The Open Arts Center

10/07/2026

As we get ready for this year’s Día de Mu***os celebration, we’ve been thinking back to last year’s community craft nights. We hosted them before the OAC was even officially open.⁠
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Those evenings quickly became some of our favorite memories: gathering around tables, making & learning together, sharing stories, and bringing community together in preparation for such a meaningful celebration.⁠
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It was truly an honor to host those last year, and this year, we feel incredibly lucky to be welcoming the entire Día de Mu***os celebration to the OAC!⁠
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Bring your family and friends to come create with us tomorrow night!⁠
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We can’t wait to gather, create, remember, and celebrate together.⁠
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Community Craft Nights ⁠
Every Thursday | 4-7 PM⁠
Oct. 8th - Nov. 5th

10/07/2026

LET’S GET READY FOR DÍA DE MU***OS!⁠
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We’re getting ready for our big Día de Mu***os celebration with a series of community craft nights at the OAC!⁠
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Join us every Thursday from October 8 through November 5, from 4–7 PM, as we come together to make decorations and offerings for the celebration, including paper marigolds, altar kits, and other creative projects.⁠
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These evenings are all about making, connecting, learning, and preparing for Día de Mu***os together.⁠
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FREE TO ATTEND�All ages & families welcome�Thursdays, October 8–November 5 | 4–7 PM�At the OAC⁠
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Bring the whole family, bring a friend, and join us as we fill the OAC with creativity and color in preparation for this meaningful celebration.⁠
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Come craft with us!

10/07/2026

DÍA DE MU***OS IS COMING TO THE OPEN ARTS CENTER!⁠
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We are so honored and excited to partner with Día de Mu***os Bend to welcome this incredible celebration of culture, remembrance, and community to the Open Arts Center.⁠
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On Friday, November 6, the OAC will become a vibrant gathering place for Central Oregon’s Día de Mu***os celebration — bringing together music, dance, art, stories, and community in an evening centered around connection and remembrance.⁠
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Día de Mu***os is a tradition rooted in Indigenous practices from nations including the Mexica, Zapotec, Purépecha, and Maya, and carried across generations through family, culture, and community.⁠
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Families come together to light candles, create altars, and share offerings of food, music, and flowers as they honor and welcome the spirits of loved ones. At its heart, Día de Mu***os is about the stories, traditions, and connections that shape who we are.⁠
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We’re grateful to be part of creating a space where people can honor those who came before us, celebrate culture and creativity, and come together across communities.⁠
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We can’t wait to welcome you to the OAC for this beautiful evening of remembrance, belonging, connection, and joy.⁠
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Día de Mu***os 2026�Friday, November 6 | 3:30–9 PM�⁠
Open Arts Center | 999 NE 2nd St. Bend, Oregon⁠
Free to attend | All ages welcome!⁠
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More details coming soon.

10/07/2026

These sound like great events at COCC! Continue the party for Dia de Mu***os at the OAC with Dia de Mu***os Bend on November 6th 3:30-9pm!

Celebrate Latinx Heritage Month with COCC!

This October, COCC invites students and community members to come together for events celebrating Latinx culture, stories and experiences. All events are free and open to the public.

Here’s what’s coming up:

Oct. 17 | Community Bike Ride
Join COCC and Vámonos Outside at Shevlin Park for a community ride. Bikes and helmets will be provided, including for children. Come early for “Ask a Mechanico” assistance and bike safety tips. Registration is required.

Oct. 20 & 22 | “Solito” Book Discussions
Explore Javier Zamora’s award-winning memoir about his 3,000-mile migration from El Salvador to the U.S. border at age 9. Discussions will be held at COCC Prineville on Oct. 20 and COCC Madras on Oct. 22.

Oct. 27 | An Evening with José Olivarez
Award-winning poet and performer José Olivarez comes to the Bend campus for an evening of poetry, conversation and a Q&A exploring immigration, identity and more.

Everyone is welcome to join us!

Find event times, locations and registration details: https://cocc.edu/departments/multicultural/latino/latinx-events

10/05/2026

First Friday was a hit! Thank you so much to everyone who came out to our OAC Member & Teen Group Exhibition!

