FAQs &
Contact Us
FAQs
Visitor information
Yes, in order to account for capacity needs, all visitors require a ticket in order to enter the Museum galleries. Children ages twelve and under are free; all children require a timed ticket for admission.
Tickets are available to purchase in advance here. Please note that only a limited number of tickets will be available each day at the ticketing desk and availability is not guaranteed.
OMCA offers Gallery Chats which are open to the public with Gallery admission or Group Chats which can be booked for private groups.
Visit our Gallery Chats page or Group Chats page for the most up-to-date information.
The garden is free and open to the public Wednesday through Sunday, from 11 am to 5 pm. Please check to see occasional Garden closures.
To reserve the Garden for a gathering of 26 people or more, please see event rentals. To host a gathering of 25 people or fewer, visitors must follow our Garden Guidelines.
Our main entrance is at 1000 Oak Street. We also have a new Lakeside entrance at 12th Street and Lake Merritt Boulevard.
Visitors to the Oakland Museum of California are encouraged to capture and share still photography for personal, noncommercial use. Only handheld cameras with attached standard flash equipment are allowed. No auxiliary flash, lighting equipment, tripods, monopods, selfie sticks, or drones are permitted.
Please be aware that some special exhibitions, galleries, and individual artworks may have restrictions on photography due to loan and copyright requirements. Any photography restrictions will be clearly marked. Please abide by all signage regarding photography.
Please be respectful of other visitors while taking photographs. The Oakland Museum of California is not responsible for any uses that infringe upon third-party copyrights.
For further information, read our full policy here.
Non-service animals are not allowed on OMCA’s campus.
Service animals are allowed in all areas of OMCA that are open to the public, including our galleries and gardens, provided the service animal does not pose a direct threat to staff or visitors, or fundamentally alter the Museum’s operations, policies, practices, or procedures.
A service animal is a dog or miniature horse that is individually trained to do work or perform tasks for persons with disabilities. Dogs that solely provide companionship, comfort, and emotional support are not considered service animals under the ADA.
Group and School Visit Information
For up-to-date information about OMCA’s school group visits, check out our Learn page.
Membership Information
No but are encouraged to reserve tickets in advance for guaranteed entry. Members may reserve the maximum number of tickets per their Membership level in advance. For more information or further questions, please contact the OMCA Membership team at [email protected].
All membership levels include free admission for any children or grandchildren in the household under the age of 18. Visit museumca.org/membership to see our complete benefits list. To receive complimentary admission, each guest must be accompanied by a Member with a current, active Membership.
All guests must accompany one of the Membership cardholders. You are free to bring as many guests as your membership allows, but a named cardholder must be present for guests to attend. Membership cards are not transferable. Only the named cardholder(s) is/are entitled to use the card(s).
While there is no specified number of children (under the age of 18) in the household allowed under one membership, the maximum number of admissions per membership is 10. If you wish to bring more than 10 individuals, please contact our groups department at [email protected] and make arrangements.
Guests visiting with a Member are considered a Member as well and will receive the same benefits while on campus.
If you have guest passes from a previous Membership, share them with a friend or family member for a one-time free admission during regular Museum hours whether or not the Member is present. Guest passes do not have an expiration date. Guest passes may not be used for admission to Member Previews or for discounts during OMCA Store Member sales.
The parking discount for Members is 50% off of the public rate, which is a great savings when compared to rates of other garages in the area. You may validate your parking ticket at the OMCA Shop or the Ticket and Membership desk.
Guests visiting with a Member are considered a Member as well and will receive the same benefits while on campus.
We offer BONUS Reciprocity Weekends 3 to 4 times per year. Announcement are made via our e-newsletter and added to the calendar of events on our website. Members at the Supporter level and above receive daily reciprocity as part of their benefits package. You can upgrade your membership by logging in here and selecting “View upgrade options”. You may also upgrade onsite or by contacting membership at [email protected].
The museums we partner with will rotate. We work with a variety of Museums across the Bay Area to give Members a chance to experience a new corner of the Museum sector.
Members who provide their email address will be enrolled in weekly Member emails for the latest news and information. Members may also visit OMCA’s event calendar at museumca.org/events
Members at the Supporter level and above enjoy reciprocal benefits at more than 1000 museums nationwide through the North American Reciprocal Museums Association (NARM)—including free general admission and discounts on purchases made at participating museums’ stores. Please note that some museums restrict benefits and charge an additional fee to view special exhibitions.
We recommend reaching out to the institution you plan on visiting to confirm reservation requirements as policies can fluctuate. Bring your OMCA Membership cards or email receipt with the NARM logo attached as proof of eligibility.
A: There are three easy ways to join or renew a Membership:
- Online: join or renew online
- At the Museum: stop by either the Ticket and Membership desks or the OMCA Shop
- Give us a call: 510-318-8520, 9 am to 5 pm, Monday through Friday
When renewing a Membership, make sure that you have your Member ID number and the last name of the primary cardholder ready. Member ID numbers can be found on your member cards and in most email communications. Please reach out to the Membership team if you can’t locate your member ID number.
