Programs & Events
Free & Open to the Public
Learning is an ongoing practice at the Museum, with many ways to engage:
- Join community led workshops
- Explore art materials and techniques with artists
- Discover local art and history at talks
- Celebrate culture at public events
- Tour the Museum with your K-12 learners and trained docents
Our programs are always free and open to all.
Never Miss a Thing!
Get monthly updates on upcoming programs, exhibitions and arts festivals by signing up for our e-newsletter.
In Person at Ovitt Family Community Library
Water Wise Gardening
Thursday, September 28, 2023
6 PM – 7 PM
Saving water does not mean you have to sacrifice your garden’s health. Learn from the Master Gardeners how to have a beautiful yard while conserving our precious water. Find out more about water conservation at the Ontario Museum of History and Art’s Built on Water exhibit.
Ovitt Family Community Library | 215 East C Street, Ontario CA 91764 | 909-395-2205
No reservation required.
In Person
First Thursdays: Calavera Mask-Making
Thursday, October 5, 2023
5 PM – 8 PM
Explore First Thursdays at the Museum and discover exhibitions and art activities, with extended hours. Food will be available for purchase from pop-up vendors. Experience Día de los Muertos: Recuerdos de Sabores and create your own calavera mask.
‡ Reservation recommended, but not required.
In Person
Reception: Día de Los Muertos: Recuerdos de Sabores/Flavorful Memories Exhibition
Saturday, October 7, 2023
12 PM – 3 PM
Celebrate the 25th year of the Museum’s exhibition, Día de los Muertos: Recuerdos de Sabores. The reception will be filled with flavorful memories, wonderful artwork, small dishes related to the Day of the Dead holiday and artmaking activities. Join exhibiting artists and Museum staff in celebrating this milestone.
‡ Reservation recommended, but not required.
In Person
Community Event: Ontario Arts Festival
Saturday, October 21, 2023
10 AM – 5 PM
The Ontario Museum of History & Art and the Chaffey Community Museum of Art are excited to announce the fifth annual Ontario Arts Festival. The Festival exemplifies the City’s commitment to making Ontario the destination for arts and culture in the Inland Empire. This one-day event will feature artwork for purchase from local artists, free entry to museums, food trucks and a beer garden! For more information about the Ontario Arts Festival, e-mail [email protected] or please call (909) 395 2510.
In Person at Ontario City Library
Film Screening: Saging the World
Thursday, October 26, 2023
6:30 PM – 7:30 PM
Saging the World spotlights the ecological and cultural issues intertwined with white sage, centering on the voices of Native advocates who have long protected and cherished this plant, a native to southern California and Baja California, Mexico. View the film and learn about the Ontario Museum of History and Art’s Built on Water exhibit.
Ontario City Library | 215 East C Street, Ontario Ca 91764 | 909- 395-2205
No reservation required.
In Person
First Thursdays: Paint in the Dark Día de Los Muertos
Thursday, November 2, 2023
6 PM – 8 PM
Explore First Thursdays at the Museum – celebrate Día de los Muertos by creating your own glow-in-the-dark calavera painting. Experiment with neon paint in a UV setting with Artist Mario Solorzano. Space is limited; reserve your spot now!
‡ Reservation recommended, but not required.
In Person
In the Vault: Ontario and the Armed Forces
Saturday, November 4, 2023
1 PM – 2 PM
Veterans Day is a day to commemorate the service of all U.S. Veterans. Explore the lives of soldiers and the support civilians provided through some of the hidden gems found in the Museum’s collection.
‡ Reservation recommended, but not required.
In Person
Ontario Art Walk: An Evening at the Museum
Saturday, November 18, 2023
6 PM – 9 PM
Visit the Museum, shop artisan vendors and support local businesses as the Downtown Ontario Arts District hosts open studios, gallery exhibitions, and extended store hours. Interested in participating as a vendor? To learn more about the Ontario Art Walk and becoming a vendor, visit ontarioartwalk.org
‡ Reservation recommended, but not required.
Interested in becoming a vendor? Apply here. Applications close on October 27.
Past Events
In Person
Studio Saturdays: Trastero Art-Making
Saturday, September 23, 2023
3 PM – 5 PM
Select your time slot for this Día de los Muertos themed art-making workshop using ceramic bisqueware to glaze your own designs. Honor and celebrate this year’s exhibit theme by decorating your own dish. A trastero is a form of shelving that holds dishware for display. Artwork created during this studio session may be selected for the trastero display in the upcoming exhibit Dia de los Muertos: Recuerdos de Sabores/Flavorful Memories.
‡ Reservation recommended, but not required.
