Clay Play Date | Cute Ceramics You Actually Use | September 20, 2026

Ready to make those Pinterest board ceramic minis a reality? Join That Art Party at Nido's Backyard for an afternoon of air dry clay sculpting in a BIPOC adult affinity space—where you'll create the cute pencil holder for your desk, the perfect planter for that succulent, or a never-forget-your-keys catch-all dish that actually makes you smile.

This is for everyone who dreams of getting their hands dirty, who misses the gooey, colorful satisfaction of playdoh, and who wants to slow down and make something beautiful. No pressure. No perfection. All levels welcome. Feel the earth in your hands, create at your own pace, and connect with other craft-minded people who get it.

You'll walk away with functional pieces you made yourself—ready to display, gift, or keep for yourself. This is what happens when you gather in a space built by and for the creative community.

✦ All skill levels welcome · Air dry clay & supplies provided
✦ BIPOC adult affinity space · Light refreshments
✦ Sliding scale entry: $62/ $65/ $68

Sunday, September 20th | 2–4 PM | Nido's Backyard, Oakland

Spots are limited—reserve yours before they're gone! 🎨✨

Oakland events · air dry clay · ceramic workshop · BIPOC affinity space · creative community · adult play date · DIY crafts · pottery · creative wellness

Strings Attached: Sapphic Speed Dating, Craft Edition by That Art Party

You will make a friendship bracelet with someone you just met, hand it to them when the bell rings, and move to the next table. Twelve rounds. Four long tables. Pride-palette thread and fine-tip pens down the center.

No shouted small talk at a bar. No awkward standing around. Just craft supplies, a prompt card, and five minutes to see what happens when two people make something together.

By the end of the night you'll have a stack of crooked portraits, a half-tied bracelet, and a hopefully a new connection.

This is a wlw / sapphic event. Lesbians, bi folks, queer folks, trans folks, nonbinary and gender-nonconforming folks — you're not just welcome, you're who we made this for. Whether you've been coming to our events for years or this is your first one: pull up a chair.

Thursday, June 18 · 6–9 pm · Oakland Tickets from $22

Go beyond the bouquet and create sculptural floral art. That Art Party & FlowerKing are bringing you a two-hour creative play date where flower arranging becomes fine art.

Inspired by the intentional philosophy of ikebana but entirely our own, we're going bold and tropical — lillies, dramatic blooms, and flower frogs as your sculpting tool. You're not making a centerpiece. You're making a statement.

Sip our signature Creativi-tea herbal blend, work at your own pace, and let the process do what it always does in our creative play dates — ground you, open you up, and remind you that creativity is its own kind of medicine.

✦ All materials included · No experience necessary · Inspired by ikebana

✦ Tropical flowers & flower frogs · Sculptural, art-forward technique

✦ Signature Creativi-tea included · BIPOC adults only

Floral design workshop · ikebana-inspired · BIPOC art events Oakland · flower arranging class · sculptural florals · tropical flowers · flower frog · wellness art workshop · That Art Party · FlowerKing · Local Economy · creative play date · BIPOC wellness · Bay Area workshops June 2026

A panel discussion to understand how and when to grow beyond being a solo operator by bringing on co-hosts and collaborators.

Scaling your event doesn’t have to mean doing everything alone. This panel dives into how bringing on the right collaborators can unlock growth, expand your reach, and take your event to the next level without losing its identity.

We’re bringing together industry leaders who have successfully co-hosted and scaled events to share real stories on finding the right partners, splitting responsibilities, aligning on vision, and making collaborations actually work.

Expect honest insights, practical takeaways, and real talk on building partnerships that last.

Cake Decorating Play Date | Spring Edition | May 17, 2026

Bring your crew and get ready for an afternoon of frosting, fun, and sweet vibes at Arthaus Works. We're teaming up with Taya from Mad Vegan Co for a cake decorating play date in a BIPOC adult affinity space.

This isn't your typical baking class—it's a creative hangout where you'll learn legit techniques while celebrating with your people. Think springtime colors, playful florals, delicate wafer paper butterflies, and all the vegan buttercream your Saturday deserves.

You'll create a stunning 4-inch vegan cake: stacking layers with precision, piping floral designs that look bakery-level professional, and applying wafer paper to craft delicate butterflies. Leave with a gorgeous cake you made yourself, new skills, and the kind of afternoon that reminds you why making things with your hands (and your friends) hits different.

✦ All skill levels welcome · Vegan cake & supplies provided
✦ BIPOC adult affinity space · Light refreshments
✦ Sliding scale entry: $68 earlybird $73 tier 2 $78 tier 3

Saturday, May 17th | 2-4 PM | Arthaus Works, Oakland

Spots are limited—reserve yours before they're gone! 🌸🍰

Oakland events · creative workshops · BIPOC affinity space · vegan baking · cake decorating · adult play date · creative wellness

Night at the Museum: Vinyl and Art-making Edition 

Join us for an evening that centers lowrider culture—the artistry, music, and legacy that has always belonged to us. On April 23rd, That Art Party will guide our artmaking while Chulita Vinyl Club spins classic oldies where you can choose your practice: customized fuzzy dice (or a license plate) rooted in lowrider tradition, or learn weaving on a small lap loom, connecting to indigenous craft knowledge passed down through generations. You will also have a chance to experience the Rose B. Simpson: LEXICON exhibition and the newly reimagined Arts of Indigenous Americas galleries at the de Young Museum, which are the inspirations for your creations. We won’t engage as observers, but as rightful inheritors of these legacies. 

