community. Wheelchairs, sensory inclusive devices, and additional amenities are available for checkout on a first come, first served basis at the Ticketing Desk. To request other accommodations, like American Sign Language (ASL), Cantonese, Spanish or another language interpreter, please email visitor@museumca.org at least three weeks before the event. Learn more about our accessibility options.

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Thursday After Hours at OMCA | Diana Gameros w/ Patrick Wolff
2025-01-16 17:00 - 20:00 | OMCA campus
ThursDates at OMCA with Photography Workshop & Scavenger Hunt with Black Film Guild

Thursday After Hours at OMCA | Pop-Up Performance: Diana Gameros w/ Patrick Wolff and Gallery Chats

Adults 18+

This Thursday the Gallery of California History will come alive with can’t-miss pop-up performances by Diana Gameros (voice and guitar) accompanied by Patrick Wolff (clarinet and tenor sax) as they play original songs and tunes from Mexico and beyond. In between performances, OMCA’s award-winning galleries, along with Town Fare Café, will be open for guests to explore and enjoy delectable bites, beverages, and music by DJ Mark DiVita.In addition to a dynamic event experience, every Thursday After Hours also offers guests a well-rounded gallery experience with Gallery Chats. Unlike the traditional museum tour, Gallery Chats invites visitors to chat, ask questions, and connect with our OMCA facilitators who combine content knowledge with lived experience to encourage meaningful dialogue and fresh interpretations of our galleries. Gallery Chats take place in our Special Exhibitions and our Galleries of California Art, History, and Natural Sciences. Gallery Chats and Thursday After Hours programming are included with the price of general Museum admission for guests, and totally free for Museum Members. Town Fare Café will be open to visitors until 8 pm.

The OMCA garage will be open until 9 pm on Thursdays Jan 9—Mar 27.

Program Schedule:

5—8 pm Bites, Beverages, and music by DJ Mark DiVita | Town Fare Café

5—8 pm Core Galleries and Special Exhibitions

5:30—7:30 pm Gallery Chats | All OMCA Galleries

5:45—6:15 pm Pop-up Performance: Diana Gameros w/ Patrick Wolff | Gallery of California History, Mid Level

6:45—7:15 pm Pop-up Performance: Diana Gameros w/ Patrick Wolff | Gallery of California History, Mid Level

GET TICKETS

Free Member Tickets

About Diana Gameros:

Diana Gameros, a singer, songwriter, and composer, was born and raised in Juárez, México and immigrated to the United States as a teenager. Over the last decade in the Bay Area Diana has released two albums of original songs written in Spanish and English and has been highlighted often by NPR’s Tiny Desk concert series, and a documentary film about her was released by KQED in 2020. Her music tells stories of family, migration, and home, and has led her to perform with other prominent performers such as Joan Baez, Natalia Lafourcade, and the San Francisco Symphony. Diana received the 2023 Music Award Grant from the Gerbode Foundation to record a new album at Women’s Audio Mission studio in San Francisco to be released in 2025.

Accompanying Diana this evening will be Patrick Wolff on clarinet and saxophone.

Accessibility

Oakland Museum of California (OMCA) is committed to providing programs that are accessible, welcoming, and inclusive of our community. Wheelchairs, sensory inclusive devices, and additional amenities are available for checkout on a first come, first served basis at the Ticketing Desk. To request other accommodations, like American Sign Language (ASL), Cantonese, Spanish or another language interpreter, please email visitor@museumca.org at least three weeks before the event.

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Sponsor

Major support for Thursday After Hours at OMCA is provided by The Oakland Museum Women’s Board.

Community Conversations: Reclaiming Democracy, Building Belonging
2025-01-19 11:00 - 13:00 | James Moore Theater
ThursDates at OMCA with Photography Workshop & Scavenger Hunt with Black Film Guild

Community Conversations: Reclaiming Democracy, Building Belonging

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, Ernestine Nettles, President of the Oakland League of Women Voters, and Olivia Richardson Feldman who is the Co-Chair of the Oakland Youth Commission. The panel will be moderated by Ashley Gallegos who leads the Places of Belonging work at OBI and will feature open remarks from Congresswoman Lateefah Simon and former Congresswoman Barbara Lee. .

This interactive experience will encourage audience participation and will be grounded by an opening performance by the Belonging Residency Company that will orient the space toward our shared humanity through the arts.

general tickets

MEMBER TICKETS

Get 15% off a signed copy of john e. powell’s book, The Power of Bridging: How to Build a World Where We All Belong when you purchase a ticket to the event online. Limited supply.

Presenters

john a.powell is Director of the Othering and Belonging Institute and Professor of Law, African American, and Ethnic Studies at the University of California, Berkeley. He was previously the Executive Director at the Kirwan Institute for the Study of Race and Ethnicity at the Ohio State University, and prior to that, the founder and director of the Institute for Race and Poverty at the University of Minnesota. John formerly served as the National Legal Director of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU). He is a co-founder of the Poverty & Race Research Action Council and serves on the boards of several national and international organizations. john led the development of an “opportunity-based” model that connects affordable housing to education, health, healthcare, and employment and is well-known for his work developing the frameworks of “targeted universalism” and “othering and belonging” to affect equity-based interventions. john has taught at numerous law schools including Harvard and Columbia University. His latest books are Belonging Without Othering, How We Save Ourselves and the World, and The Power of Bridging, How to Build a World where we all Belong.

Ashley Gallegos leads the Places of Belonging work at the Othering and Belonging Institute. Her work focuses on advancing belonging in collaboration with people, groups, and institutions through a place-based approach with global connection. Ashley believes in the power of belonging and is inspired by its ability to invite people and places to build for the betterment of ourselves, our communities, and our shared world.

Ernestine Nettles is the first Black president of the League of Women Voters Oakland, and has been an active member of the Oakland League for the past 12 years and has served on the board of directors for 10 years. She has spent most of her professional life promoting and supporting small businesses. Her position as a Contract Compliance Officer for the City of Oakland has placed her at the forefront of small business advocacy. She is the first point of entry for a company that wants to get certified with the City of Oakland.  She works to help ensure businesses are prepared to receive Oakland’s promise of diversity, equity and inclusion. Her expertise has helped countless professionals and small businesses get a foothold in Oakland and prepared for opportunities throughout the business world. She gained this experience and became an advocate for small business while working for Golden State Business League and Sysco Foods. Additionally, while working as an Equal Employment Opportunities Officer and as a Chief Legislative Analyst for the City of Los Angeles Metropolitan Transportation Authority in addition to working to establish the Tom and Ethel Bradley Foundation, she obtained a deep passion for equity and inclusion.

