Education

Literacy Through Art

OMA works in partnership with the Oceanside Public Library to offer Literacy Through Art to all third-grade classes (over 1.000 students) in the Oceanside Unified School District (OUSD). The arts-integrated literacy program provides students and educators with alternative ways to connect with language through dynamic and experiential lessons and activities that focus on visually-rich art and culturally-responsive literature. Due to the current situation caused by the global pandemic, OMA now offers an entirely digital version of the program including a five-part video series shot on location at the museum and the library.

“Many of [my students] had never been to a museum, so they were fascinated and excited. When we look at any kind of illustration now, I can ask them about ‘reading’ it and they will start responding and coming up with ideas and connections right away!” —Third Grade Educator

“My favorite part was when we shared our story. It was easy to create since we got to use our imagination...I am really proud of myself for making a new work of art” —Third Grade Student

ArtQuest

Starting in 2010 from a two-year grant from the National Endowment of the Arts, ArtQuest is a grant-funded museum/school program designed for every OUSD fifth-grader and their teacher (approximately 1,700 students per year). Reaching a total of 11,119 students since its inception, the ArtQuest program provides students the opportunity to view OMA art galleries and museum visits as laboratories of learning while exploring literacy and science-based learning strategies that connect to the Next Generation Science Standards, Common Core State Standards (CCSS) in language arts and national Visual and Performing Arts Standards. 

OMAgination Art Boxes With The Women’s Resources Center

In September, the OMAgination Art Box program provided intergenerational art kits to 25 families (a total of 53 children and 25 mothers) living in a residential facility operated by the Women’s Resource Center(WRC). Designed to help vulnerable families navigate the added stress, anxiety, and frustration caused by isolation during the stay-at-home orders issued in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, each box brought young and young-at-heart hands and minds together for some much needed offline artistic creativity. The WRC was delighted to use them as yet another tool to help support the organization’s “breaking the cycle” model to create a culture without abuse. Beyond the positive creative engagement, the OMAgination Art Box program was designed to develop positive relationship building between the mother and her children and to provide the children with expressive ways to work through trauma.

“The [art boxes] were a great surprise...doing art together is something we always love to do as a family. Thank you so much!” —Family Member at The Women's  Resource Center

Programs

OMA’s flexibility to provide a hybrid of programming into the future will continue to strengthen our connection to the community. Our creativity hasn’t waned and we are now making the best of both the virtual and onsite hybrid programs as we welcome visitors back to the museum. With our Coffee with a Collector series, artist studio visits, live-stream lectures, and SmallTalk conversations with curators and artists, OMA seeks to provide something for everyone.

Hotel Project

OMA forged a unique curatorial partnership with Oceanside Beachfront Resort, LLC, a developer of iconic destinations worldwide that broke ground on two new beachfront resorts in early 2019, just blocks from the museum. Oceanside Beachfront Resort sought out OMA because of the innovative art that it showcases, including the best, the unexpected, and the yet-to-be-discovered artists of the region.

OMA executive director Maria Mingalone believes this unique and exciting partnership furthers the museum’s mission to celebrate the art and artists of Southern California with residents and visitors alike through this collaboration.

“By building this long-term relationship with the hotels, OMA will have a lasting positive impact on the community while becoming a premier hub along the cultural corridor between Los Angeles and Tijuana.” — Maria Mingalone, OMA executive director

This partnership represents a new paradigm, pushing the envelope of the traditional art museum and how it engages and connects the arts to community enrichment. Through its partnership, OMA and Oceanside Beachfront Resort are proud to showcase diverse voices and artistic approaches from the region. Once open, there will be ongoing arts and cultural programming to bridge the museum and hotel with special events, travel packages, and ongoing exhibitions for guests to discover the region’s talent. 

“OMA is our cultural partner in making these hotels relevant and distinctly local—differentiation is key in our business and the museum brings in a creative component that will make the hotels even more unique for our guests.” —Jeremy Cohen, Oceanside Beachfront Resort director

Events

Night of the Living Art: An Art After Dark Fashion Extravaganza

Art After Dark has been reimagined this year as a virtual experience. Guests are invited to gather with those on their quarantine list and celebrate Halloween with a visual spectacle of wearable art that is equal parts art, fashion, and fun! Filmed at the museum, the eclectic fashion is complete with commentary and behind the scenes peeks at the road to the runway. In addition to voting on favorite looks, bidding on coveted must-haves will be available. All proceeds directly support OMA’s 2021 Exhibition Fund.

Teeny-Tiny Art Mart

Art comes in all shapes and sizes—from eye-popping murals to pieces that fit in your pocket—and sometimes the teeniest art can make the biggest impact. Artists and art enthusiasts of all ages are generously donating miniature masterpieces created in a variety of media. These 5" x 5" artworks by novices, professionals, civic leaders, and local celebrities will be sold at a price accessible for anyone, with a twist—buyers will not know the identity of the artist until they purchase the artwork. All donated artwork will be put up for sale at the online Teeny Tiny Art Mart with 100% of the proceeds helping to support OMA’s ongoing education initiatives that provide thousands of students annually with transformative arts-based experiences.

Thanks to your heart-warming generosity, OMA continues to be a source of inspiration for the community.