Museum of Contemporary African Diasporan Arts facts for kids
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The Museum of Contemporary African Diasporan Arts (which people call MoCADA) is a cool art museum. You can find it at 80 Hanson Place in Fort Greene, Brooklyn, New York City. It was the first museum like it to open in New York! MoCADA shows art from the African Diaspora. This means art from people of African descent all over the world.
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The Story of MoCADA
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MoCADA was started in 1999 by a person named Laurie Cumbo. It first opened in a building that belonged to the old Bridge Street AWME Church. This church is in the middle of a neighborhood called Bedford–Stuyvesant, Brooklyn.
In 2006, MoCADA moved to its current spot. This new place at 80 Hanson Place is much bigger. It is in Fort Greene, a neighborhood in Brooklyn with a rich history. Many exhibitions are held at MoCADA each year. These shows celebrate the many different cultures of the African Diaspora.
Amazing Art Exhibitions
One special art show at MoCADA was called Saying No: Reconciling Spirituality and Resistance in Indigenous Australian Art. An artist from Australia named Bindi Cole put this show together.
What the "Saying No" Exhibition Was About
The "Saying No" exhibition showed how Indigenous Australian artists use their art. They combine old religious practices with protests for their rights. The show explained that the word "no" is very powerful in Aboriginal languages. It is used with great care.
The exhibition featured many types of art. These included sculptures, paintings, photos, and videos. The artists used their work to "say no" to unfairness. They spoke out against racism and land theft. Some of the artists in this show were Tony Albert, Vicki Couzens, Fiona Foley, Daniel Boyd, and Maree Clark.
Helping the Community
MoCADA also works to connect with the community. They have programs that bring art and music to people.
Music in Public Spaces
In 2012, the museum received a big grant. It was $100,000 from the Rockefeller Foundation. This money helped them start a program called "Public Exchange." This program brought monthly concerts to public housing areas. These included places like Walt Whitman and Ingersoll in Fort Greene. Talented musicians played, and hundreds of people came to enjoy the music.
Soul of Brooklyn Events
The next year, in 2013, MoCADA started another art series. It was called Soul of Brooklyn. These events were like block parties. They helped bring the community together. They also helped local businesses in the area.
See also