Olivia Richardson Feldman is currently a senior attending Lick-Wilmerding High School in San Francisco. As an Oakland native, she serves as Co-Chair of the Oakland Youth Commission alongside other Oakland youth to voice concerns to city government. Her leadership extends to activism in her founding of her school’s anti-hate speech campaign, Black Student Union presidency, and as Editor-in-Chief of her student newspaper. As a creator of the Civil Discourse circles in her high school, she aims to hold thoughtful conversations across differences to create a community where everyone is seen. In her free time, she enjoys writing poems and music as well as playing shortstop on the softball field.

Accessibility

Oakland Museum of California (OMCA) is committed to providing programs that are accessible, welcoming, and inclusive of our community. Wheelchairs, sensory inclusive devices, and additional amenities are available for checkout on a first come, first served basis at the Ticketing Desk. To request other accommodations, like American Sign Language (ASL), Cantonese, Spanish or another language interpreter, please email visitor@museumca.org at least three weeks before the event. Learn more about our accessibility options.

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Thursday After Hours at OMCA with Sketchboard Co. Live Figure Drawing
2025-01-23 17:00 - 20:00 | OMCA campus
ThursDates at OMCA with Photography Workshop & Scavenger Hunt with Black Film Guild

Thursday After Hours at OMCA | Sketchboard Co. Live Figure Drawing and Gallery Chats

Adults 18+

Bring your sketch pads and appetites to kick off the second season of Thursday After Hours at OMCA. Mix and mingle over music by DJ Mark DiVita and delightful cocktails prepared in OMCA’s Town Fare Café. After bites and beverages, head over to the Gallery of California History for uninstructed live figure drawing sessions hosted by Sketchboard Co.

We welcome all skill levels, including those who have never drawn before and want to try drawing. Art supplies and clipboards will be available for use, and your artwork will be yours to take home or exchange with others. Nude or partially clothed models representing the diversity of the Bay Area will be posing in the galleries for times ranging from 2 to 20 minutes. Since drawing will take place in the galleries, please be mindful of space and bring only the following media from home: sketchbooks (max size 9×12 inches) and pre-sharpened enclosed graphite, charcoal, or conté pencils.

In addition to a dynamic event experience, every Thursday After Hours also offers guests a well-rounded gallery experience with Gallery Chats. Unlike the traditional museum tour, Gallery Chats invites visitors to chat, ask questions, and connect with our OMCA facilitators who combine content knowledge with lived experience to encourage meaningful dialogue and fresh interpretations of our galleries. Gallery Chats take place in our Special Exhibitions and our Galleries of California Art, History, and Natural Sciences. Gallery Chats and Thursday After Hours programming are included with the price of general Museum admission for guests, and totally free for Museum Members. Town Fare Café will be open to visitors until 8 pm.

The OMCA garage will be open until 9 pm on Thursdays Jan 9—Mar 27.

Program Schedule:

5—8 pm Bites, Beverages, and music by DJ Mark DiVita | Town Fare Café

5—8 pm Core Galleries and Special Exhibitions

5:30—7:30 pm Gallery Chats | All Galleries

5:30—7:45 pm Sketchboard Co. Live Figure Drawing | Gallery of California History, Mid Level

Drop-In Drawing Sessions:

5:30—6:15 pm

6:45—7:30 pm

GET TICKETS

Free Member Tickets

About Sketchboard:

Sketchboard is a BIPOC figure drawing collective, curating eclectic, diverse, and affordable events in the Bay Area over the last 10 years. Our mission is to feature the bodies of people at the intersection of multiple identities, offer living wages to our art models, and create an inclusive environment for the artists in our community.

Accessibility

Oakland Museum of California (OMCA) is committed to providing programs that are accessible, welcoming, and inclusive of our community. Wheelchairs, sensory inclusive devices, and additional amenities are available for checkout on a first come, first served basis at the Ticketing Desk. To request other accommodations, like American Sign Language (ASL), Cantonese, Spanish or another language interpreter, please email visitor@museumca.org at least three weeks before the event.

Return to Events

Sponsor

Major support for Thursday After Hours at OMCA is provided by The Oakland Museum Women’s Board.

66th Annual White Elephant Preview Sale
2025-01-26 10:00 - 15:00 | White Elephant Sale, 333 Lancaster St., Oakland, 94602
ThursDates at OMCA with Photography Workshop & Scavenger Hunt with Black Film Guild

The White Elephant Sale is a Bay Area tradition and the largest rummage sale in Northern California. Organized by the Oakland Museum Women’s Board, the White Elephant Sale is the biggest annual fundraising event benefiting the Oakland Museum of California (OMCA). The sale returns for the 2025 season starting with its Preview Sale on January 26, 10 am– 3 pm and runs through the beginning of March. For more information and additional sale dates see, whiteelephantsale.org.

SOLD OUT

About The Oakland Museum Women’s Board

The White Elephant Sale is held annually in the Spring, attracting shoppers of all ages from the greater Bay Area and beyond.

The sole purpose of the Oakland Museum Women’s Board (OMWB), a dedicated group with 114 year-round members, has been to raise money to support the Oakland Museum of California acquisitions, exhibitions, educational programs, capital improvements, and more. Since 1959, the OMWB has contributed over $30 million to the Museum. With the help of a thousand dedicated volunteers, they work year round to organize and present the White Elephant Sale held annually during the Spring.

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66th Annual White Elephant Open Warehouse Days
2025-01-29 10:00 - 2025-02-22 14:00 | White Elephant Sale, 333 Lancaster St., Oakland, 94602
ThursDates at OMCA with Photography Workshop & Scavenger Hunt with Black Film Guild

The 66th Annual White Elephant Public Shopping Days Sale, a Bay Area tradition and the largest rummage sale in Northern California.

Browse without the crowds on select days between January 29 and February 22 between 10 am and 2 pm. New merchandise will be added throughout the sale. Reserve your spot for $7 per day. A limited number of shoppers will be allowed per day.

