Orlando Museum of Art (OMA) offering free admission on Thursday, October 16

The Orlando Museum of Art is hosting its next Access for All event, offering free admission on Thursday, October 16, from 10 am to 8 pm in partnership with the Art Bridges Foundation.

The Orlando Museum of Art (OMA) is thrilled to announce its upcoming Access for All event on Thursday, October 16, offering free admission from 10 am - 8 pm. This event is part of OMA’s ongoing commitment to break down barriers to art. Thanks to the generous support of the Art Bridges Foundation, Access for All allows everyone in the community to experience the museum, fostering inclusivity and creativity.

"Access for All is more than just free entry; it's an invitation to engage with art in a way that transcends physical space,” said Cathryn Mattson, CEO of OMA. “By opening our doors, we’re embracing the power of art to connect and inspire people from every walk of life, ensuring that everyone in our community feels encouraged to explore their own creativity."

FusionFest is a nonprofit organization advancing cultural diversity in Central Florida. In this special Access for All, FusionFest and Joyful Orlando will present a media preview for the 8th annual FusionFest festival.

Event highlights will include FusionFest’s signature MYgration Films, which capture the stories of Central Floridians from around the world in short 3-5-minute documentaries, along with dynamic dance and musical performances celebrating cultural diversity. This collaboration will offer a unique opportunity for museum-goers to experience a blend of visual and performing arts that showcase the traditions that make up Central Florida’s vibrant community.

Check out the latest museum and gallery news from Central Florida, including Orlando Museum Of Art, Orlando Science Center, The Charles Hosmer Morse Museum of American Art, The Mennello Museum of American Art, and more.

Events in the October 16 schedule include:

12 - 1 pm - Art Sandwiched In

Presented by Tatiana Mesa Paján, a process-based artist whose work explores poetic gestures across media such as performance, installation, printmaking and poetic prose. Rooted in archaeology, anthropology and language, her practice treats life experience as artistic material, questioning how we document and remember the everyday. Her works reflect on memory, subjectivity and the impossibility of fully capturing the present.

2:30 pm - Gallery Talk

Join us this month to learn more about select works from our permanent collection, we’ll focus on different artists and mediums that will invoke your curiosity.

3 - 4 pm - FusionFest MYgration Films

MYgration Films showcase the stories of Central Floridians through impactful, 3-5-minute documentaries.

4 - 5:30 pm - FusionFest Dance Acts

Featuring performances from:

Colombia – Ballet Folklorico Huellas de Colombia Folkdances

Mexico – Mexico Danza

Native American – Native Insights

India – Orlando Bal Vihar

Indonesia – Mandalika

Ukraine – Ukraine Spirit

Vietnam – Thuyen May Productions

5 - 7 pm - Sketching in the Galleries 

Drawing and sketching supplies will be available for artists of all ages to use as museum goers can enjoy an evening at the museum and be inspired by artwork in the galleries.

6 - 7 pm - La CinOMAthèque with Enzian

A collaboration between OMA and Enzian, museum goers will get to experience a screening of Zorns Lemma by Hollis Frampton.

7 pm - Highlights Tour

This docent-led tour provides opportunities for meaningful conversations with the entire family. Follow along with a docent as they take you from gallery to gallery, highlighting various works.

Guests are encouraged to view the museum’s current exhibitions including Jason Chin: Your Place in the Universe, To Catch a Dream: Florida Watercolor Society 54th Annual Exhibition, Dawoud Bey’s Evergreen and Relationships: A Love for Collecting II – the second installment of the transformational 314-work donation from Dr. James Cottrell and Joseph Lovett.

Guests can also view the Echoes of the Ancient in Contemporary Voices exhibition. OMA recently invited local Hispanic or Latin American artists to engage with the Art of the Ancient Americas Collection through the lens of personal heritage. This ongoing exhibition allows selected artists to present a contemporary artwork alongside the collection for a month, fostering new dialogues and perspectives that bridge time periods and cultures.

“Art thrives when it’s shared and experienced collectively. Our Access for All events are a celebration of the dynamic exchange between the art and the community,” said Coralie Claeysen-Gleyzon, chief curator of OMA. “As visitors immerse themselves in our galleries, they’re not just viewing works – they’re participating in conversation that shapes Central Florida’s cultural landscape.”

In addition to free admission, Access for All events feature guided tours and enriching gallery activities, providing visitors with opportunities to engage with art in a variety of ways. All are welcome to attend and experience the beauty and wonder of art in a welcoming and inclusive environment.

For more information about the event and OMA's exhibitions and programs, please visit www.omart.org.

Before attending any of the events listed on Gotta Go Orlando, you should contact the organizer or venue to confirm that the event is taking place as information, changes, and cancellations can occur.

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