We have a new animal friend—a bearded dragon! Stop by to meet her and help us choose her name.
Saturdays, Sept 6 – Oct 4 10am – 4pm
This will also kick off a standing lunch with our reptiles. Stop by at noon for a live feeding!
The winning name will be displayed on a special plaque next to her enclosure, and the winner will also receive a special STEAM prize!
ACCESSIBILITY & INCLUSION
We’re committed to making all programs at the Junior Center of Art and Science accessible and inclusive. Our spaces are wheelchair-friendly, and we welcome learners of all abilities and learning styles. If you or your child need accommodations, please let us know—we’re happy to help! Read our Accessibility Statement here.
If you have any accommodation needs or concerns, reach out directly at contact@juniorenter.org
We are happy to announce that the Junior Center of Art and Science will be participating in Creek to Bay Day this year!
Creek to Bay Day is a day of watershed cleanups, education, and commitment to practices to keep our city and water clean, from creek, to bay, and beyond! Be part of a citywide day of action as we roll up our sleeves to clean and green Oakland’s creeks, shorelines, parks, and neighborhoods.
We’ll gather at 10:00 AM on Saturday,Sept 20th at our center (558 Bellevue Ave.). We’ll work alongside our neighbors at the Rotary Nature Centerto restore our shared outdoor spaces and Lake Merritt’s shoreline. Projects include trash removal, habitat restoration, and beautification.
The 30th annual Oakland Creek to Bay Day is part of California and International Coastal Cleanup Day. By participating, you’ll not only make a positive impact on our community but also help protect our creeks, bay, ocean, and beaches.
We’re committed to making all programs at the Junior Center of Art and Science accessible and inclusive. Our spaces are wheelchair-friendly, and we welcome learners of all abilities and learning styles. If you or your child need accommodations, please let us know—we’re happy to help! Read our Accessibility Statement here.
If you have any accommodation needs or concerns, reach out directly at contact@juniorenter.org
Do you love the spooky, fun, and magical spirit of Halloween? Have you ever wanted to bring a character to life, just like the amazing costume designers for your favorite movies and shows? Get ready to create your own incredible costume and be the star of the show!
Join us for a spooky and spectacular journey into the world of costume design! This boot camp is all about learning to bring your wildest costume ideas to life.
Upcycling Spells: Learn how to turn old clothes and forgotten treasures into amazing new costume pieces. You’ll be a master of transforming ordinary fabric into something extraordinary.
Your Ghoulishly Great Vision: Bring your own spooky or silly ideas, fabrics, and patterns. If you need extra–we have a cauldron full of materials to spark your imagination.
Guidance from the Costume Gurus: Our teachers and fashion mentors are like wizards of the sewing machine. They’ll be there to help you every step of the way, so you can turn your design dreams into a real, wearable masterpiece.
Don’t miss out on this chance to unlock your inner costume designer and make your Halloween dreams a reality. Join the Halloween Costume Designer’s Boot Camp and get ready to be the creative force behind your own costume!
Reserve your spot today and get ready for a hauntingly good time!
Saturdays at the Lab is a unique series of weekend art workshops connecting professional artists with our local community. Designed to foster creativity and collaboration, these hands-on sessions welcome participants of all skill levels to explore new techniques, exchange ideas, and experience the transformative power of art.
Every Second Saturday of the month, we unwind with a Sip & Make session, blending artistic exploration with a relaxed, social vibe.
We’re committed to making all programs at the Junior Center of Art and Science accessible and inclusive. Our spaces are wheelchair-friendly, and we welcome learners of all abilities and learning styles. If you or your child need accommodations, please let us know—we’re happy to help! Read our Accessibility Statement here.
In this playful Halloween workshop, animation educator Zachary Sweet will guide you through creating a spooky, silly, or darkly funny animated greeting card GIF. No experience needed—just bring your creativity and a taste for the eerie. Learn simple animation techniques, visual storytelling, and how to export a looping GIF you can share with friends. Costumes welcome!
Your ticket includes all materials and refreshments, so just bring your creativity! This guided art-making experience offers plenty of flexibility, allowing you to explore and create at your own pace.
Meet the Artist
Zachary Sweet is a versatile artist recognized for his work as an animator, illustrator, and dedicated educator, particularly in the vibrant community of Oakland. His journey in the art world began as a self-taught artist, but has since furthered his skills with a Media Arts and Animation degree. Notably, he has earned acclaim for his award-winning animated short film, and his artwork has graced numerous displays in the Bay Area, reflecting his unique style and versatility.