Preview Sale: Sunday, January 26

Open Warehouse Days

Week 1: Wednesday, January 29 through Saturday, February 1

Week 2: Wednesday, February 5 through Saturday, February 8

Week 3: Wednesday, February 12 through Saturday, February 15

Week 4: Monday (Presidents Day), February 17; Thursday, February 20 through Saturday, February 22

Shoppers with reservations will be admitted first. Walk-ins will be allowed as space permits starting at 11:00 am each day.

Tickets are now available online: whiteelephantsale.org

GET TICKETS

Important Info

Pay-at-the-door entry permitted after 11:00 AM on Open Warehouse Days: As space allows, each Open Warehouse Day we will admit walk-in shoppers who have not pre-purchased tickets for that day. They will be welcome after 11:00 AM, once all pre-purchased ticket holders have entered. Walk-in shoppers will pay a $7.00 admission fee at the door.

Free shopping hours available after 1:00 PM on Open Warehouse Sale Days: As space allows, shoppers will be welcome to enter the warehouse on Open Warehouse Days at no charge to shop until we close at 2:00 PM.

Free Admission for Teachers: Current California pre-k to 12 teachers will be given free admission starting at 11 AM. A photo ID and proof of current status of employment will be required at entry.

Prices as marked: In previous years, we have charged an extra 10% on purchases made during the regular sale days. We are eliminating that fee in 2025.

For the health and safety of our volunteer workers and our patrons, we must impose the following restrictions:

No children under 12 (including infants in front carriers) will be allowed.

Shoppers (including children 12 and over) are highly encouraged to be vaccinated with a booster, but not required.

Masks are not required, but social distancing protocols must be followed. Wearing well-fitting masks such as N95, KN95, KF94 or double masking is highly recommended.

No pets (unless providing a service).

No food or drinks (except water) inside the warehouse.

Backpacks and shopping carts are not permitted in the warehouse and must be checked in at the door before entry.

This is a cashless event. All transactions must be by credit/debit card or Apple Pay.

All sales are final. No refunds.

About The Oakland Museum Women’s Board

The White Elephant Sale is held annually in the Spring, attracting shoppers of all ages from the greater Bay Area and beyond.

The sole purpose of the Oakland Museum Women’s Board (OMWB), a dedicated group with 114 year-round members, has been to raise money to support the Oakland Museum of California acquisitions, exhibitions, educational programs, capital improvements, and more. Since 1959, the OMWB has contributed over $30 million to the Museum. With the help of a thousand dedicated volunteers, they work year round to organize and present the White Elephant Sale held annually during the Spring.

Return to Events

Highlights

RELATED EVENTS

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Thursday After Hours at OMCA with Lyla June
2025-01-30 17:00 - 20:00 | OMCA campus
ThursDates at OMCA with Photography Workshop & Scavenger Hunt with Black Film Guild

Thursday After Hours at OMCA | Pop-up Performance: Lyla June and Gallery Chats

Adults 18+

This Thursday, the Great Hall—home to OMCA’s current special exhibition Born of the Bear Dance: Dugan Aguilar’s Photographs of Native California—will come alive with can’t-miss pop-up performances by Lyla June. With her soulful, textured, and multi-genre sound, Lyla June’s music powerfully amplifies the voices of Indigenous Peoples while inspiring audiences of all walks of life to forge a deeper connection to themselves and the earth. In between her captivating performances, guests can explore OMCA’s award-winning galleries or relax at Town Fare Café with delicious bites, beverages, and music by DJ Mark DiVita.

In addition to a dynamic event experience, every Thursday After Hours also offers guests a well-rounded gallery experience with Gallery Chats. Unlike the traditional museum tour, Gallery Chats invites visitors to chat, ask questions, and connect with our OMCA facilitators who combine content knowledge with lived experience to encourage meaningful dialogue and fresh interpretations of our galleries. Gallery Chats take place in our Special Exhibitions and our Galleries of California Art, History, and Natural Sciences. Gallery Chats and Thursday After Hours programming are included with the price of general Museum admission for guests, and totally free for Museum Members. Town Fare Café will be open to visitors until 8 pm.

The OMCA garage will be open until 9 pm on Thursdays Jan 9—Mar 27.

Program Schedule:

5—8 pm Bites, Beverages, and music by DJ Mark DiVita | Town Fare Café

5—8 pm Core Galleries and Special Exhibitions

5:45—6:15 pm Pop-up Performance: Lyla June | Great Hall

6:45—7:15 pm Pop-up Performance: Lyla June | Great Hall

GET TICKETS

Free Member Tickets

About Lyla June:

Dr. Lyla June Johnston (aka Lyla June) is an Indigenous musician, author, and community organizer of Diné (Navajo), Tsétsêhéstâhese (Cheyenne) and European lineages. Her multi-genre presentation style has engaged audiences across the globe towards personal, collective, and ecological healing. She blends her study of Human Ecology at Stanford, graduate work in Indigenous Pedagogy, and the traditional worldview she grew up with to inform her music, perspectives and solutions. Her doctoral research focused on the ways in which pre-colonial Indigenous Nations shaped large regions of Turtle Island (aka the Americas) to produce abundant food systems for humans and non-humans.

Accessibility

Oakland Museum of California (OMCA) is committed to providing programs that are accessible, welcoming, and inclusive of our community. Wheelchairs, sensory inclusive devices, and additional amenities are available for checkout on a first come, first served basis at the Ticketing Desk. To request other accommodations, like American Sign Language (ASL), Cantonese, Spanish or another language interpreter, please email visitor@museumca.org at least three weeks before the event.

Return to Events

Sponsor

Major support for Thursday After Hours at OMCA is provided by The Oakland Museum Women’s Board.

First Sundays
2025-02-02 11:00 - 17:00, 2025-03-02 11:00 - 17:00
ThursDates at OMCA with Photography Workshop & Scavenger Hunt with Black Film Guild

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.

In between exploring the galleries, pick up some locally-made goods from our shop, or relax outside in our updated garden.

Visitors are encouraged to reserve tickets online in advance to secure your preferred entry time and reduce your wait. Tickets are available at the admissions desk on a first-come, first-served basis.

