Museum of Contemporary Art Jacksonville
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 Location within Central Jacksonville
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| Established | 2003 |
|---|---|
| Location | 333 North Laura Street Jacksonville, FL 32202 |
| Coordinates | 30°19′46″N 81°39′31″W / 30.329319°N 81.658649°W |
| Type | Art museum |
| Director | Marcelle Polednik |
| Public transit access |
Bus: Riverside Trolly Monorail: Hemming Plaza Station
Northbank Line
Southbank Line
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| Website | Building details |
| Former names | Western Union Telegraph Building |
| General information | |
| Architectural style | Art Deco |
| Completed | 1931 |
| Owner | University of North Florida |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect | Marsh and Saxelbye |
| Developer | Western Union Telegraph Company |
The Museum of Contemporary Art Jacksonville, also known as MOCA Jacksonville, is a contemporary art museum in Jacksonville, Florida, funded and operated as a "cultural resource" of the University of North Florida. One of the largest contemporary art institutions in the Southeastern United States, it presents exhibitions by international, national and regional artists.
MOCA Jacksonville was founded in 1924 as the Jacksonville Fine Arts Society, the first organization in the Jacksonville community devoted to the visual arts. In 1948 the Museum was incorporated as the Jacksonville Art Museum, and in 1978 it became the first institution in Jacksonville to be accredited by the American Alliance of Museums.
In late 1999 the Museum acquired its permanent home, the historic Western Union Telegraph Building on Hemming Plaza, adjacent to the newly renovated City Hall, and became the Jacksonville Museum of Modern Art (JMOMA). In 2000, a series of preview exhibitions opened in a temporary exhibition space while the building facade was restored to its original Art Deco style. The interior was completely refurbished to house the Museum’s galleries, educational facilities, a theater/auditorium, Museum Shop and Café Nola. Total renovation of the 60,000-square-foot (5,600 m2), six-floor facility was completed in 2003, culminating in a grand re-opening in May of that year.
After moving to its downtown location the Museum experienced rapid growth in both membership and the size of the permanent collection. The many substantial additions to the collection increased not only its quality, but also its size to almost 800 pieces. After completing a recent review of the current scope of the Museum’s collection and exhibitions, discussions were held regarding the distinctions between modern and contemporary art, as well as the Museum’s mission and vision for the future. It was decided that in order for the Museum to convey a strong sense of identity and purpose to both the community and other art institutions across the country, its name should change. Therefore, in November 2006, JMOMA became the Museum of Contemporary Art Jacksonville.
The Museum continues to be a cornerstone of Jacksonville’s multibillion-dollar downtown revitalization plan. Its exhibitions and programming bring new visitors to the civic core during the day, at night and on weekends. Educational programming includes children’s literacy initiatives and weekend art making classes as well as regular tours, lectures, films and publications for children and adults.
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Wikipedia