Mission Statement
MOCA North Miami presents contemporary art and its historical influences through exhibitions, educational programs, and collections. Inspired by its surrounding communities, MOCA connects diverse audiences and cultures by providing a welcoming place to encounter new ideas and voices, and nurturing a lifelong love of the arts.
Vision
MOCA aspires to be a welcoming center at the heart of North Miami where art and art experiences flow in and out of the building — activating parks, schools, homes, and civic spaces; and connecting local and global conversations about art.
MOCA will tap into the cultural energy of the region to bring new art and perspectives to the public, building on North Miami’s legacy as a cultural destination. Visitors and the community can expect thought-provoking exhibitions that feature underexplored art and artists, and lift up diverse voices and stories.
MOCA will become known and respected locally and nationally for its innovative curatorial approach and research-driven exhibitions that are supported by educational programs for all ages. As a meeting place for cultural expressions and exchanges, MOCA will become a center for cross-cultural understanding and inclusion, connecting diverse communities through the arts.
MOCA History
The Museum of Contemporary Art expanded from the original Center of Contemporary Art, which was inaugurated in 1981 in a modest single gallery space. The Museum opened a new building in 1996 designed by Charles Gwathmey of GSNY, who worked in conjunction with Miami firm Gelabert-Navia in the creation of the space. The museum is a site for discovering new artists, contemplating the work of contemporary masters, and learning about our living cultural heritage.
PERMANENT COLLECTION
In 1995, Museum of Contemporary Art, North Miami (MOCA) became a collecting institution at a time when no other museum in Miami-Dade County was assembling a collection that documented contemporary art. MOCA’s reputation for discerning curatorial vision immediately attracted the support of South Florida’s community leaders.
Through generous donations provided by long-time supporters such as Mr. Richard and Mrs. Ruth Shack, Mr. Marvin and Mrs. Ruth Sackner, and Dr. Arturo and Mrs. Liza Mosquera, as well as museum purchases, MOCA has built a strong collection of sculptures, paintings, and works on paper.
MOCA is home to a collection of over 400 works by local, national, and international contemporary artists including Pablo Cano, Teresita Fernandez, Keith Haring, Alex Katz, Edward Ruscha, and George Segal.
The collection’s importance is evidenced by extensive loans to London’s Tate Modern, New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art, and Barcelona’s Contemporary Art Museum among others, and inclusion in scholarly publications.
EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING
The Museum of Contemporary Art recognizes the need to enrich the cultural life of the community and to nurture a knowledgeable and supportive audience. To further an understanding of contemporary art, MOCA offers educational programs geared toward the community and its diverse population. In 2009, the museum launched its Wednesday evening MOCA by Moonlight programs featuring Contemporary Art Boot Camp lectures, 5 Minutes of Fame artists forums, and Arts for All, hands-on art classes for adults.
Other programming includes: popular Jazz at MOCA concerts held outdoors on the last Friday of each month; Music at MOCA concerts featuring musicians from the Cleveland Orchestra and Florida Grand Opera; the teen Junior Docents program and magazine MOCA’zine which actively engage high school students in learning about contemporary art; After School Drawing Classes for Teens; the development of the new Museum Studies Magnet Program with the North Miami Public Schools, Creative Arts hands-on art programs for children and families taught by professional artists and educators from the Miami area; HeArt to HeArt for children and adults with varying exceptionalities; Women on the Rise! for at-risk teenage girls; master artist workshops; an active members program; docent tours; lectures and internship opportunities; as well as visits to private collections and artist’s studios.
FUNDING
Exhibitions are made possible through grants from the Florida Department of State, the Miami-Dade Cultural Affairs Council and Dade County Commissioners, foundations, corporations, and individual donors.