GET GENERAL ADMISSION TICKETS

GET SPECIAL EXHIBITION TICKETS

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Highlights

Thursday After Hours at OMCA with Sketchboard Co. Live Figure Drawing
2025-02-06 17:00 - 20:00 | OMCA campus
ThursDates at OMCA with Photography Workshop & Scavenger Hunt with Black Film Guild

Thursday After Hours at OMCA | Sketchboard Co. Live Figure Drawing and Gallery Chats

Adults 18+

Bring your sketch pads and appetites to another Thursday After Hours at OMCA. Mix and mingle over music by DJ Mark DiVita and delightful cocktails prepared in OMCA’s Town Fare Café. After bites and beverages, head over to the Gallery of California History for uninstructed live figure drawing sessions hosted by Sketchboard Co.

We welcome all skill levels, including those who have never drawn before and want to try drawing. Art supplies and clipboards will be available for use, and your artwork will be yours to take home or exchange with others. Nude or partially clothed models representing the diversity of the Bay Area will be posing in the galleries for times ranging from 2 to 20 minutes. Since drawing will take place in the galleries, please be mindful of space and bring only the following media from home: sketchbooks (max size 9×12 inches) and pre-sharpened enclosed graphite, charcoal, or conté pencils.

In addition to a dynamic event experience, every Thursday After Hours also offers guests a well-rounded gallery experience with Gallery Chats. Unlike the traditional museum tour, Gallery Chats invites visitors to chat, ask questions, and connect with our OMCA facilitators who combine content knowledge with lived experience to encourage meaningful dialogue and fresh interpretations of our galleries. Gallery Chats take place in our Special Exhibitions and our Galleries of California Art, History, and Natural Sciences.

Gallery Chats and Thursday After Hours programming are included with the price of general Museum admission for guests, and totally free for Museum Members. Town Fare Café will be open to visitors until 8 pm.

The OMCA garage will be open until 9 pm on Thursdays Jan 9—Mar 27.

Program Schedule:

5—8 pm Bites, Beverages, and music by DJ Mark DiVita | Town Fare Café

5—8 pm Core Galleries and Special Exhibitions

5:30—7:30 pm Gallery Chats | All Galleries

5:30—7:30 pm Sketchboard Co. Live Figure Drawing | Gallery of California History, Mid Level

Drop-In Drawing Sessions:

5:30—6:15 pm

6:45—7:30 pm

GET TICKETS

Free Member Tickets

About Sketchboard:

Sketchboard is a BIPOC figure drawing collective, curating eclectic, diverse, and affordable events in the Bay Area over the last 10 years. Our mission is to feature the bodies of people at the intersection of multiple identities, offer living wages to our art models, and create an inclusive environment for the artists in our community.

Accessibility

Oakland Museum of California (OMCA) is committed to providing programs that are accessible, welcoming, and inclusive of our community. Wheelchairs, sensory inclusive devices, and additional amenities are available for checkout on a first come, first served basis at the Ticketing Desk. To request other accommodations, like American Sign Language (ASL), Cantonese, Spanish or another language interpreter, please email visitor@museumca.org at least three weeks before the event.

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Sponsor

Major support for Thursday After Hours at OMCA is provided by The Oakland Museum Women’s Board.

24th Annual Lunar New Year at OMCA: Year of the Snake
2025-02-08 11:00 - 16:00 | OMCA Great Hall, 1000 Oak, Oakland, California, 94607
ThursDates at OMCA with Photography Workshop & Scavenger Hunt with Black Film Guild

Gather with us at OMCA for our 24th Annual Lunar New Year Celebration. Celebrate and honor Lunar New Year traditions through family-friendly storytelling, performances, activities, and more. Come together to uplift AAPI communities and explore the shared connections between Asian cultures of the Bay Area.

Join us on OMCA’s campus to slither into the Year of the Snake together. Festival access starts at 11am; activities and performances start at 12pm. Parking is available in OMCA’s Oak Street Garage for a day rate of $10.

ASL Interpretation for OMCA Garden stage will be provided.

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Schedule of Events

FOOD AND BEVERAGES

TOWN FARE CAFE, MID LEVEL

11 am–4 pm Enjoy cuisine and beverages that pay tribute to Chef Michele’s Southern roots and Oakland upbringing and bring together flavors from the diverse cultures within the local community.

TOWN FARE PATIO, MID LEVEL

11 am–4 pm Pick up drinks and quick bites inspired by Lunar New Year at the outdoor Town Fare Patio.

FOOD VENDORS, OAK STREET PLAZA

11 am–4 pm Enjoy a delectable variety of food offerings from Bay Area AAPI chefs.

OPENING CELEBRATION

GARDEN STAGE

12–12:20 pm Usher in the New Year and chase evil spirits away with a lucky lion dance by LionDanceME.

PERFORMANCES

GARDEN STAGE *

12:45–1:30 pm Nanta, Samgomu, and Pan-Gut by Hansamo’s Nanta, Pungmul & Dance Teams

2:00–2:30 pm Interactive lion dance performance with LionDanceME—take pictures with the lions and dancers!

3:00–3:35 pm Dance performances by Bay Area Independent Chinese Dancers

STORYTIME

LECTURE HALL, LOWER LEVEL **

12:30–1 pm The Year of the Snake: Tales from the Chinese Zodiac with author Oliver Chin

3–3:30 pm The Year of the Snake: Tales from the Chinese Zodiac with author Oliver Chin

HANDS-ON ACTIVITIES

GARDEN, LOWER LEVEL

12–4:00 pm Create a hanging snake ornament and decorate a red envelope.

KORET PLAZA, LOWER LEVEL

12–4:00 pm Write a wish for your community for the new year and add it to our collective Year of the Snake artwork!

CALIFORNIA ROOM, LOWER LEVEL

12:30–3:30 pm Learn about the art of tea making and explore different tea varietals with Donna Lo, founder of local tea company Far Leaves Tea.

GALLERY ACTIVITIES

GALLERY OF CALIFORNIA ART, UPPER LEVEL

1–2:00 pm Join us for a special edition of Gallery Chats led by Bay Area artist Chelsea Ryoko Wong and OMCA’s Senior Curator of Art Carin Adams. Wong will share about the inspiration and process for developing her exciting new installation titled Ancestral Visions. This talk will explore the fantastical reimaging of the lives and ephemera of seven 20th century Chinese American women highlighted in OMCA’s textile collection.

