Tag: Front Page

Costume Designer’s Boot Camp

Post author By Rachel Holmstrom
Post date August 25, 2025

Costume Designer’s Boot Camp (1080 x 1080 px)

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!

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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.

See our other Saturdays at the Lab workshops

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@juniorcenter.org

Missed out on this workshop? Join our mailing list to stay in the loop about SATURDAYS at the LAB!

Made in the East Bay: Fueling the next generation of artists, makers, and scientists

Post author By Rachel Holmstrom
Post date August 25, 2025

Made in the East Bay Square

Rediscover the Junior Center at Made in the East Bay, an evening celebrating creativity and curiosity. This one-night fundraiser supports the Junior Center for Art and Science mission to provide a place of belonging—where creativity flourishes and every young person has the opportunity to explore, create, and experiment.

Saturday, October 4, 2025, 6-9 pm
at Junior Center for Art and Science in Lakeside Park
558 Bellevue Ave. Oakland, CA, 94610

About the event

Enjoy our 3rd annual art sale featuring works by local artists, and don’t miss the youth art showcase—where you can explore the next generation of East Bay creators, thinkers, and changemakers.

Sample bites and drinks from all around Oakland, connect with the community, and experience the vibrant work of East Bay Artists.

Together, we’re building accessible, inclusive, and equitable programs that empower youth through hands-on exploration in the arts, science, and technology. All proceeds from the event benefit our scholarship programs.

TICKETS

$25 Early Bird
$35 General Admission
$50 Super Supporter Ticket – gets you 2 free drinks, plus knowing you have helped preserve a crucial cultural hub that fosters the growth of arts and science education in the community.

Book your RENTAL

BUY TICKETS TODAY

About the Art Sale

Made in the East Bay is a curated selection of art from local contemporary artists, all graciously donated and priced under $500.

Proceeds support scholarship opportunities for youth to attend our popular camps, after-school programs, and workshops. Each year, our programs reach over 5,000 young people and their families throughout the East Bay. Sliding scale is available for all our offerings, and 71% of families take advantage of the scholarships we provide.

THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS

ACCESSIBILITY & INCLUSION

If you have any accommodation needs or concerns, reach out directly at contact@juniorcenter.org

Support Our Work

Support our nonprofit gallery space and help us continue fostering creativity, community, and access to the arts. Your contribution directly empowers emerging artists and makes inspiring exhibitions and programs possible for all.

Book your RENTAL

Support our work

Wild Botanicals

Post author By Rachel Holmstrom
Post date July 22, 2025

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NOW OFFERING SINGLE DAY SESSIONS!

Wild Botanicals is now a series of Saturday workshops for youth ages 6–8. Each session stands on its own, but together they build a rich, creative journey through the intersections of ecology and art!

Discover the wonders of plants and animals right in our backyard. Young artists will experiment with watercolor, colored pencil, acrylic, and sculpture. They’ll make pigments from plants, explore native vs. non-native species, weave dream catchers and webs, and sketch local insects, flora, and fauna. Students will also keep field notebooks as they observe the vibrant habitat of Lake Merritt.

HOW TO ATTEND

No pre-registration is required! Simply stop by ten minutes before class starts (9:50am) to check-in and pay. Please note: check-in closes at 10:15 AM—no late entries.

Each workshop is $20 – $30 sliding scale.

No refunds will be allowed.

ACCESSIBILITY & INCLUSION

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

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.

Missed out on this workshop? Join our mailing list to stay in the loop about SATURDAYS at the LAB!

Rent our Space

Post author By Rachel Holmstrom
Post date January 30, 2025

Host your next event at The Junior Center of Art and Science

Panoramic views of Lake Merritt

Rent individual rooms or the entire building

Discounts for non-profit partners

Learn more about our space rentals.

Celebrate your birthday with us!

Post author By Rachel Holmstrom
Post date January 30, 2025

Book your next birthday party with Junior Center!

Ideal for ages 5 – 12, our Teaching Artists lead each party through an age-appropriate project which will leave your child and their friends feeling inspired and confident in their creative abilities.

Our 2 hour birthday party packages come complete with everything you need for your young creative’s special day:

60 minute Art or Science Activity with a professional JCAS Teaching Artist

60 minutes for cake & gifts

Dedicated party room for all the fun

All the necessary materials for each participant to create a keepsake to take home day of

Learn more about our Birthday Party Packages.

HOW TO BOOK YOUR PARTY

Review our Birthday Party FAQ.
Choose a Date & Time. Birthday parties are available on Saturdays at two time slots; 10am -12pm or 1pm-3pm
Choose a Theme.
Complete the form below with your decisions and leave the rest to us!

Book your party

Please make all birthday party requests at least a month in advance. Regrettably, we cannot accept any requests with less than 3 weeks notice.

Some customization can be accommodated, reach out to Program Director Elisa Oceguera at eoceguera@eastbaycreativelab.org for more information.

STEAM Night at Franklin Elementary

Post author By Rachel Holmstrom
Post date December 26, 2024

Join us for STEAM Night 2024 at Franklin Elementary in Oakland, CA.

STEAM is an educational approach that combines Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math. STEAM is an evolution of STEM education that adds the arts to the mix. It’s designed to help students develop critical thinking, creativity, and innovation skills.

Here at the Junior Center we harness the power of creativity and experiential learning to inspire big ideas and illuminate the everyday connections between art and science.