Museum of Contemporary Art Arlington facts for kids
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| Former name | Arlington Arts Center |
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| Established | 1974 |
| Location | 3550 Wilson Boulevard, Arlington County, Virginia, 22201, U.S. |
| Type | Contemporary art museum |
| Public transit access | Washington Metro  at Virginia Square |
The Museum of Contemporary Art Arlington (MOCA Arlington) is a cool place in Arlington County, Virginia, where you can see modern art. It's a visual arts center that started in 1974. It's called 'non-collecting' because it doesn't own a permanent collection of art. Instead, it focuses on showing new and exciting art from different artists.
Since 1976, the museum has been in the old Maury School building. It shows art by artists from the Mid-Atlantic region. MOCA Arlington has art shows, fun classes, and special studios for artists. Its goal is to help people in Arlington and the Washington metropolitan area learn about and enjoy art. The building is 17,000 square feet. It has nine art galleries, twelve artist studios, and two classrooms. It's one of the biggest places for modern art in the Capital Region that isn't run by the government. The center used to be called the Arlington Arts Center (AAC). It changed its name to MOCA Arlington in September 2022.
What Can You See?
MOCA Arlington puts on about 12 art shows each year. Artists can send in their ideas for shows. A special committee, made up of famous artists, critics, and art collectors, reviews these ideas. After artists are chosen, the museum plans different kinds of shows. These include solo shows, where one artist's work is featured, and group shows. This way, you can see many types of art and styles.
The museum also has themed shows, usually twice a year. These shows often get attention from local art writers and bloggers. Newspapers like The Washington Post and online art sites often write about them. Themed shows usually have special events. These events help explain the art and share the artists' ideas with visitors.
Learn and Create!
MOCA Arlington offers art classes for everyone. There are classes for adults, teens, and children. These classes help people, whether they are just starting or are already good artists. The teachers are professional artists. Many of them have high degrees in their art fields.
You can take classes in photography, sculpture, painting, or drawing. The museum also has classes for children who are homeschooled. Plus, they offer classes where you can learn art while practicing another language!
Studios for Artists
MOCA Arlington has special studio spaces for 12 artists. These studios are rented at a lower cost. This allows artists to have a place to work and be creative. They also get to be part of an artistic community. Artists are chosen based on their talent and how well they might work with the community. The museum also tries to have a variety of artists. Artists come from all over the US and other countries. They can stay for a short time, from one week to six weeks.
See also
In Spanish: Arlington Arts Center para niños