ALL GALLERIES, LOWER, MID, UPPER LEVELS

1–3:00 pm Gallery Chats at OMCA takes an informal approach to the traditional museum tour by encouraging meaningful conversations and fresh interpretations to connect with the artwork, artifacts, and stories in our galleries. Visitors are invited to chat, ask questions, and connect with our OMCA facilitators who combine content knowledge with lived experience to encourage meaningful dialogue and fresh interpretations of our exhibitions.

Gallery Chats take place in our Special Exhibitions and our Galleries of California Art, History, and Natural Sciences every Saturday from 1 to 3 pm and are included with Museum and Special Exhibition admission. No reservation necessary.

11 am–4:00 pm Pick up a self-guided Lunar New Year Zodiac Animal Quest activity sheet and Chelsea Ryoko Wong Conversation Guide at the hands-on activity tables in the Garden and Koret Plaza.

CLOSING CELEBRATION

GARDEN STAGE

3:45 pm End the celebration with an energetic Year of the Snake performance by LionDanceME.

* If raining, performances will move to the James Moore Theater, Lower Level

** Limited seating. Doors open 15 minutes before each storytime.

OMCA Lunar New Year is made possible in part by generous support from the Oakland Museum Women’s Board.

About the performers and partners

LionDanceME

As seen on America’s Got Talent, this is LionDanceME, fresh off of a world lion dance championship in Malaysia! They made history by having the first female in the world to win the Western Lion King title, and continue to keep the cultural art of dragon and lion dance alive through youth programs at over 30 different schools in San Francisco. You can check out their showcase every Saturday at 4pm in the heart of Chinatown on Grant Avenue!

Hansamo

Hansamo is a non-profit organization where Korean American middle and high school students and their parents in the Bay Area come together to celebrate Korean language and traditions. We promote cultural understanding and enrich our community through performances.
Since 2011, Hansamo has been making a significant impact in spreading the love for Korean language and culture throughout the Bay Area. We have performed at numerous cultural events and successfully brought Korean language classes to public schools such as Dougherty Valley and California High School in San Ramon.

Bay Area Independent Chinese Dancers (BAICD)

BAICD is a collective of independent Chinese dancers, choreographers, and allied artists who use traditional arts to tell new Bay Area and global stories in our own voices. While we were created to provide a gender-inclusive home for 22-50 year-old Chinese dancers, we are open to anyone who shares our passion for creating new work in traditional arts and original interpretations of derived pieces, regardless of age, national origin, gender, or other dance team/studio affiliations. Our goal is not to replicate the traditional studio model, but to focus on original choreographies and solos that better fit with working adults’ schedules while democratizing individual dancers’ artistic voice. We hope to connect traditional audiences with local issues, and use our public engagement to introduce new communities to the diversity of Chinese dance.

Oliver Chin

Oliver Chin is the author of over 20 books, including Tales from the Chinese Zodiac and More Awesome Asian Americans: 20 Citizens Who Enriched America. Founder of the children’s book publisher Immedium, he published the original Octonauts books which inspired the worldwide hit animated series.

Donna Lo, Far Leaves Tea

Donna Lo has been buying tea and teaware for Far Leaves Tea in Berkeley for over 25 years. She’s traveled to Taiwan, China, and Japan to find the best sources for good tea and handmade teaware. As co-founder of Far Leaves she develops tea and snack recipes for the teashop and introduces countless people to the simple art of having tea.

Gallery Chats Special Guests: Artist, Chelsea Ryoko Wong and OMCA Senior Curator of Art, Carin Adams
2025-02-08 13:00 - 14:00 | OMCA Great Hall, 1000 Oak, Oakland, California, 94607
ThursDates at OMCA with Photography Workshop & Scavenger Hunt with Black Film Guild

In honor of OMCA’s 24th annual Lunar New Year celebration, please join us for a very special edition of Gallery Chats led by Bay Area artist Chelsea Ryoko Wong and OMCA Senior Curator of Art Carin Adams. As OMCA’s 2024 Harker Fund Artist-in-Residence, Wong will share about the inspiration and process for developing her exciting new installation in the Gallery of California Art, Ancestral Visions.

Wong’s work, being both a creative reimagining of the past and a fantastical nod to the present, is inspired by textiles from the OMCA collection. Wong’s research focused on the wardrobes, photographs, and ephemera of six 20th century Chinese American women—Rose Setzo, Sophia Chang Wong, Grace Dea, Lei Kim Lim, Sun Fung Lee Wong, and Chop Chin Chum. This unique project will include Wong’s iconic colorful paintings in an immersive environment that will showcase the dresses the women wore known as qipao or cheongsam, as well as illuminate what is known of their lives.

During the Lunar New Year Celebration, our regular Gallery Chats Facilitators will also be available to engage in conversation in our Galleries of California Art, History, and Natural Science from 1 to 3 pm.Ancestral Visions will be on view until February 1, 2026. This residency is supported by the Harker Fund Artist Residency Program.

LUNAR NEW YEAR TICKETS on sale 1/11

MEMBER TICKETS

Facilitator Bio

Chelsea Ryoko Wong (b. 1986, Seattle, WA) is a painter and muralist known for vibrant, joyful celebrations of community, ritual, and seasonality. Inspired by Northern California and international travels, the scenes in Wong’s paintings are infused with fantasy, humor, and imagination. Translating her printmaking background to the realm of painting, Wong’s paintings are composed through a meticulous layering of form and figure.

Wong attended Parsons School of Design, New York and received her BFA in printmaking from California College of the Arts. She is the first recipient of the Hamaguchi Emerging Artists Fellowship award at Kala Art Institute, Berkeley and was a 2022 finalist for SFMOMA’s esteemed SECA Art Award. She has participated in recent group exhibitions at the de Young, San Francisco; Yerba Buena Center for the Arts, San Francisco, CA; Creativity Explored, San Francisco, CA; Chinese Cultural Center, San Francisco, CA; and Bolinas Museum, CA. She has completed large-scale mural projects in San Francisco at Asana; La Cocina; Facebook Artist in Residence Program; and the Asian Art Museum. She was awarded the Harker Fund Residency in 2024 and will present a solo exhibition at the Oakland Museum of California in February 2025. Her work has been acquired by institutional and private collections including the de Young, Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco; Crocker Art Museum, Sacramento, CA, and Bolinas Museum, CA. Wong lives and works in the Mission District of San Francisco.