In Person
Emerging Artist Meet-Up: Meet the Art Associations
Friday, September 22, 2023
5:30 PM – 7:30 PM
Our series for emerging artists continues. Meet members of The Arts Area, Associated Artists of Inland Empire, Chaffey Community Museum of Art, Corona Art Association, Drawing Together, Pomona Valley Art Association, Redlands Art Association, Riverside Community Arts Association, and Wrightwood Arts Center. Learn how you can gain resources, opportunities, and build community by being a member of artist-led groups. Presented in partnership with The Arts Area.
‡ Reservation recommended, but not required.
In Person
Studio Saturdays: Mosaic Workshop
Saturday, September 9, 2023
12 PM – 2 PM
Learn about mosaic materials and techniques to create your own tile mosaic with artist Dawn Mendelson. Director of the nonprofit Piece by Piece, Dawn has been creating mosaics and building communities through art for over two decades. Space is limited; reserve your spot now!
‡ Reservation recommended, but not required.
In Person
First Thursdays: Zentangle
Thursday, September 7, 2023
5 PM – 8 PM
Explore First Thursdays at the Museum and discover exhibitions and art activities, as well as enjoy food and drinks from local eateries – with extended hours, every first Thursday. Food will be available for purchase from Special Needz Coffee. In our premiere session, learn how to create unique letter image art using the Zentangle Method with artist Annie Toliver. Register now to reserve your spot.
‡ Reservation recommended, but not required.
In Person
Studio Saturdays: Trastero Art-Making
Saturday, September 2, 2023
12 PM – 4 PM
Select your time slot for this Día de los Muertos themed art-making workshop using ceramic bisqueware to glaze your own designs. Honor and celebrate this year’s exhibit theme by decorating your own dish. A trastero is a form of shelving that holds dishware for display. Artwork created during this studio session may be selected for the trastero display in the upcoming exhibit Dia de los Muertos: Recuerdos de Sabores/Flavorful Memories.
‡ Reservation recommended, but not required.
In Person
Community Voices on Water: A Panel Discussion
Thursday, August 31, 2023
6 PM – 7 PM
Hear the stories of contributors to the Community Voices on Water feature in the Built on Water: Ontario and Inland Southern California exhibition. These stories captured in the exhibit display invite community members to share about their experiences with water use in their communities, professions and lifestyles. Discuss with community members why water is important to us all.
‡ Reservation recommended, but not required.
Zoom and In Person
Creative Strategist Info Session
Thursday, August 17, 2023 from 5PM – 6 PM | ZOOM
Thursday, August 31, 2023 from 4:30 PM – 5:30 PM | IN PERSON
Interested in applying but want to learn more?
Join our museum information sessions to speak with museum staff and ask questions about the Creative Strategist role and application materials. The Creative Strategist will collaborate with Museum staff to develop a project that focuses on community engagement through environmental education, and that may include creative and artistic approaches, museum staff engagement and participation, collaboration with the City’s Community, Life & Culture Agency, and other City departments to meet the project’s established goals.
In Person
Docent Info Session
Saturday, August 26, 2023
12 PM – 1 PM
Come learn what a docent does and how you can help the Museum’s Education Division welcome school learners and community groups! Volunteers have always been an integral part of the Ontario Museum of History & Art, helping forge bonds between the Museum and the community.
Join us to learn how you can help provide essential group learning experiences through museum tours, educational programs and public events. No background in art or history is necessary, just your passion for learning and interacting with visitors.
In Person
Grand Opening: Built on Water
Saturday, August 19, 2023
6 PM – 9 PM
The Ontario Museum of History & Art invites the community to an evening celebration commemorating the opening of the Museum’s newest permanent history exhibit, Built on Water. Enjoy music, food and presentations from local organizations. The free family-friendly and educational exhibit is now open with a Community Reception taking place Saturday, August 19, in conjunction with the quarterly Ontario Art Walk.
Featured Vendors:
Ontario City Libraries | Integrated Waste | City of Ontario Engineering Department | Contech Engineered Solutions LLC | Ontario Museum of History & Art, Associates | Chino Basin Water Conservation District | Huerta del Valle | Casa Colina Aquatic Therapy | Ontario Municipal Utilities Company | Caramel Connections, Seeds of Joy Community Garden | Blue Triton
‡ Reservation recommended, but not required.
In Person
Emerging Artist Meet-Up: Setting up your Artist Booth
Thursday, August 3, 2023
5:30 PM – 6:30 PM
Our recurring series for local emerging artist series continues, offering more networking opportunities and resources. Learn about setting up an artist booth to showcase your work at art fairs and community events.
‡ Reservation recommended, but not required.
In Person
Exhibit Reception: Ontario Open
Saturday, July 22, 2023
5 PM – 7 PM
Celebrate the creativity of both emerging and established artists as they display paintings, sculptures, prints, photos and more. Refreshments provided by the Ontario Museum of History & Art, Associates.