To update personal information or report a lost Membership card, please contact the Membership Department. We also welcome your questions and comments regarding your Membership. Send an e-mail to [email protected] or call 510-318-8520.
Memberships are non-refundable and non-transferable. Please call 510-318-8520 or email [email protected].
Contact the Membership team by phone 510-318-8520 or email [email protected].
The team will return your call or email as soon as possible. Most inquiries are responded to on the same day, but it can take up to 48 hours. Thank you in advance for your patience and understanding.
OMCA Shop
The OMCA Shop accepts all major credit cards including Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Discover, and Diner’s Club. At this time pre-purchased gift cards can only be redeemed in the in-person OMCA Shop; however you may purchase gift cards on the online shop.
If you would like to purchase a product with cash, check, or gift card you must come into the OMCA Shop located at 1000 Oak Street in Oakland.
The OMCA Shop is located inside the Oakland Museum of California at 1000 Oak Street in Oakland, CA.
If you’d like to visit us in-person, please come during regular Museum hours:
Monday—Tuesday – closed
Wednesday—Sunday – 11 am—5 pm
Visit our online shop anytime!
If you are not completely satisfied with your purchase, you may return the merchandise for a replacement, exchange or full refund within 30 days of receipt of goods.
All sale items are non-returnable. For damaged merchandise please take photographs of damaged items and packaging and email them to [email protected] within five days of receipt to get credit or replacement. If your package is missing any items or if you receive the wrong items, please call or email us as soon as possible so that we can provide a replacement.
Returns will only be accepted with receipt and in resalable condition in the original packaging. Gifts returned without an original sales receipt are eligible for store credit at the current store price less 10% restocking fee.
Credit will be issued on the credit card used for the original item(s). Shipping costs are non-refundable. Customers pay return shipping cost except for the case that damaged or incorrect items were shipped. We will also happily accept returns and exchanges on-site at the OMCA Shop.
The OMCA Shop be reached at 510-318-8510 during Shop hours—Wednesday through Sunday, 11 am–5 pm PST. Please contact us at [email protected] for instructions before returning any items by mail.
Go back to shopping.
OMCA Shop ships every Wednesday and Friday, except on major US holidays. All orders are shipped UPS Ground unless otherwise indicated. Please allow 7–10 business days for ground delivery. We will contact you in the event of a delay. A valid US address is required. Please note that we cannot ship to P.O. boxes.
Standard shipping rates depend on the size and destination of your order.
For expedited shipping or information about shipping internationally, please call the OMCA Shop at 510-318-8510 from Wednesday through Sunday 11 am–5 pm PST.
OMCA Members receive 10% off all merchandise purchased online shop and in-shop using their Member discount code. Please note, the discount does not apply to shipping costs.
If you are a Member and cannot find your discount code, please contact us and include your member number: [email protected].
If you’d like to become an OMCA Member to enjoy this benefit, please join us!
Event Services
Upon request, we can include access to special exhibitions inside the Great Hall Gallery or Core Galleries for up to 2 hours during an event. Additional fees will be added to your contract. Please ask your event representative for more information.
Yes. Please provide a copy of your 501c3 Determination Letter from the IRS to receive the nonprofit discount before we create and send a contract.
Renters are responsible for obtaining the appropriate permits for their events. Here is a list of commonly required permits:
Special Event Permit (if the event is open to the public and for more than 50 guests):
http://www2.oaklandnet.com/government/o/OPD/s/sefaqs/index.htm#SEP
Oakland Fire Department Permit (see website for guidelines)
http://www2.oaklandnet.com/government/o/OFD/s/PermitsSpecialEvents/index.htm
Sound Permit (if the event has amplified sound outdoors up to 10 pm):
http://www2.oaklandnet.com/Government/o/CityAdministration/d/SpecialPermits/
Alameda County Health:
https://www.acgov.org/aceh/food/TempEventSPONSOR-Application.pdf
For public events, caterers will be responsible for obtaining a day of event Alameda County Health Permit.
Depending on the setup of the event, Garden events with a guest count of 250 or less can plan to use the cafe as their backup rain plan for an additional fee. All clients with a higher guest count will need to submit in writing what their rain plan is before signing a contract.
OMCA requires all wedding and large event clients to hire a professional Event Planner to handle the planning process of the event. Your hired Event Planner’s duties will include, but are not limited to, creating a full event timeline, running the rehearsal, on site coordination of the ceremony & reception, in person meetings & consultations and coordinating with all vendors on the timeline, set up, décor and logistics of your celebration. Please ask your OMCA Event Sales Representative for a list of preferred & qualified Event Planners
ACE Parking manages the OMCA garage located at 1000 Oak Street, with entrances on Oak and 12th Streets. The garage includes 180 parking spaces. Metered street parking is also available on streets surrounding the Museum. Learn more about getting to the Museum.
OMCA has a list of seven approved caterers who can provide food service for your event. Please see an Event Sales Team member regarding bar service.
