Museum Associates

The Ontario Museum Associates is a group of dedicated volunteers passionate about local history and art who work to ensure the success of all aspects of the Museum. Founded in 1996 as an offshoot of the original Friends of the Museum, their mission is to support programming through their fundraising work and to advocate for the Museum as a dynamic, inclusive space for creativity, civic pride, and cultural expression. Highlights of their successful past initiatives include:  

• 2019 Ontario Arts & Culture Awards Fundraiser 

• Equipping the newly renovated Carlson Education Studio  

• Performing roles in the recent successful accreditation of the Museum 

• Meeting directly with visitors and other members of the public to promote the Museum and inspire support 

The high point of the Associates’ efforts is the biannual Ontario Open Exhibition. This region-wide art competition encourages artists to enter artworks in a variety of media.  The event, judged by well-regarded arts professionals and with cash prizes, provides artists with a public exhibition of their works, often for the first time.   

The Associates also operate the Museum’s store, which offers visitors an opportunity to purchase a variety of artworks, books, exhibit catalogues, posters, and educational materials related to local and California history and art.