It was so wonderful to celebrate all of their incredible work. Thanks to Michele Barinaga ~ Work in Progress for all of these beautiful photos of the evening!

If you’re interested in joining the community, we still have some shared studio spaces available! Contact us at [email protected] to learn more.

09/05/2026

Last night’s First Friday and Open Studio was so special! We’re grateful to everyone who came out to see all the wonderful art that is being created within these walls.

It’s a pinch me moment when we can step back and see all that is emerging from this growing community at The OAC! It’s pretty freaking magical.

Interested in becoming a part of it?
We have a 6x6’ studio opening in October and have shared studio memberships available now!

Fill out our application online or contact Maija at [email protected]

We can’t wait to welcome you in!

08/19/2026

We are constantly blown away by the creativity of the teens that walk through our doors!

These guys came in with a clear sense of what they wanted to do and made it happen! They upcycled clothes they brought in and made them their own by cutting out designs and filling them in with fabric we had on hand. It was incredible to see them bust these out within one day of Open Art Hours!

Are you a teen wanting to learn to sew or get into fashion design? We’d love to have you come to Open Sew hours on Monday’s from 2-3pm or get certified to use our sewing machines M-F during our Summer Open Art Hours 12-5pm!

08/11/2026

SUMMER AT THE OAC TEEN CENTER

Looking for a creative, welcoming place for your teen to spend time this August?

The OAC Teen Center is open Monday–Friday, 12–5 PM, giving teens a space to connect, create, explore new interests, and be part of a growing community of young creatives.

We’re excited about the energy teens are bringing to the OAC this summer, and there’s even more on the way.

New creative cohorts are launching soon! These upcoming opportunities will give teens a chance to dive deeper into creative projects, build new skills, and connect with other young people who share their interests.

Whether your teen is already making art or simply looking for a place to get creative and connect, we’d love to have them join us.

Summer Hours
Monday–Friday
12–5 PM

Come see what’s happening at the OAC Teen Center, and stay tuned for our upcoming creative cohorts!

Contact Claire, our Teen Programs Director for more information at [email protected]

08/05/2026

✨OPEN CALL FOR ARTISTS!✨

Ancestral Connections: A Community Día de Mu***os Exhibition

The Open Arts Center is excited to announce our first open call for artists! We invite Central Oregon artists to submit artwork and writing for a community exhibition celebrating remembrance, ancestry, family, culture, and the connections that shape who we are.

Inspired by the traditions and spirit of Día de Mu***os, this exhibition welcomes artists of all backgrounds to share stories, memories, and creative reflections honoring the people and traditions that live on through us.

* Open to artists ages 16+
* Accepted mediums: 2D & 3D artwork, photography, and creative writing
* Submit up to 3 pieces
* Free to submit
* Submission Deadline: Monday, September 14, 2026
* Exhibition Dates: November 6 – December 18, 2026
* Opening Reception: November 6 | 5–7 PM during the Día de Mu***os Bend celebration

Submit your work and be part of this community celebration.
Link in bio

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✨CONVOCATORIA ABIERTA PARA ARTISTAS✨

Conexiones Ancestrales: Una Exposición Comunitaria por el Día de Mu***os
¡El Open Arts Center anuncia nuestra primera convocatoria abierta para artistas! Invitamos a artistas del Centro de Oregón a presentar obras de arte y escritos para una exposición comunitaria que celebra la memoria, la herencia, la familia, la cultura y las conexiones que nos forman.

Inspirada en las tradiciones y el espíritu del Día de Mu***os, esta exposición invita a artistas de todos los orígenes a compartir historias, recuerdos y expresiones creativas que honran a las personas y tradiciones que permanecen con nosotros.

* Abierta a artistas de 16 años en adelante
* Medios aceptados: obras 2D y 3D, fotografía y escritura creativa
* Puedes presentar hasta 3 obras
* ¡Participación gratuita!
* Fecha límite para enviar obras: lunes 14 de septiembre de 2026
* Fechas de la exposición: 6 de noviem