Events

Since 1999, The Crucible has brought our community of artists, neighbors, families, students, and makers together for events ranging from artists’ talks and demos to fire performances, benefits, and community open houses. For updates about all upcoming events, subscribe to our newsletter.

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Important Dates

  • December 23, 2023 – January 1, 2024: Crucible closed for winter break
  • January 8 – January 12: Weeklong Adult Classes
  • January 15: The Crucible’s 25th Birthday!
  • February 29: Field Trip Day
  • March 2: West Oakland Bike Summit
  • March 7: Field Trip Day
  • April 18: Field Trip Day
  • May 9: Field Trip Day
  • June 10 – July 26: Youth Summer Camps
  • July 25: Fuego Youth Leadership Reception
  • July 29: GIFTY vendor applications open
  • August 12 – 23: Weeklong Adult Classes
  • September 7: Fall Open House
  • December 7 & 8: GIFTY 2024

Upcoming Events

Bike Shop: Free Events and Education

See our Bike Shop event page for upcoming event dates.

The Crucible is offering free, community bike maintenance and education to West Oakland and neighboring community members through our quarterly Bike Fix-A-Thons, Open Bike Shop Hours, Femme Bike Night, and Flat Fix Clinics. Drop off your bike for a tune-up or learn basic bike maintenance skills from our faculty and volunteers. We are also leading offsite events at other West Oakland locations.

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Free Crucible Tours

Join us for a free, semi-monthly Crucible tour! Learn about the history of our 56,000-square-foot studio, the art and artists that make our space unique, and our nonprofit mission to keep the industrial and fine arts accessible to all.

To accommodate different schedules, tours alternate between Saturday afternoons at 2pm and Thursday evenings at 6pm.

Space is limited and available on a first-come, first-served basis in person. Feel free to RSVP on Eventbrite: Free Crucible Tours! RSVPs made through Eventbrite are for reminder purposes only and do not act as a reservation. Tours are subject to cancellation.

Please note: a portion of the tour requires the use of stairs.

2024 Tour Schedule

Fall dates will be added soon!

  • Thursday, January 25: 6pm
  • Saturday, February 10: 2pm
  • Thursday, February 22: 6pm
  • Saturday, March 9: 2pm
  • Thursday, March 28: 6pm
  • Saturday, April 20: 2pm
  • Thursday, April 25: 6pm
  • Saturday, May 4: 2pm
  • Thursday, May 23: 6pm
  • Saturday, June 8: 2pm
  • Thursday, June 27: 6pm
  • Saturday, July 13: 2pm
  • Thursday, July 25: 6pm

Can’t wait to see inside?

Check out our virtual 3D Tour by clicking the button below! 

3D Tour

GIFTY: The Crucible’s annual craft show and open house

Find out when vendor applications will open and get answers to frequently asked questions.

Learn more about GIFTY

Browse Past In-person Events

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Lie-Nielsen Toolworks Hand Tool Event

Friday, September 22, 2017 • 10am-6pm Saturday, September 23, 2017 • 10am-5pm We are hosting a free community event with Lie Nielsen Toolworks, showcasing their top-notch woodworking hand tools. Come see how quality hand tools can make your woodworking projects easier, with demonstrations by Kevin Drake of Glen-Drake Toolworks in Fort Bragg, California.

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2017 Fire & Light Soirée and Art Auction

Saturday, April 8, 2017 • 6pm Save the date for an evening of art, industry, community, creativity, and fire in support of The Crucible’s education programs. Join us in celebrating the contributions and vision of honoree Dr. Frances Hellman, who has been a valued member of The Crucible’s community for more than a decade.

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Hot Couture 2017: The Beautiful Ones

Thursday, February 16, 2017 • 8pm Friday, February 17, 2017 • 8pm Saturday, February 18, 2017 • 8pm Sunday, February 19, 2017 • 7pm Since 2007, haute couture has been turned on its ear, Crucible-style, with Hot Couture — a spectacular flaming fashion show that features wearable art from the Bay Area’s most cutting-edge designers.

