June Free Public Programs

To learn more and register for a program please call (909) 395-2510 or visit OntarioMuseum.org/Programs.

Museum Hours

Thursday - Friday | 12 PM – 4 PM
Saturday - Sunday | 11 AM – 5 PM

Check out the Museum’s Digital Guide on Bloomberg Connects

The Ontario Museum of History & Art now has a digital guide available through Bloomberg Connects, the free arts and culture app. Virtually explore the Museum during and after your visit with this new guide.  

With the digital guide, users can: 

• Explore highlights to the Museum’s permanent exhibitions, Built on Water: Ontario and Inland Southern California and Gem of the Foothills
• Learn about the Museum’s history, building, and grounds 
• Listen to audio highlights on artifacts in the Museum’s collection 
• Access content in 40+ languages through Google Translate integration 
• Many more specialty features to explore

First Thursdays: Noche de los Niños

Thursday, June 5 | All Ages
5 PM – 8 PM

Join us for a night of family fun at the annual Noche de los Niños event at the Museum! Embark on an adventure of imagination and curiosity through guided exhibition tours and hands-on activities. This event is free and open to all.?? 

Studio Saturdays: Thunderbird Neon Pop Art

Saturday, June 7 | Ages 15+
12 PM – 3 PM

Using drawing and neon light art design techniques, follow along with Art by Mario Solorzano in a guided painting session by creating your own neon Thunderbird inspired by the Gem of the Foothills exhibition. Materials and supplies provided. Space is limited and will be offered on a first-come, first-served basis. We recommend signing up in advance, though it is not required.

Emerging Artist Meet-Up: Preparing your Digital Portfolio for the Ontario Arts Festival

Thursday, June 12 | Ages 15+
5:30 PM – 7 PM
Sign Up

Artists of all levels are invited to dive into this crash course designed to prepare you to apply to the 2025 Ontario Arts Festival. Learn how to compile an attractive and accurate portfolio that will make your application stand out. At this workshop we will review how to prepare the perfect artist statement, how to present your artwork digitally, and how to finalize digital works in order to stand out.

Studio Saturdays: Plein Air Sketching

Saturday, June 14 | Ages 10+
12 PM – 3 PM

Capture scenes from the Museum’s Tongva and California Native Plant Gardens in a plein air (outdoor) sketching session with exhibiting artist Yessenia Barron Reyes from the Ontario Open exhibition. Plein air sketching is the practice of drawing or painting outdoors, allowing artists to observe and capture the natural environment in real time. In this session, you’ll learn techniques for sketching in an open-air setting while paying close attention to light, color, and form. Materials and supplies will be provided. Sign-up is recommended but not required.

Apply for the Ontario Arts Festival

Deadline July 10, 2025

Applications are now open for the seventh annual Ontario Arts Festival, taking place on Saturday, October 18 from 10 AM – 5 PM. The Arts Festival attracts 2,000+ visitors annually and exemplifies the City’s commitment to making Ontario the premier destination for arts and culture in the Inland Empire. We accept a wide range of artists and mediums, including but not limited to fine art, textiles, ceramics, digital art, photography, jewelry, metal, wood, and more. Artists must be a resident of Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino or San Diego counties.?Learn more about the Arts Festival, sponsorship opportunities, and find the artist application at our website links below.

Apply Now

Now On View

13th Biennial Ontario Open Art Exhibition

May 1 – July 20, 2025

The Ontario Museum of History & Art presents the 13th?Biennial Ontario Open Art Exhibition, a juried exhibition that features contemporary artists from across Southern California. The exhibition displays work from over 150 artists, offering visitors a chance to experience artwork in a variety of mediums, from oil paintings, ceramics and watercolor to photography, collage, encaustic, cyanotype, and woodcut prints. This exhibition is made possible by the Ontario Museum Associates and The Arts Area. 

Major support is provided by Ontario Elks Lodge #1419, with additional support from Donna Chadwick, in honor of her beloved husband Steven Craig Thomas, Paul J. Gomez, Cherry Dobbs, Sherry Glab, Debra Porada, Mike and Kathleen Fariss, Leslie Sherwood James, Joe and Nancy Blackstock, Erina Higa, Marissa Kucheck, and Loretha Nwosu.

Schedule a Tour of the Ontario Open

Schedule a complimentary guided tour of the new exhibition with our museum educators. The Museum welcomes groups of 10 or more for free guided tours to explore the 13th Biennial Ontario Open Art Exhibition. For more information call (909) 395-2510 or email [email protected].