Accessibility

Oakland Museum of California (OMCA) is committed to providing programs that are accessible, welcoming, and inclusive of our community. Wheelchairs, sensory inclusive devices, and additional amenities are available for checkout on a first come, first served basis at the Ticketing Desk. To request other accommodations, like American Sign Language (ASL), Cantonese, Spanish or another language interpreter, please email visitor@museumca.org at least three weeks before the event. Learn more about our accessibility options.

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Thursday After Hours at OMCA with August Lee Stevens & Trivia Night
2025-02-13 17:00 - 20:00 | OMCA campus
ThursDates at OMCA with Photography Workshop & Scavenger Hunt with Black Film Guild

Thursday After Hours at OMCA | Pop-Up Performance: August Lee Stevens, Trivia Night, and Gallery Chats

Adults 18+

This Thursday, join us at the Gallery of California Natural Sciences for an unforgettable evening featuring intimate performances by August Lee Stevens. This Bay Area-based singer-songwriter will be joined by her talented friends as they perform songs from her critically acclaimed debut EP, Better Places, along with a special preview of her upcoming music. Known for her unique blend of folk, neo-soul, and powerful storytelling, August’s dynamic sound will fill the gallery with both raw emotion and rich melodies. Next, celebrate friendship and love of all kinds at a special Galentine’s/Valentine’s edition of Trivia Night. Winners will receive themed prizes from OMCA’s Store! In between performances and trivia, you can explore OMCA’s award-winning galleries, enjoy delectable bites and beverages from Town Fare Café, and vibe to music curated by DJ Mark DiVita.

In addition to a dynamic event experience, every Thursday After Hours also offers guests a well-rounded gallery experience with Gallery Chats. Unlike the traditional museum tour, Gallery Chats invites visitors to chat, ask questions, and connect with our OMCA facilitators who combine content knowledge with lived experience to encourage meaningful dialogue and fresh interpretations of our galleries. Gallery Chats take place in our Special Exhibitions and our Galleries of California Art, History, and Natural Sciences.

Gallery Chats and Thursday After Hours programming are included with the price of general Museum admission for guests, and totally free for Museum Members. Town Fare Café will be open to visitors until 8 pm.

The OMCA garage will be open until 9 pm on Thursdays Jan 9—Mar 27.

Program Schedule:

5—8 pm Bites, Beverages, and music by DJ Mark DiVita | Town Fare Café

5—8 pm Core Galleries and Special Exhibitions

5:30—7:30 pm Gallery Chats | All OMCA Galleries

5:45—6:15 pm Pop-up Performance: August Lee Stevens | Gallery of California Natural Sciences, Lower Level

6:45—7:15 pm Trivia Night: L-O-V-E | Town Fare Café

6:45—7:15 pm Pop-up Performance: August Lee Stevens | Gallery of California Natural Sciences, Lower Level

GET TICKETS

Free Member Tickets

About August Lee Stevens:

August Lee Stevens is a Bay Area-based musician and singer-songwriter whose dynamic sound merges the lyrical rawness and simplicity of folk songs with the lush melodies and vocals of neo-soul. Her debut EP, Better Places, came out in March 2024 to critical acclaim. Other recent highlights include performing at TEDx, supporting current Tiny Desk winner Philharmonik, sitting in with Brian Jackson, Martin Luther McCoy and an allstar band in a tribute to Gil Scott Heron at SFJAZZ, and performing as part of the emerging artists supergroup Oakland Rising at Hardly Strictly Bluegrass. She is also a recipient of the Local Sirens Residency with Women’s Audio Mission.

A natural storyteller, August uses music to cut to the heart, inviting people to look in on some of her most intimate moments. Her music showcases that there is strength that comes from vulnerability and through the sharing of music she hopes to provide the backdrop to the more delicate moments of life. You can find her latest releases and performances on her website and all social media platforms.

Accessibility

Oakland Museum of California (OMCA) is committed to providing programs that are accessible, welcoming, and inclusive of our community. Wheelchairs, sensory inclusive devices, and additional amenities are available for checkout on a first come, first served basis at the Ticketing Desk. To request other accommodations, like American Sign Language (ASL), Cantonese, Spanish or another language interpreter, please email visitor@museumca.org at least three weeks before the event.

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Sponsor

Major support for Thursday After Hours at OMCA is provided by The Oakland Museum Women’s Board.

Spotlight Sundays: Gospel at the Museum
2025-02-16 14:00 - 15:30 | James Moore Theater
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ThursDates at OMCA with Photography Workshop & Scavenger Hunt with Black Film Guild

Spotlight Sundays: Gospel at the Museum

SOLD OUT

This Black History Month, join us for a powerful night of gospel music at the museum created by Dr. Adam “Ology” Rogers—radio station owner, music producer, and community organizer. Hosted by KPOO radio personality DJ Sherita (Re Re) Evans, this performance uplifts the deep ties between gospel music and African American history.

Featuring renowned gospel artists, the performance musically reflects various key dynamics in African American history, from antebellum hymns of resistance to Civil Rights anthems and modern gospel; it’s a celebration of how gospel music has inspired hope, sparked change, and connected generations.

The event kicks off at 2 pm, and Town Fare by Michele McQueen on OMCA’s Mid Level (open from 11 a.m. – 4 p.m.) is prepared to offer a rounded Sunday experience. McQueen’s menu, inspired by her Southern roots and Oakland upbringing, offers the perfect complement to this celebratory day.

This event has sold out.

SOLD OUT

Performer Bio

A musical prodigy, Dr. Adam Rogers began playing multiple instruments at age 8. By age 12, he became the jurisdictional organist for Northern California’s 1st Jurisdiction in the Church of God in Christ. Dr. Adam has accompanied gospel legends like Kim Burrell and Marvin Sapp. He earned a Bachelor’s in Philosophy and Religion from San Francisco State University and two Associate degrees from Laney College. Dr. Rogers directed the gospel choir at UC Berkeley as well as the M.D. for Saint Mary’s College &Contra Costa College gospel choir while serving as minister of music at Ephesians COGIC Berkeley. In 2023, he received a Doctorate in Sacred Music.

Founder of Believe Radio Media Group LLC, BRMGroup Films, and SyncHouseMedia LLC Dr. Rogers has produced award-winning content, charted on Billboard. He is collaborating with networks like Impact Network and Tubi. In 2025, he was appointed Communications Coordinator for the NAACP Vallejo branch, Western Regional Media Specialist, California State President of the National Association of Gospel Radio. His accolades include Stellar Award nominations in radio, Spin Awards winner and Gospel Choice Business Owner of the Year honors.