About Saturdays at the Lab
Saturdays at the Lab is a unique series of weekend art workshops connecting professional artists with our local community. Designed to foster creativity and collaboration, these hands-on sessions welcome participants of all skill levels to explore new techniques, exchange ideas, and experience the transformative power of art.
Every Second Saturday of the month, we unwind with a Sip & Make session, blending artistic exploration with a relaxed, social vibe.
We’re committed to making all programs at the Junior Center of Art and Science accessible and inclusive. Our spaces are wheelchair-friendly, and we welcome learners of all abilities and learning styles. If you or your child need accommodations, please let us know—we’re happy to help! Read our Accessibility Statement here.
The Junior Center of Art and Science (JCAS) is a 501c nonprofit dedicated to cultivating curiosity and creative exploration through the arts and sciences. By blending creativity with experiential learning, we inspire big ideas and illuminate the everyday connections between art and science.
Your participation in these events not only nurtures your own creative potential but also supports our mission to provide equitable access to art and science programs for youth and families across Oakland and the greater East Bay Area. Learn more about us.
Join us for a fun night of drawing with our friends…soft pastels and booze. Soft pastels are a buttery delight to work with. Never worked with soft pastels before, no problem. Artist Kico Le Strange will be your soft pastel guru guide. nAlready a pro, that’s fantastic, come chill and draw with us. We will supply all the art materials: paper, soft pastels, blending stumps, pencils, erasers, and fixative. All concepts are welcome, from abstract to realism to just playing with the medium. Bring a homie, the more the merrier.
Your ticket includes all materials and refreshments, so just bring your creativity! This guided art-making experience offers plenty of flexibility, allowing you to explore and create at your own pace.
Meet the Artist
Kico Le Strange is an Oakland-based visual artist with a multidisciplinary practice that consists of performance, garment construction, illustration, soft sculpture, and installation.
About Saturdays at the Lab
Saturdays at the Lab is a unique series of weekend art workshops connecting professional artists with our local community. Designed to foster creativity and collaboration, these hands-on sessions welcome participants of all skill levels to explore new techniques, exchange ideas, and experience the transformative power of art.
Every Second Saturday of the month, we unwind with a Sip & Make session, blending artistic exploration with a relaxed, social vibe.
We’re committed to making all programs at the Junior Center of Art and Science accessible and inclusive. Our spaces are wheelchair-friendly, and we welcome learners of all abilities and learning styles. If you or your child need accommodations, please let us know—we’re happy to help! Read our Accessibility Statement here.
The Junior Center of Art and Science (JCAS) is a 501c nonprofit dedicated to cultivating curiosity and creative exploration through the arts and sciences. By blending creativity with experiential learning, we inspire big ideas and illuminate the everyday connections between art and science.
Your participation in these events not only nurtures your own creative potential but also supports our mission to provide equitable access to art and science programs for youth and families across Oakland and the greater East Bay Area. Learn more about us.
Explore all the creative possibilities of plants and animals right in our backyard! Artists will engage with botanicals and animals using various artistic mediums including watercolor, colored pencil, acrylic and sculpture. They will make pigments out of plants, learn about native vs non-native species, and even learn to weave dream catchers and webs! Scientist artists will document their findings in their field notebooks, sketch local insects, fauna and flora, and explore the abundant habitat of our beloved Lake Merritt.
Denise Doyle is a lifelong Bay Area Mixed-Media Teaching Artist based in Oakland. She teaches classes, workshops and retreats for humans of all ages. Denise believes in the power of art as a pathway to deeper personal insight and profound transformation.
SLIDING SCALE PRICING
All JCAS classes are made available to families on a sliding scale. Families choose the amount they are able to pay, considering the top end of our scale is how much it costs us to run the class. We encourage families to help support our efforts to make programs available to those in need.
If the sliding scale prices are still out of your family’s budget, we do offer scholarships. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis. Please give us 7 business days to process applications. All scholarship requests must be made by Friday, August 22nd.
Don’t worry about classes filling up, we account for this and ensure every camp is available for scholarship students.
JCAS is a 501c3 nonprofit dedicated to offering equitable access to arts and science education. We serve more than 1,500 students every year and most of our students – more than 70% – receive financial assistance.
You can now support our mission directly using our Pay It Forward Program. When registering your student for a class, you’ll have the opportunity to Pay It Forward and contribute to our Scholarship Fund. Your donation ensures that students from all backgrounds can experience the joy and enrichment of our classes and camps—at little to no cost to them.
We’re committed to making all programs at the Junior Center of Art and Science accessible and inclusive. Our spaces are wheelchair-friendly, and we welcome learners of all abilities and learning styles. If you or your child need accommodations, please let us know—we’re happy to help! Read our Accessibility Statement here.
