POSTPONED: Oakland Museum of CA Reopens w/ Free Days (Nov. 27-29)
POSTPONED
Oakland Museum Of California Announces Its
Reopening To The Public On Friday, November 27 With Free Weekend Access
After Eight Months of Temporary Closure, OMCA Reopens with New Safety Protocols in Place Including Timed Ticketing, Limited Capacity, and Reduced Hours
UPDATE: On Monday, November 16, Alameda County moved to the state’s “Purple” Tier due to the growing number of COVID-19 cases in the state. Due to this shift, the Oakland Museum of California’s plans to reopen on November 20 to Members and November 27 to the general public will now be postponed
Oakland Museum of California (OMCA) today announces it will reopen to the public on Friday, November 27, 2020 with three free community access days over the weekend through Sunday, November 29. OMCA Members will be welcomed back the weekend of November 20.
In its initial phase, the Museum will be open to the public Friday through Sunday from 11 am to 5 pm in order to manage capacity and prioritize safety. In addition to the newly-redesigned OMCA Gardens, which will be accessible for free, the Museum’s Galleries of California Art, History, and Natural Sciences will all be open for visitors to enjoy with a reserved ticket.
Free Museum Weekend
November 27-29, 2020 | 11am to 5pm – Book free tickets
Reserve Your Tickets in Advance
We encourage purchasing or reserving a ticket online in advance to secure a time slot and to reduce wait time; a limited number of tickets will be made available for contactless or cash purchase onsite. Visitors may also purchase or reserve tickets by phone during OMCA business hours. Please call our Visitor Services desk at 510-318-8429.
Book your tickets online here.
New Museum Hours
We’ll be open three days per week, Friday – Sunday from 11 am to 5 pm for the first several weeks and will move to our regular Wednesday – Sunday schedule in mid-January. Check out our visit page for more information about hours of operation, parking, and more.
Due to the impacts of COVID-19, OMCA has remained closed to the public for eight months. During this time, the Museum’s newly-formed safety reopening team has been dedicated to making adjustments for the health and safety of OMCA staff and visitors, designing and implementing new protocols, adjusting on-campus experiences to meet the health requirements of Alameda County, and creating additional signage that will help visitors navigate safely through the Museum.
Among the changes visitors will experience: implementation of timed entry procedures, capacity limitations, increased cleaning and sanitation, physical distancing practices including a one-way path of travel, and touchless transactions for onsite purchases. In order to ensure that the Museum will not exceed capacity, all visitors, including Members and children, will be required to purchase or reserve a ticket in advance. Tickets for specific time slots will be available on a first-come, first-served basis. For more information on OMCA’s new protocols, please visit museumca.org/reopening.
Health & Safety
Following the guidelines and best practices recommended by Alameda County, OMCA is implementing the following changes and requirements for all staff and visitors:
● OMCA’s entrance at 1000 Oak Street will be the main entry point for visitors, including ramp and stairway access; visitors with strollers or wheelchairs may enter through the garage on Level 2 and will met by an OMCA staff member to assist with ticket scanning and health screening.
● Daily attendance will be capped according to capacity limits recommended by Alameda County health officials. Timed ticketing will be implemented in order to manage capacity limits. Members must also reserve a ticket in advance.
● Touchless transactions will be available for onsite purchases.
● Hand-sanitizer will be available throughout the campus; frequent hand-washing and use of sanitizer is strongly encouraged.
● All touchable or interactive components in the galleries have been removed or will be temporarily unavailable; signage will clearly indicate areas that are not accessible to visitors.
● Only 1 group or individual may ride the elevator at a time.
● All staff and visitors are required to wear a face covering or mask.
● At this time, group tours, including tours for families, are unavailable. Virtual Tours are available to purchase.
Opening November 27: OMCA’s Newly Redesigned Gardens
Upon return to OMCA’s campus, visitors will also get the first glimpse at the Museum’s extraordinary re-landscaped gardens, nearing completion as part of a campus transformation that also will include new entries at 12th Street and 10th Street and a renovated café, all planned for completion in the next few months. The campus plan is funded through a five-year $85 million comprehensive fundraising effort, All In! The Campaign for OMCA, which has surpassed its $80 million in funds raised to date.
During the temporary closure, significant progress has been made to the multi-phased project, including new paving areas, newly-installed sculpture, new native trees and plantings, a new lawn, and a new outdoor stage that will soon be used for programming and performances once visitors are again able to safely gather. Part of a long-term vision to expand the Museum’s role as a public gathering place, the renovated gardens will offer a safe and welcoming environment for increased social distancing on campus. In addition to private philanthropy, this project is funded in part by Capital One Commercial Bank, Oakland Renaissance NMTC, Inc. and the City of Oakland.
Mothership: Voyage Into Afrofuturism to Open in January
OMCA plans to resume its regular hours when its next special exhibition Mothership: Voyage Into Afrofuturism, opens to the public on January 16, 2021. As OMCA reopen its doors after months of shelter-in-place, Mothership will offer a powerful reason to gather—even if it’s at a distance—and celebrate Black imagination.
Coming Soon: Town Fare by Tanya Holland
OMCA will also soon introduce a new destination dining experience—Town Fare by Tanya Holland. As part of OMCA’s campus renovation, the Museum is working to complete the newly-renovated cafe this fall and plan to open Tanya Holland’s new restaurant, Town Fare, soon. Because restaurants adhere to a separate set of COVID-19 guidelines, the Museum is working closely with Alameda County health officials to determine next steps regarding the opening. In the interim, the OMCA Store will offer pre-packaged food and bottled drinks for purchase.