Accessibility

Oakland Museum of California (OMCA) is committed to providing programs that are accessible, welcoming, and inclusive of our community. Wheelchairs, sensory inclusive devices, and additional amenities are available for checkout on a first come, first served basis at the Ticketing Desk. To request other accommodations, like American Sign Language (ASL), Cantonese, Spanish or another language interpreter, please email visitor@museumca.org at least three weeks before the event. Learn more about our accessibility options.

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Thursday After Hours at OMCA with Sketchboard Co. Live Figure Drawing
2025-02-20 17:00 - 20:00 | OMCA campus
ThursDates at OMCA with Photography Workshop & Scavenger Hunt with Black Film Guild

Thursday After Hours at OMCA | Sketchboard Co. Live Figure Drawing and Gallery Chats

Adults 18+

Bring your sketch pads and appetites to another Thursday After Hours at OMCA. Mix and mingle over music by DJ Mark DiVita and delightful cocktails prepared in OMCA’s Town Fare Café. After bites and beverages, head over to the Gallery of California Art for uninstructed live figure drawing sessions hosted by Sketchboard Co.

We welcome all skill levels, including those who have never drawn before and want to try drawing. Art supplies and clipboards will be available for use, and your artwork will be yours to take home or exchange with others. Nude or partially clothed models representing the diversity of the Bay Area will be posing in the galleries for times ranging from 2 to 20 minutes. Since drawing will take place in the galleries, please be mindful of space and bring only the following media from home: sketchbooks (max size 9×12 inches) and pre-sharpened enclosed graphite, charcoal, or conté pencils.

In addition to a dynamic event experience, every Thursday After Hours also offers guests a well-rounded gallery experience with Gallery Chats. Unlike the traditional museum tour, Gallery Chats invites visitors to chat, ask questions, and connect with our OMCA facilitators who combine content knowledge with lived experience to encourage meaningful dialogue and fresh interpretations of our galleries. Gallery Chats take place in our Special Exhibitions and our Galleries of California Art, History, and Natural Sciences. Gallery Chats and Thursday After Hours programming are included with the price of general Museum admission for guests, and totally free for Museum Members. Town Fare Café will be open to visitors until 8 pm.

The OMCA garage will be open until 9 pm on Thursdays Jan 9—Mar 27.

Program Schedule:

5—8 pm Bites, Beverages, and music by DJ Mark DiVita | Town Fare Café

5—8 pm Core Galleries and Special Exhibitions

5:30—7:30 pm Gallery Chats | All Galleries

5:30—7:45 pm Sketchboard Co. Live Figure Drawing | Gallery of California Art, Upper Level

Drop-In Drawing Sessions:

5:30—6:15 pm

6:45—7:30 pm

GET TICKETS

Free Member Tickets

About Sketchboard:

Sketchboard is a BIPOC figure drawing collective, curating eclectic, diverse, and affordable events in the Bay Area over the last 10 years. Our mission is to feature the bodies of people at the intersection of multiple identities, offer living wages to our art models, and create an inclusive environment for the artists in our community.

Accessibility

Oakland Museum of California (OMCA) is committed to providing programs that are accessible, welcoming, and inclusive of our community. Wheelchairs, sensory inclusive devices, and additional amenities are available for checkout on a first come, first served basis at the Ticketing Desk. To request other accommodations, like American Sign Language (ASL), Cantonese, Spanish or another language interpreter, please email visitor@museumca.org at least three weeks before the event.

Return to Events

Sponsor

Major support for Thursday After Hours at OMCA is provided by The Oakland Museum Women’s Board.

Thursday After Hours at OMCA with MeloDious Nights & Trivia Night
2025-02-27 17:00 - 20:00 | OMCA campus
ThursDates at OMCA with Photography Workshop & Scavenger Hunt with Black Film Guild

Thursday After Hours at OMCA | Pop-up Performance: MeloDious Nights, Trivia Night, and Gallery Chats

Adults 18+

This Thursday, get ready for an unforgettable night in the Gallery of California History with MeloDious Nights! Immerse yourself in an eclectic, soulful sound experience as the talented group from Oakland takes the stage. MeloDious will deliver a dynamic performance featuring their signature vocal harmonies, original arrangements, and creative talents, with songs from their latest album, Is It The Way: Volume I alongside new music and fresh arrangements. Next, show off your knowledge of California Black History at Trivia Night! Winners will receive prizes from OMCA’s Store. Between performances and trivia, explore OMCA’s award-winning galleries, indulge in delicious bites and beverages from Town Fare Café, and enjoy music curated by DJ Mark DiVita.

In addition to a dynamic event experience, every Thursday After Hours also offers guests a well-rounded gallery experience with Gallery Chats. Unlike the traditional museum tour, Gallery Chats invites visitors to chat, ask questions, and connect with our OMCA facilitators who combine content knowledge with lived experience to encourage meaningful dialogue and fresh interpretations of our galleries. Gallery Chats take place in our Special Exhibitions and our Galleries of California Art, History, and Natural Sciences.

Gallery Chats and Thursday After Hours programming are included with the price of general Museum admission for guests, and totally free for Museum Members. Town Fare Café will be open to visitors until 8 pm.

The OMCA garage will be open until 9 pm on Thursdays Jan 9—Mar 27.

Program Schedule:

5—8 pm Bites, Beverages, and music by DJ Mark DiVita | Town Fare Café

5—8 pm Core Galleries and Special Exhibitions

5:45—6:15 pm Pop-up Performance: MeloDious Nights | Gallery of California History

6:45—7:15 pm Trivia Night: California Black History | Town Fare Café

6:45—7:15 pm Pop-up Performance: MeloDious Nights | Gallery of California History

GET TICKETS

Free Member Tickets

About MeloDious:

MeloDious is an eclectic, soulful sound experience from Oakland, CA possessing a vast repertoire of music spanning gospel, jazz, R&B and soul. Since 2016, MeloDious has been captivating audiences with their creative talents, vocal harmonies, original arrangements, and sibling dynamic. In 2020, the band decided it was time to begin a journey into uncharted territory and venture into places not yet explored—writing and composing music to release an album. The journey proved to be monumental in their growth as artists and individuals. After three years, the album was complete and shared before the world.