Vegan Chula provides artfully curated bites throughout the evening. This is a space for us to gather, create, and reclaim our narratives within an institution that has historically excluded them.

By invitation only. All materials provided.

Thursday, April 23rd | 6-8 PM | de Young Museum 🎶✨

Adornment Play Date ✨💿🌸Acrylic Jewelry Making with BRWNGRLZ

Sunday, April 19 | 2–4pm Dear John Shop — Oakland (gifts for art & book lovers) $65

The most personal accessory you'll ever wear is the one you made yourself.

That Art Party is partnering with Gretchen of BRWNGRLZ, Filipina artist and activist, and hosting at Dear John Shop, Oakland's beloved Black woman-owned haven for art and book lovers, for an afternoon of adornment, celebration, and intentional community. Gretchen brings her signature energy — bold, rooted, and deeply creative — to guide us in crafting pieces that are as unique as the identities we carry.

We'll kick things off the That Art Party way: grounding into the room, connecting with the people around you through intentional community-building questions, and making space to just be before we create. Because the best adornment starts from knowing who you are.

Then we make. Using acrylic, we'll design and craft custom earrings, hair pins, and more — an ode to self-expression, personal style, and the art of adorning yourself unapologetically. Bold colors, playful shapes, or something totally your own. Every piece a tiny declaration: this is me.

This one's for: 🌀 The DIY baddies 💛 The girlies who love trying something new 🌸 Anyone ready to celebrate their identity through the joy of making

All materials and tools provided. No experience needed — just bring your ideas and leave with pieces you'll actually want to wear.

We'll close with reflection, because at That Art Party, how you feel on the way out matters just as much as what you made.

Spots are limited. Reserve yours now.

Dear John Shop is a Black woman-owned gift shop for art and book lovers in Oakland. That Art Party is heart-centered art & play by and for BIPOC adults.

Y2K Craft Night at Dear John Shop ✨🌸📼with Elizabeth Su, author of Everyday Millennial Oracle

Wednesday, April 15 | 6:30 –8:30 pm Dear John Shop — Oakland (gifts for art & book lovers)Sliding scale admission

Remember folding notebook paper into a fortune teller and letting fate decide your destiny? We're going back — but this time, we're bringing our whole selves.

That Art Party is partnering with Elizabeth Su, Chinese American creator and author of the Everyday Millennial Oracle — a deck rooted in reclamation, identity, and the radical act of seeing yourself clearly — and hosting the night at Dear John Shop, Oakland's beloved Black woman-owned haven for art and book lovers. Come ready to play, create, and maybe get a little vulnerable (in the best way).

The vibe: butterfly clips, low-rise everything, AIM away messages, and the deep knowing that you were always enough.

We'll be crafting: 🔮 Oracle readings with the Everyday Millennial Oracle 📄 Paper fortune tellers (a classic, a necessity, an art form) 🏠 M.A.S.H. (your future is being decided right now) 📿 Lanyards, because your inner middle schooler deserves this 💛 Friendship bracelets, because so does your inner best friend

This is art and play as self-care ritual — a space to reconnect with the parts of yourself you've been carrying quietly. No experience needed. Just bring your hands, your heart, and your Y2K energy.

This event is sliding scale — come as you are, give what you can.

Dear John Shop is a Black woman-owned gift shop for art and book lovers in Oakland. That Art Party is creative self-care community by and for BIPOC adults.

Creative Café Experience in Oakland | April 4, 2026

Saturday, April 4 | 11 AM - 2 PM | Cafe Con Cariño
A collaboration between That Art Party & Cafe Con Cariño

Oakland's Creative Community Gathering: Coffee, Cocktails & Crafts

Join Oakland's most relaxed creative experience where coffee culture meets artistic expression. Cafecito & Crafts Club brings together local creatives, coffee lovers, and craft enthusiasts.

Imagine your favorite Sunday morning coffee shop atmosphere enhanced with creative studio magic. Picture settling in with your cafecito, letting conversation flow naturally, and watching art emerge alongside community connections. This is where Old Oakland's cultural energy meets creative wellness—a space for authentic expression and genuine connection.

This isn't your typical art workshop—it's a community hangout where specialty coffee flows, conversations spark naturally, and beautiful handmade art emerges organically. Whether you're a seasoned artist or craft-curious beginner, this creative café experience welcomes all skill levels.

Why Attend Oakland's Cafecito & Crafts Club?