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GIFTY 2016

Dozens of leading artists, craftspeople, and Crucible faculty members will be selling their best hand-made pieces in a holiday celebration of local creative culture. With works of glass, metal, wood, ceramics, and more, you will find the perfect gifts for all the people on your list. Seasonal treats, beverages, and entertainment make this an event all ages will enjoy. Parents of small children will need to pay special attention, as this space does have rough edges. Saturday, December 10, 2016 | 11am-5pm Sunday, December 11, 2016 | 11am-5pm On Saturday and Sunday, we’ll have music, food, and drinks for sale, as well as demonstrations of Crucible areas of study. Our themed Open House events are a great way to learn more about our 56,000 square foot studio and seasonal class offerings. Member preview on Friday, December 9, 2016 | 7-9:30pm Like last year, we’ll host a special preview for members and invited guests on Friday evening. If you would like to attend the Friday preview, but are not yet a member, join here. GIFTY highlights: Live industrial arts demonstrations like glass blowing and foundry pours Enameling and stamping for Copper Quilt commUNITY art project Hands-on clay activity in Ceramics Studio (Saturday and Sunday) Bicycles for sale in The Crucible’s Bike Shop Crucible gift certificates available Tickets available for our annual Hot Couture fire fashion show Drawing for a free Crucible class $25 discount on a class, if registered during GIFTY Raffle for a New Belgium Fat Tire bike Oakland Youth Symphony brass trio performing Friday, 7:30-8:30pm A dazzling collection of work by local artists and artisans Local gourmet goodies: Fist of Flour Pizza Co. (Friday, Saturday, Sunday) Donut Savant (Friday, Saturday, Sunday) Slojoy Coffee (Saturday, Sunday) Share the Facebook events: Friday, December 9 at 7 PM – 9:30 PM Saturday, December 10 at 11 AM – 5 PM Sunday, December 11 at 11 AM – 5 PM

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Jewelry Studio Reopening

Jewelry Reignited: A Studio Transformation to Get Fired Up About Over the past few weeks, we’ve made big changes to our Jewelry Studio. These enhancements will give each student an improved workspace with better tools at their fingertips as well as provide access to more tools for CREATE members. Renovation highlights: Ten brand new benches provide a dedicated, delineated workspace for every student Five brand new SR series flex shafts allow us to put these powerful tools at each bench New daylight lights at each bench with adjustable arms that focus the light where it’s needed Five Knew Concept saw frames New chairs for improved ergonomics and comfort Thorough cleaning and fresh paint Studio reorganized for better workflow and space utilization Locks on every bench enable us to store tools in the workstation drawers, readily available Power outlets at each bench will make it easier for casting students to use electric wax pens Jewelry Studio Reopening Mixer Please join us on Thursday, November 10, 2016, 6:30-8:30pm for a reception celebrating these improvements. Guests have a chance to win a free Crucible class, jewelry donated by Melissa Joy Manning, and gift cards from FLAX and Otto Frei. It wouldn’t be a Crucible event if you didn’t learn something; we’ll have a jewelry demo at 7pm and you can swap tricks of the trade with The Crucible’s fantastic jewelry community as you mingle. This event made possible by our sponsors: See the Facebook event at: facebook.com/events/1118872518231340/