Since the album release, MeloDious has had an array of opportunities over the past several years that include selling out their first headliner show at Yoshi’s in Oakland, performing at the Grammy Nominee Celebration for the San Francisco Chapter of the Recording Academy, The Storefront Market Earth Day Celebration at Chase Center, Make Music Day at Chase Center, The Dock of the Bay Festival at Mare Island and being selected as the first band ever to participate in the Dolby Atmos Accelerator program in San Francisco.

With a passion for creating new music and developing exciting arrangements, the band always aims to create an experience their MeloDious Fam won’t forget.

Accessibility

Oakland Museum of California (OMCA) is committed to providing programs that are accessible, welcoming, and inclusive of our community. Wheelchairs, sensory inclusive devices, and additional amenities are available for checkout on a first come, first served basis at the Ticketing Desk. To request other accommodations, like American Sign Language (ASL), Cantonese, Spanish or another language interpreter, please email visitor@museumca.org at least three weeks before the event.

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Sponsor

Major support for Thursday After Hours at OMCA is provided by The Oakland Museum Women’s Board.

66th Annual White Elephant Clearance Weekend
2025-03-01 10:00 - 2025-03-02 15:00 | White Elephant Sale, 333 Lancaster St., Oakland, 94602
ThursDates at OMCA with Photography Workshop & Scavenger Hunt with Black Film Guild

The 66th Annual White Elephant Public Shopping Days Sale, a Bay Area tradition and the largest rummage sale in Northern California.

Catch the biggest discounts on these final days of the White Elephant Sale. Markdowns happening all day! Admission is free, but tickets are required. Walk-ins will be allowed as space permits starting at 11:00 am each day.

Tickets are now available online: whiteelephantsale.org

GET TICKETS

Important Info

The number of shoppers will be limited each day. Admission is free, but reservations are required. You must have a reservation for each day you shop. We may be able to take walk-ins after 11:00 AM once all who have tickets have entered.

Children of all ages are welcome at the free March Clearance Weekend Sale. However, children 5 years and over must have a reservation and be accompanied by an adult. We ask that small children be supervised at all times. (We cannot accommodate strollers in the warehouse.)

For the health and safety of our volunteer workers and our patrons:

All shoppers are highly encouraged to be vaccinated and boosted, but not required.

Social distancing protocols must be followed. Wearing well-fitting masks such as N95, KN95, KF94 or double masking is highly recommended.

No pets, (unless they are providing a service).

No food or drinks (except water) in the warehouse.

Shopping carts, strollers, and backpacks must be checked in.

This is a cashless event. Only credit/debit cards or Apple Pay will be accepted.

All sales are final. No refunds.

About The Oakland Museum Women’s Board

The White Elephant Sale is held annually in the Spring, attracting shoppers of all ages from the greater Bay Area and beyond.

The sole purpose of the Oakland Museum Women’s Board (OMWB), a dedicated group with 114 year-round members, has been to raise money to support the Oakland Museum of California acquisitions, exhibitions, educational programs, capital improvements, and more. Since 1959, the OMWB has contributed over $30 million to the Museum. With the help of a thousand dedicated volunteers, they work year round to organize and present the White Elephant Sale held annually during the Spring.

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RELATED EVENTS

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Thursday After Hours at OMCA with Sketchboard Co. Live Figure Drawing
2025-03-06 17:00 - 20:00 | OMCA campus
ThursDates at OMCA with Photography Workshop & Scavenger Hunt with Black Film Guild

Thursday After Hours at OMCA | Sketchboard Co. Live Figure Drawing and Gallery Chats

Adults 18+

Bring your sketch pads and appetites to another Thursday After Hours at OMCA. Mix and mingle over music by DJ Mark DiVita and delightful cocktails prepared in OMCA’s Town Fare Café. After bites and beverages, head over to the Gallery of California Natural Sciences for uninstructed live figure drawing sessions hosted by Sketchboard Co.

We welcome all skill levels, including those who have never drawn before and want to try drawing. Art supplies and clipboards will be available for use, and your artwork will be yours to take home or exchange with others. Nude or partially clothed models representing the diversity of the Bay Area will be posing in the galleries for times ranging from 2 to 20 minutes. Since drawing will take place in the galleries, please be mindful of space and bring only the following media from home: sketchbooks (max size 9×12 inches) and pre-sharpened enclosed graphite, charcoal, or conté pencils.

In addition to a dynamic event experience, every Thursday After Hours also offers guests a well-rounded gallery experience with Gallery Chats. Unlike the traditional museum tour, Gallery Chats invites visitors to chat, ask questions, and connect with our OMCA facilitators who combine content knowledge with lived experience to encourage meaningful dialogue and fresh interpretations of our galleries. Gallery Chats take place in our Special Exhibitions and our Galleries of California Art, History, and Natural Sciences.

Gallery Chats and Thursday After Hours programming are included with the price of general Museum admission for guests, and totally free for Museum Members. Town Fare Café will be open to visitors until 8 pm.

The OMCA garage will be open until 9 pm on Thursdays Jan 9—Mar 27.

Program Schedule:

5—8 pm Bites, Beverages, and music by DJ Mark DiVita | Town Fare Café

5—8 pm Core Galleries and Special Exhibitions

5:30—7:30 pm Gallery Chats | All Galleries

5:30—7:30 pm Sketchboard Co. Live Figure Drawing | Gallery of California Natural Sciences, Lower Level

Drop-In Drawing Sessions:

5:30—6:15 pm

6:45—7:30 pm

GET TICKETS

Free Member Tickets

About Sketchboard:

Sketchboard is a BIPOC figure drawing collective, curating eclectic, diverse, and affordable events in the Bay Area over the last 10 years. Our mission is to feature the bodies of people at the intersection of multiple identities, offer living wages to our art models, and create an inclusive environment for the artists in our community.

Accessibility

Oakland Museum of California (OMCA) is committed to providing programs that are accessible, welcoming, and inclusive of our community. Wheelchairs, sensory inclusive devices, and additional amenities are available for checkout on a first come, first served basis at the Ticketing Desk. To request other accommodations, like American Sign Language (ASL), Cantonese, Spanish or another language interpreter, please email visitor@museumca.org at least three weeks before the event.

Return to Events

Sponsor

Major support for Thursday After Hours at OMCA is provided by The Oakland Museum Women’s Board.