‡ Reservation recommended, but not required.
In Person
Film Screening: Saging the World
Thursday, July 13, 2023
6:30 PM – 7:30 PM
Experience this award-winning documentary produced by Rose Ramirez, Deborah Small and California Native Plant Society (CNPS) to foster understanding and inspire action for white sage. Learn about the role of white sage in indigenous cultural traditions and discuss the film, conservation and native plants with museum staff and Tribal Council Member John R. Preckwinkle III. Light refreshments provided.
About the Speaker: Bird singer and culture keeper John R. Preckwinkle III currently serves as a Tribal Council Member of the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians. A former leader and member on multiple Tribal committees, Mr. Preckwinkle will share his knowledge and experience with the role that nature and stewardship play in cultural traditions. Full biography can be found here.
‡ Reservation recommended, but not required.
In Person
Noche de los Niños / Night of the Children
Thursday, June 22, 2023
5 PM – 7 PM
¡Celebra Noche de los Niños en el Museo, este programa celebrara y festejara todo los que es ser niño! Niños tendrán la oportunidad de pintar y ser creativos en el museo. ¡Inscribirse hoy mismo!
Celebrate Night of the Children and embrace all that it is to be a child! Children will have the opportunity to paint and be creative in the Museum.
‡ Reservation recommended, but not required.
In Person
Historical Talk: The Royal Tahitian
Saturday, June 10, 2023
1 PM – 2 PM
In its heyday, the Royal Tahitian at Ontario’s Whispering Lakes Golf Course showcased regular performances by jazz luminaries Louis Armstrong, Pearl Bailey, Ray Charles, Dorothy Dandridge, Duke Ellington, Ella Fitzgerald and Eartha Kitt. Other performers included James Brown, the Four Tops, Odetta, the Platters, and Martha Reeves and the Vandellas. Parks and Recreation Commissioner and local historian Joe Caskey will present the brief, but blazing history behind the prominent entertainment venue that brought diverse, A-list talent to Ontario for half a decade in the 1960s. The lecture will be followed by a Q&A.
‡ Reservation recommended, but not required.
In Person
Emerging Artist Meet-Up: Mixed Media
Saturday, June 3, 2023
12 PM – 2 PM
Our recurring series for local emerging artists continues, offering more networking opportunities and resources. Learn about mixed media artmaking and techniques from Golden Artist Kathryn Elliot Duncan. Explore art materials like graphite, colored pencil, oil and chalk pastel, and applications like gold leaf and sculptural styling with acrylic paint.
‡ Reservation recommended, but not required.
In Person
Emerging Artist Meet-Up: Exhibit Submissions
Thursday, June 1, 2023
5:30 PM – 6:30 PM
Calling all local artists! Join us for this recurring series that offers emerging artists networking opportunities and resources, presented in partnership with The Arts Area. In this session, learn how to submit your artwork for exhibition consideration using online submission platforms.
‡ Reservation recommended, but not required.
In Person
Culture Fest
Saturday, May 20, 2023
6 PM – 9 PM
In conjunction with the quarterly Ontario Art Walk and the Chaffey Community Museum of Art, the Ontario Museum of History & Art is excited to present Culture Fest 2023, an evening-long celebration through the arts of the different way of life that exist within Ontario’s diverse community.
Experience:
- Live performances
- An interactive public art installation by Los Angeles-based artist Luciana Abait
- Artist vendors
- Food trucks
- Art-making activities
- Exhibitions, and more.
In Person
Mindful Art: Paint With Us
Friday, April 7, 2023
3 PM – 4 PM
Join museum staff for a mindful tour in the galleries and experience this introduction to mindfulness and well-being at the museum. Learn how museums can be a space for curiosity and slowing down by exercising mindfulness through reflection and painting.
‡ Reservation recommended, but not required.
In Person
Art Cart Takeover: We the People Collage Workshop
Sunday, April 16, 2023
2 PM – 3:30 PM
Join us for an Art Cart activity inspired by our current exhibition We the People: Yesterday, Today, & Tomorrow. Explore making collage art using paper, paint, and stamp- printing techniques with We the People featured artist cindita.
‡ Reservation recommended, but not required.
In Person
Workshop: Native Plant Cookie Decorating Class
Saturday, May 13, 2023
1 PM – 3 PM
The museum and Dolce Vida by Lised present this sugar cookie decorating class. Come be inspired by our California Native Plant Garden and decorate sugar cookies using colored icing and piping techniques. A local business in the Inland Empire, Dolce Vida by Lised specializes in custom edible art. Cookies and supplies are included, but space is limited.
‡ Reservation recommended, but not required.