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Fireside Lounge – Fall 2016

Fireside Lounge Open House Friday, October 28, 2016 | 6:30-9:30pm Join us for an evening celebrating local dreamers and creators, as we host some of the Bay Area’s most influential makers and artists. The Crucible’s Fireside Lounge illuminates the world of original artists, collectives, and innovators who create movements “Made in Oakland.” The Crucible’s Fireside Lounge lets you see demonstrations of our industrial and fine arts for yourself. Catch exciting demonstrations and hands-on activities with Crucible faculty, including Glass Fusing & Slumping, Glass Flameworking, Glass Blowing, Glass Casting & Coldworking, Enameling, Neon, Bike, Machine Shop, and Paper & Textiles. We’ll also have live performances of fire eating, poi, and fire staff, as well as interactive fire effects. Explore The Crucible’s studio and learn about our extraordinary art programs, while sipping wine and beer in a unique atmosphere. TART! Oakland and Zella’s Soulful Kitchen will be serving up tasty treats. A gallery of remarkable work by students and faculty will be on display, including art by the Ceramics studio, Daniel Stauber, and Rusty Noodle Studios. And you’ll have a chance to win a free Crucible class in a drawing. We are truly excited to have the opportunity to display a FLUX Foundation sculpture at Fireside Lounge. Flux Foundation aims to engage people in designing and building large-scale public art as a catalyst for education, collaboration, and empowerment. PoppyWagon is part of the FLUXcycles series of mobile sculptures that FLUX artists started creating in 2011. Originally made for the 2014 Maker Faire in San Mateo, PoppyWagon is a whimsical fire sculpture with bright orange buds inspired by the California Poppy burst and flames that you control with the push of a lever. The wagon is a custom-made cart designed and fabricated by FLUX artists. We’ll see you October 28th for an evening of art, industry, community, and entertainment. This event is free and open to the general public. All are welcome! However, parents of small children will need to pay special attention, as our studio space does have some rough edges.

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Hot Couture Artist and Designer Application

Call for Fashion Designers and Industrial Artists Application submission deadline at 10pm on September 25, 2016 The Crucible is seeking designer and artist submissions for Hot Couture 2017, our annual show integrating bold design, visionary fashion, and fire accessories. Our four-night event, February 16-19, 2017, will feature artists and designer teams creating haute couture concepts that illustrate the intersection between fashion, traditional industrial materials, and fabrication. For Hot Couture 2017, we are inspired by the boundary-defying showmanship of Prince. He embodies what we want for our fire fashion show: innovative artistry, iconic fashion, perpetual creativity, bold vision, and lots and lots of love. Like his collaboration with other talented artists, we encourage designers to build strong runway presentations that celebrate diversity and funk and excellence in all its forms. As such, the theme for the next Hot Couture will be “The Beautiful Ones”. The Hot Couture fashion shows will take place Thursday, February 16 to Sunday, February 19, 2017. The final dress rehearsal (open to the community) will be on Wednesday, February 15. An initial run through/fire rehearsal will be on Friday, February 10. The Crucible will provide a materials stipend for each designer/team selected. Designers will have access to The Crucible for meetings, production rehearsals, and several fabrication tools. All artists and designers will be credited for their work and the contracted designer will receive four complimentary tickets for one of the shows (night TBD). The Crucible will hire and staff all production details for the runway show. This includes lighting, pyrotechnics, ticketing, security, hospitality, and front of house. Designers are responsible for hiring their own models, makeup artists, and hair artists. Application process: Professional and amateur designers are welcome. To submit an application for inclusion in our next Hot Couture performance, send your biography, contact info, and proposal to events@thecrucible.org. Larger format files can be sent via dropbox or hard copies delivered in person to The Crucible. Please include the following in your submission: Minimum 500-word biography detailing your experience or desire to create wearable art. Include any details of past experience, exposure with runway shows, relationship to The Crucible, as well as name, address, email, phone number, and links to social media and/or websites. Minimum four head-to-toe wearable looks to be created for the runway. Sketches or photographs (jpegs) are acceptable formats. Designers will be allowed to have up to 8 designs during their walk in this year’s show. All completed looks must be imaginative and well executed. Wearable is a guideline. We ask that designers incorporate some sort of fire into their runway show and/or designs. All designs should be flame resistant. Women’s and men’s fashions are accepted and encouraged. Hair, makeup, and music ideas must also be included as part of the descriptions for each look. List of team members, including hair, makeup, models, or musicians, if known. Designers are responsible for enlisting their own models, as well as hair and makeup artists. Each team will be allowed one model per outfit (4-8), up to four artists/assistants and one photographer. Most designers submit music via […]

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Watch Past Virtual Events