East Bay: Berkeley, Danville, Fremont, Livermore, Oakland, Piedmont, Pleasanton, Walnut Creek
Arts and Crafts Cooperative, Inc: ACCI Gallery - Berkeley
Daily 11:00am-6:00pm (Sunday 12:00pm-5:00pm)
Location: 1652 Shattuck Avenue
Why Go There? Oldest arts cooperative west of the Mississippi, 100+ artists, wide variety of media showcased in expansive gallery; changing exhibits, opening receptions; special events
More Information: ACCI Gallery
Berkeley Art Museum & Pacific Film Archive (BAMPFA) - Berkeley
Wednesday-Sunday 11:00am-7:00pm (Friday-Saturday until 9:00pm)
Location: 2155 Center Street
Why Go There? Combination art museum, repertory movie theater, film archive (see listing under Entertainment & Performing Arts), University of California Berkeley affiliated. Galleries feature changing exhibits, workshops, gallery talks, special events; cafe; senior, student discounts (UC Berkeley students, faculty, staff free); monthly first Thursday free.
More Information: BAMPFA
Berkeley Historical Society/Berkeley History Center- Berkeley
Thursday-Saturday 1:00pm-4:00pm
Location: 1931 Center Street
Why Go There? Permanent exhibit features illustrated timeline of Berkeley History; changing exhibits; free (donations welcomed); schedules Fall, Spring Saturday morning walking tours (fee)
More Information: Berkeley Historical Society
Eugene O'Neill Tao House - Danville
Wednesday- Friday, Sunday: reserved guided tours 10:00am, 2:00pm
Saturday: No reservations needed, self-guided tours 10:15am, 12:15pm, 2:15pm
Location: Shuttles depart for all tours from 205 Railroad Avenue
Why Go There? Insightful tours of writer Eugene and wife Carlotta O'Neill's home, designed/built, along with extensive grounds using his Nobel Prize money, and where he completed several significant plays.
Access: The Eugene O'Neill National Historic Site access is through a private, gated road owned by a community of neighboring residents. Free guided tours of Tao House are offered by advance reservation only, include transportation to/from the park. Allow two hours for a visit. Recommended to schedule tours at least two weeks in advance; same day reservations are sometimes available.
More Information: Eugene O’Neill + Plan Your Visit
Museum of the San Ramon Valley - Danville
Tuesday - Friday 1:00pm-4:00pm, Saturday 10:00am-1:00pm, Sunday 12:00pm-3:00pm
Location: 205 Railroad Avenue
Why Go There? Permanent local history exhibit in restored 1891 Southern Pacific Depot building, changing exhibits, local walking tours, author talks, other events, gift shop; senior, student entrance fee discount (nominal for all)
More Information: Museum SRV
Village Theatre Art Gallery - Danville
Wednesday-Friday 12:00pm-5:00 pm, Saturday 11:00am-3:00pm
(Monday, Tuesday Appointment Only, closed Sunday)
Location: 233 Front Street
Why Go There? Historic 1873 renovated hall hosts changing art exhibits, special events: opening receptions, films
More Information: Village Theatre Art Gallery
Fremont Art Association Gallery/Shop - Fremont
Tuesday, Friday-Sunday 11:00am-afternoon, Thursday opens at 1:00pm
closed Monday, Wednesday (First Wednesday open 12:00pm-3:30pm demos)
Location: 37697 Niles Boulevard
Why Go There? Features member works monthly; annual juried art show (September-October)
More Information: Fremont Art Association
ArtWalk Livermore - Livermore
October
Saturday 11:00am-5:00pm
Location: Downtown
Why Go There? Annual one day art festival, 200+ artists display works on sidewalks, plazas, parks, galleries, variety of media; no cost to attend. Meet artists and buy one-of-a-kind, original hand made pieces; live music, food and wine
More Information: ArtWalk
Bothwell Arts Center Gallery at Bankhead Theater - Livermore
Monday-Wednesday 12:00pm-4:00pm, Sunday 1:00pm-4:00pm (except performance times)
Location: 2400 First Street
Why Go There? Changing exhibits, artist events
More Information: Bothwell
Livermore Art Association Gallery- Livermore
Wednesday-Saturday 11:30am-4:00pm, Sunday 10:00am-2:30pm
Location: 2155 Third Street (Upstairs in Historic Carnegie Building)
Why Go There? 20+ artist member works showcased in gallery, featured artists; special events (Art in the Vineyard, Art in the Market)
More Information: Livermore Art Association
Livermore Heritage Guild (Duarte Garage/Lincoln Highway Museum; Hagemann Ranch, Carnegie Library Building/History Museum) - Livermore
Third Sunday 10:00am-2:00pm
Location: Duarte Garage/Lincoln Highway Museum: Corner Pine/North L Streets; Hagemann Ranch: 455 Olivina Avenue - Fourth Sundays 1:00pm-4:00pm Carnegie Library (see Livermore Art Association)
Why Go There? Heritage Guild organizes lectures, walks, events (including annual fundraiser gala/auction); manages three area historic sites: Duarte Garage is a museum with historic cars, memorabilia; Hagemann Ranch offers glimpse of historic working ranch/farm buildings, garden; Carnegie Library History Museum contains area memorabilia, history archives
More Information: Livermore Heritage Guild
Mills College Art Museum - Oakland
Year-round
Tuesday-Sunday 11:00am-4:00pm, Wednesday until 7:30pm
Location: 5000 MacArthur Boulevard
Why Go There? Housed in California architect Walter Ratcliff Jr's 1925 designed building, combines Beaux-Arts Classical, Spanish Colonial Revival architectural styles; 6000 feet of gallery space; nationally, internationally known artist contemporary work exhibitions; strong collections of prints, drawings, photography, California paintings, textiles. No cost.