You can indicate any accommodation needs or concerns when registering your child under the “Special Instructions about my child” section. You can also reach out directly at contact@juniorcenter.org
REFUND POLICY
ACTIVE now offers self-cancelations! If you need to cancel your registration for any reason, log in to your ACTIVE account, locate the registration you wish to cancel, and select ‘cancel’. Our Refund Policy is as follows: All purchases include a 10% non-refundable deposit to cover administrative costs.
From 7/21 – 8/12, you will receive a 90% refund. From 8/13 – 9/3, you will receive a 40% refund. From 9/4 on, we are not able to offer any refunds.
Please note: JCAS enrollment is non-transferable. That said, we do understand that sometimes your family schedule changes! We offer a one-time enrollment transfer for your child to another week of class that has spaces available free of charge. Unfortunately, because spots are limited, no credit is given for partial attendance. No portion of the tuition will be refunded if the child is absent, withdrawn, or otherwise fails to complete the activity.
Missed out on this workshop? Join our mailing list to stay in the loop about SATURDAYS at the LAB!
Participants will combine poetry and drawing to create their own handmade books. We’ll explore simple bookbinding techniques, using stitching and folding to assemble personalized booklets to be filled with memories. Books will include drawings and free-verse poetry. The drawings will have a focus on linework, emphasizing confidence of line and contour drawing. There will be creative writing exercises focused on sensory descriptions of familiar spaces. The focus is on creative expression and blending words with visual art in a fun, low-pressure environment. This workshop is specifically for families.
Gracianne Kirsch is an Oakland-based queer and trans artist working in the mediums of painting, drawing, poetry, and video. Kirsch received their BA in Art Practice and Social Welfare at University of California Berkeley in 2022, and their MFA in Art Studio from University of California Davis in 2024.
Kirsch’s work has been shown at the Manetti Shrem Museum of Art, Basement Gallery at UC Davis, Pence Gallery, and Worth Ryder Gallery. Kirsch will be featured in an upcoming show at 120710 Art Space.
About Saturdays at the Lab
Saturdays at the Lab is a unique series of weekend art workshops connecting professional artists with our local community. Designed to foster creativity and collaboration, these hands-on sessions welcome participants of all skill levels to explore new techniques, exchange ideas, and experience the transformative power of art.
We’re committed to making all programs at the Junior Center of Art and Science accessible and inclusive. Our spaces are wheelchair-friendly, and we welcome learners of all abilities and learning styles. If you or your child need accommodations, please let us know—we’re happy to help! Read our Accessibility Statement here.
You can indicate any accommodation needs or concerns when registering your child under the “Special Instructions about my child” section. You can also reach out directly at contact@juniorcenter.org
The Junior Center of Art and Science (JCAS) is a 501c nonprofit dedicated to cultivating curiosity and creative exploration through the arts and sciences. By blending creativity with experiential learning, we inspire big ideas and illuminate the everyday connections between art and science.
Your participation in these events not only nurtures your own creative potential but also supports our mission to provide equitable access to art and science programs for youth and families across Oakland and the greater East Bay Area. Learn more about us.
Participants will combine poetry and drawing to create their own handmade books. We’ll explore simple bookbinding techniques, using stitching and folding to assemble personalized booklets to be filled with memories. Books will include drawings and free-verse poetry. The drawings will have a focus on linework, emphasizing confidence of line and contour drawing. There will be creative writing exercises focused on sensory descriptions of familiar spaces. The focus is on creative expression and blending words with visual art in a fun, low-pressure environment. This workshop is specifically for teenagers.
Gracianne Kirsch is an Oakland-based queer and trans artist working in the mediums of painting, drawing, poetry, and video. Kirsch received their BA in Art Practice and Social Welfare at University of California Berkeley in 2022, and their MFA in Art Studio from University of California Davis in 2024.
Kirsch’s work has been shown at the Manetti Shrem Museum of Art, Basement Gallery at UC Davis, Pence Gallery, and Worth Ryder Gallery. Kirsch will be featured in an upcoming show at 120710 Art Space.
About Saturdays at the Lab
Saturdays at the Lab is a unique series of weekend art workshops connecting professional artists with our local community. Designed to foster creativity and collaboration, these hands-on sessions welcome participants of all skill levels to explore new techniques, exchange ideas, and experience the transformative power of art.
We’re committed to making all programs at the Junior Center of Art and Science accessible and inclusive. Our spaces are wheelchair-friendly, and we welcome learners of all abilities and learning styles. If you or your child need accommodations, please let us know—we’re happy to help! Read our Accessibility Statement here.