• Specialty Coffee & Craft Cocktails: Sip expertly crafted beverages designed by Café con Cariño

• Community Connection: Genuinely connect with a diverse network of artists, makers, and creative professionals

• Creative Wellness: Experience the therapeutic benefits of crafting in a supportive environment

• Cultural Celebration: Support multiple thriving BIPOC-owned businesses in Old Oakland, including Asúkar, cuban-palestinian fusion food

• Flexible Format: Drop in anytime during our 3-hour window—stay as long as inspiration strikes

• Bring Your Own Craft: Bring a craft from home (but no worries, we gotcha covered in case you need a new supply)

• Take Home Art: Leave with original handmade pieces and new creative connections

What to Expect at Your Creative Café Experience

Open Studio Atmosphere: No structured timeline—craft at your own pace while enjoying the café environment

Featured Beverages: Specialty coffee drinks and creative cocktails

Mixed Media Crafting: Access to 3 different types of art supplies

Live DJ: DJ on the tracks blending café & culture

Community Inspiration: Optional creative prompts that reflect us

Unlimited Space: Bring friends, come solo, or meet new creative collaborators—everyone is welcome

Accessible Pricing for All Creatives

Sliding Scale Entry: $11 online, $15 at the door

Easy Drop-In Experience

Registration is encouraged! & we always save a few tickets at the door!

Location: Cafe Con Cariño, Old Oakland
Duration: 3-hour window allows flexible participation

NOTE: Arrive early for your chance to win prizes from local art dealers and healers!

Supporting local BIPOC businesses | Building creative community | Celebrating Oakland culture

Oakland events, creative workshops, coffee culture, art community, BIPOC businesses, Old Oakland, craft workshops, creative wellness, community gathering, weekend activities Oakland, artistic expression, cultural even

TENDER ROOTS: A Hair Story Healing Experience in Oakland

March 26 | 6-8 PM | Native Studio Salon x That Art Party

Creative wellness meets hair love in the heart of Oakland!

Join us for an evening blend of intention setting, hands-on creativity, and hair story healing at our collaborative salon experience. This isn't your typical workshop—it's a tender space where inner child play meets hair acceptance, beautiful accessories get made with your hands, and healing happens naturally. Perfect for anyone ready to rewrite their relationship with their hair and connect with community.

Why Attend?

• Reconnect with your hair story through guided meditation and creative expression

• Customize your own Y2k hair accessories (claw clips, picks, barrettes) that celebrate your unique texture

• Experience the intersection of creative wellness and hair healing

• Connect with Oakland's vibrant creative community in an intimate salon setting

• Support local BIPOC businesses doing beautiful work in wellness and beauty

• Take home handmade accessories and renewed hair confidence

What to Expect:

• Guided hair story meditation to reconnect with your inner child

• Hands-on customization of 3-4 hair accessories using crystals, beads, paint, and vintage findings

• Mini hair consultations with Native Studio stylists about embracing natural texture

• All craft supplies and materials provided

• Curated playlist blending healing frequencies with creative energy

• Herbal teas, wine and light refreshments to nourish the experience

• Intimate atmosphere perfect for vulnerability and creative expression

• Circle format for sharing and community building

The Vibe: Think Sunday self-care ritual meets creative studio magic. Settle into your hair healing journey, let creativity flow through your hands, and allow the evening to unfold with intention. Whether you're processing childhood hair memories, celebrating your natural texture, or just ready to play with beautiful accessories—this is your space to heal and create.

Pricing: $65 per person (Covers all materials, refreshments, and styling consultation) Capacity: 20 people

Come ready for healing, creativity, and tender community vibes!

Celebrate With Us: Birthday Bash!

We're throwing a party and you're invited! Join us for an afternoon of good vibes, creativity, and community as we celebrate another year of bringing people together.

Expect live DJ sets, hands-on art-making demos, drinks and sweet treats to fuel the fun, and a Y2K photobooth to capture all the moments. Whether you're a regular or just curious about what we do, this is the perfect excuse to come through, make something, and celebrate with us.

Best part? It's totally free—just register to save your spot so we know how many cupcakes to order!

See you at Calabash in oakland.

Don't miss it! 🎉✨ We will have special surprises in store!

Plot twist: meditation doesn't have to mean sitting in silence trying not to think about your to-do list.

Join us at The Lark Uptown for a perfuming workshop that's equal parts grounding practice and creative play. Ari from V by Viscera will walk you through using scent as a way to drop into the present moment—while you learn the basics of natural perfume blending and create your own custom 10ml fragrance to take home.

We'll start with a chill grounding exercise (think less "om," more "ahh"), move into exploring different essential oils and how to describe what you're smelling, then get hands-on with blending your perfect scent. It's meditative, it's fun, and you leave with a one-of-a-kind perfume made by you.

All materials provided and naturally formulated (no parabens, no phthalates, yes to sensitive skin). Never meditated? Never made perfume? Perfect—neither is required.

March 15th | 2-4 PM | The Lark Uptown

Spots are limited. Grab yours before they're gone! ✨