More Information: Mills College Art Museum
Oakland Museum of California (OMCA) - Oakland
Wednesday-Sunday 11:00am-5:00pm (weekends 10:00am-6:00pm)
Location: 1000 Oak Street
Why Go There? Top-rated Bay Area museum features California art, history, and natural sciences; weekend tours, monthly architecture tours; food trucks; plaza, outdoor sculptures, gardens, cafe, gift store; senior, student discounts, Friday evenings half-price, monthly first Sunday free (donations gladly accepted).
More Information: Oakland Museum of California
Pardee Home Museum - Oakland
Saturday tours 10:30am, second Sunday tours 2:00pm
Location: 672 Eleventh Street/Castro
Why Go There? Scheduled tours of historic California 1860's Italianate family home/estate, original furnishings, extensive collections, restored gardens; special events, teas, gift shop (open during tours, events). Reservations recommended
More Information: Pardee Home Museum
Firehouse Arts Center Gallery - Pleasanton
Wednesday–Friday 12:00pm-5:00pm, Saturday 11:00am-3:00pm
Location: 4444 Railroad Avenue
Why Go There? Renovated historic firehouse turned Arts Center's Harrington Gallery features seven group exhibitions per year, highlighting works by established and emerging local and regional artists working in a variety of styles, genres, themes; juried shows, opening receptions
More Information: Firehouse Arts
Bedford Gallery - Walnut Creek
Tuesday-Sunday 12:00pm-5:00pm
Location: 1601 Civic Drive (Lesher Center for the Arts)
Why Go There? Four to five exhibits annually feature historic, contemporary and modern artists, artworks; lectures, workshops, panel discussions; receptions, other special events, annual fundraising events; nominal entrance fee, free first monthly Tuesday
More Information: Bedford Gallery
Additional Resources
Bay Area Historic House Museums - Bay Area
”Member-houses in seven San Francisco Bay Area counties: Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Clara, and Sonoma…Each House is independent and has its own hours, programs and amenities”
Berkeley Artisans - Berkeley
Listings, open studio tours
Berkeley Architectural Heritage Association - Berkeley
Sponsors annual first Sunday in May tour
Berkeley Potters Guild - Berkeley
Gallery open Saturdays 11:00am-5:00pm, February -November; hosts events, workshops 731 Jones Street
Art Collective - Berkeley
Open studios; events; 1313 9th Street
Another Bullwinkle Show - Berkeley
Organizer of annual street fairs, including Persian New Year Festival (March), Chocolate & Chalk Art (August)
Historical Park Facilities - Fremont
Historic homes, settings open to the public include Shinn Historical Park and Arboretum, 1251 Peralta Boulevard
California College of the Arts - Oakland
Gallery (see San Francisco for SF galleries) presents student, faculty and acclaimed artist works; 5212 Broadway Avenue, Monday-Friday 12:00pm-5:00pm
Dunsmuir Hellman Home - Oakland
37 room historic estate offers (fee) tours; 2960 Peralta Oaks Court, Wednesdays 11:00am; grounds open Tuesday-Friday 10:00am-4:00pm
East Bay Open Studios - Oakland
Free self-guided tours of artist studios
Art Space - Orinda
Public art map
Piedmont Center for the Arts - Piedmont
Hosts changing art exhibits, lectures, receptions (see listing in Entertainment & Performing Arts for music); 801 Magnolia Avenue
Ruth Bancroft Garden & Nursery - Walnut Creek
Hosts several special events /year, including art exhibits, music, food, tours; 1552 Bancroft Road