You can indicate any accommodation needs or concerns when registering your child under the “Special Instructions about my child” section. You can also reach out directly at contact@juniorcenter.org
The Junior Center of Art and Science (JCAS) is a 501c nonprofit dedicated to cultivating curiosity and creative exploration through the arts and sciences. By blending creativity with experiential learning, we inspire big ideas and illuminate the everyday connections between art and science.
Your participation in these events not only nurtures your own creative potential but also supports our mission to provide equitable access to art and science programs for youth and families across Oakland and the greater East Bay Area. Learn more about us.
Let’s celebrate the arrival of Mid-Summer with Circles and Mandalas! This month’s full moon occurs on Lunar Lammas (Mid Summer), so we celebrate the harvest and the fullness of the year by making circle shaped art. Many cultures around the world celebrate this occasion by baking round bread, gathering in a circle, honoring the harvest and the moon.
Create your own circular-shaped art to honor your personal journey and that of the collective. We will draw from a variety of collage materials, paint, hot glue and beyond to create 2D or 3D circles, mandalas, moons, mobiles and more. Get creative and crafty while connecting in a circle of Oakland community!
Your ticket includes all materials and refreshments, so just bring your creativity! This guided art-making experience offers plenty of flexibility, allowing you to explore and create at your own pace.
Meet the Artist
Denise Doyle is a lifelong Bay Area Mixed-Media Teaching Artist based in Oakland. She teaches classes, workshops and retreats for humans of all ages. Denise believes in the power of art as a pathway to deeper personal insight and profound transformation.
About Saturdays at the Lab
Saturdays at the Lab is a unique series of weekend art workshops connecting professional artists with our local community. Designed to foster creativity and collaboration, these hands-on sessions welcome participants of all skill levels to explore new techniques, exchange ideas, and experience the transformative power of art.
Every Second Saturday of the month, we unwind with a Sip & Make session, blending artistic exploration with a relaxed, social vibe.
We’re committed to making all programs at the Junior Center of Art and Science accessible and inclusive. Our spaces are wheelchair-friendly, and we welcome learners of all abilities and learning styles. If you or your child need accommodations, please let us know—we’re happy to help! Read our Accessibility Statement here.
The Junior Center of Art and Science (JCAS) is a 501c nonprofit dedicated to cultivating curiosity and creative exploration through the arts and sciences. By blending creativity with experiential learning, we inspire big ideas and illuminate the everyday connections between art and science.
Your participation in these events not only nurtures your own creative potential but also supports our mission to provide equitable access to art and science programs for youth and families across Oakland and the greater East Bay Area. Learn more about us.
Get ready to let your voice shine through art! In this hands-on workshop, you’ll design and create your very own 11” x 18” poster using text, paint, and collage techniques. We’ll start by chatting about powerful phrases that speak to you, something that inspires you, makes you laugh, or just feels you. Then, we’ll dive into mixing words with images, experimenting with bold designs, layered textures, and eye-catching layouts. Whether you want your message front and center or hidden in the background, this is your chance to turn your thoughts into art and take home a piece that’s your vibe.
This community workshop is part of our Queer R&R Resistance & Resilience gallery exhibit. Learn more about Queer R&R.
Meet the Artist
Jose L. Iniguez is an artist from California’s Central Valley, based in Oakland. His work explores the themes of identity, queerness, cultural displacement, mysticism, and pop culture. While his background is in ceramics, Jose works across different mediums and approaches to tell stories that feel both personal and collective. His art often reflects on what it means to belong, especially when identity is shaped by memory, movement, and adaptation. Using tactile processes and found materials, Jose creates pieces that invite reflection and connection about the complexity of the human experience.
About Saturdays at the Lab
Saturdays at the Lab is a unique series of weekend art workshops connecting professional artists with our local community. Designed to foster creativity and collaboration, these hands-on sessions welcome participants of all skill levels to explore new techniques, exchange ideas, and experience the transformative power of art.
We’re committed to making all programs at the Junior Center of Art and Science accessible and inclusive. Our spaces are wheelchair-friendly, and we welcome learners of all abilities and learning styles. If you or your child need accommodations, please let us know—we’re happy to help! Read our Accessibility Statement here.
You can indicate any accommodation needs or concerns when registering your child under the “Special Instructions about my child” section. You can also reach out directly at contact@juniorcenter.org
The Junior Center of Art and Science (JCAS) is a 501c nonprofit dedicated to cultivating curiosity and creative exploration through the arts and sciences. By blending creativity with experiential learning, we inspire big ideas and illuminate the everyday connections between art and science.
Your participation in these events not only nurtures your own creative potential but also supports our mission to provide equitable access to art and science programs for youth and families across Oakland and the greater East Bay Area. Learn more about us.
