POSTPONED: Oakland Museum of California’s Brand New Gardens

UPDATE: On Monday, November 16, Governor Gavin Newsom issued a statement indicating that several California counties, including Alameda County, have moved from the “Orange” Tier to the “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.

The Oakland Museum of California is undergoing a transformation.

The Oakland Museum of California is renovating their seven-acre campus, including a new, direct entrance from Oakland’s Lake Merritt, upgrades and improved access to the café, and newly redesigned gardens.

After several months of temporary closure due to the impacts of COVID-19, visitors will get the first glimpse at the Museum’s extraordinary re-landscaped garden once OMCA reopens to the public on Friday, November 27, 2020. 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.

Why did OMCA decide to renovate? 
OMCA places our community and the visitor experience at the core of all activities. This renovation will help OMCA to expand its role as a public gathering place, offering even more amenities. These improvements will help us better share our space with Oakland, providing opportunities for more dynamic programs and community events once visitors are again able to safely gather. The renovations will also create improved ease of access to the gardens, café, and galleries through additional ADA-accessible ramps and campus wayfinding.

What changes will be made to the campus?
The campus renovations will include two new entrances to the Museum, including a new entrance to our garden on the 12th Street corner of the building facing Lake Merritt, as well as a new entrance on 10th Street that will allow direct access to our café. Both entrances will include ADA-accessible ramps leading visitors from the lawn to the second level terraces.

The Museum’s terraces and gardens will feature new native plantings, updated public sculpture by renowned California artists, and a permanent stage to provide opportunities for a wider range of outdoor programming.

What’s happening with the sculptures? 
We’re bringing a fresh eye to the public sculptures on view in the gardens, pulling back much of the overgrown plantings and rotating many of the sculptures on view. This will allow visitors the opportunity to better view works, including 24 sculptures by internationally renowned California artists such as Ruth Asawa, Bruce Beasley, Beniamino Bufano, Mark di Suvero, Viola Frey, George Rickey, and Peter Voulkos.

How long will OMCA be under construction?
Construction will be implemented in phases. The anticipated completion date is Spring 2021. Sign up for the Museum’s eNews for the latest information on campus improvements.

Read more about the renovations at OMCA.