Carrie Dove Catering
Grace Street Catering
Hugh Groman Catering
Karen Bevels Custom Catering
Pinx Catering
Town Fare by Michele McQueen – the exclusive bar provider for OMCA and the preferred caterer for events in the cafe
The museum does not provide any equipment or event supplies. All tables, chairs, heaters, decor, flowers, food, and beverages must be secured directly by the client. Please see our approved catering and recommended vendors lists for information about all aforementioned items needed for your event. All decorations must be free-standing. Nothing can be attached to glass, walls or trees. Outdoor amplified sound must be permitted and end by 10:00 pm as per the City of Oaklands guidelines.
Setup may begin 2 to 3 hours before your event. Setup allowance is on a case by case basis depending on other museum activity. Please see the event staff for further guidelines.
The rental fee includes the following:
Rental of a specific venue. Please note: your rental agreement does not provide access to the entire campus.
One OMCA Event staff who oversees the event from the beginning of set up until the end of breakdown.
Entry & Exit Security
Roaming Security as needed
Janitorial Services for restroom maintenance
Wayfinding signage from entry/exit points to your event
Limited power
Extended garage hours – Event guests pay a flat fee for event parking.
An Event Sales Representatives will assist you with the following basic planning of your event:
Execution of the contract and payments
Answering questions about your event Monday through Friday from 9am – 5 pm
1 Mid-planning check-in meeting if needed
1 Final walkthrough 30 days prior to your event
Please contact us to inquire about rates for your special event.
The Event Sales Department is not accepting rental inquiries for events happening before January. We look forward to your inquiry for events happening in 2023. Due to staff transition our response time will be a bit slower. We thank you in advance for your patience.
If your event is three months or more away, please submit this form to find out about the availability of your preferred event date. We will contact you to let you know if the date is available and set up a time to connect and discuss your plans. We can place a hold on your preferred date for 30 days, after which your hold can be canceled without notice. Rental contracts must be signed and returned accompanied by the listed deposit within 7 days of receiving. A fully executed copy of the contract will then be sent to you.
Are you a community organization or artist with a programming proposal? Please email [email protected].
Please see the Venues page for more information.
The Event Sales department is available to provide in-person tours with an appointment. Please contact us with your event details and schedule a date and time for your site visit. We are not able to accommodate walk-in tours.
OMCA is available for private seated dinners, cocktail receptions, theater-style presentations, weddings and rehearsal dinners, anniversary celebrations, and similar corporate, nonprofit and social events. Learn more about Weddings & Private events or Corporate & Nonprofit events. If you are a community organization or artist with a programming proposal, please email [email protected].
Security / Lost & Found
Please email [email protected] or call us at 510-318-8560 for all questions regarding Security/Lost & Found. We will reply within 2 days during Museum operating hours (Wednesday through Sunday).
Miscellaneous
The Oakland Museum of California is proud to donate complimentary, one-year Dual Memberships to fellow non-profit, 501(c)3, organizations that are aligned in our mission to inspire Californians to create more vibrant futures for themselves and their communities. Please fill out this form to request a donated membership. If your request is granted, someone from the Museum will be in touch.
If you have any questions, please email [email protected].
OMCA welcomes inquiries about Program and Event Partnerships with other socially impactful organizations. Organizations wishing to propose programmatic partnerships may submit their proposal using this form.
Review of inquiries takes place monthly and all Events require a minimum 3 month lead time. Program and event partnerships will be considered based on their alignment with OMCA’s social impact goals, including the ability to diversify and deepen audience reach, and foster community relationships. Additional considerations include timing, budget, staffing, and resources available and required by both OMCA and the partnership organization.
Please note that inquiries about and suggestions for Exhibitions are considered via a separate process. For more information on the Exhibition Proposal process, visit this link.
Thank you for your interest in donating or selling items.
Please do not bring objects to the Museum. They will not be accepted.
In order to consider your donation of artwork(s), artifact(s) or specimen(s), OMCA requires interested parties to submit a proposal via this form to be considered by our curatorial and collections staff.
If you are unable or choose not to use this form, please submit a written proposal which includes the following information:
- Whether you are offering a donation or sale. If the item is for sale, please provide price and any conditions or terms.
- Connections to California are essential, so please be sure to state them.
- Information about the object such as a general description, the name of artist or manufacturer (if known), dimensions, date made, history of how it was made or used, and any other details you can provide.
- High-quality photos of the object. Visual documentation is important to the acquisition process to help our staff assess the condition of the object.
Once we receive your complete proposal, OMCA staff will carefully consider your offer, and make a decision based on criteria such as its relevance to the OMCA mission, how well it fits with plans for the OMCA Collection, whether it is in good condition, and whether we can adequately care for it in the future. Not all donation or sale offers can be accepted. If the object is accepted, you may be asked for formal documentation of ownership.
We respond to all proposals. However, depending on the unique considerations of each proposal, it can take anywhere from one month to six months for us to respond.
Please note that we cannot offer appraisals nor can we recommend appraisers. For these questions, please visit the American Society of Appraisers (ASA) website or call ASA at 800-272-8258.
Mail written proposals to:
Oakland Museum of California
Attention: OMCA Lab, Acquisitions Committee
1000 Oak Street, Oakland, CA 94607
Thank you for your interest in supporting the Oakland Museum of California.