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, Virginia 22201, United States |
| Type | Contemporary art museum |
| Public transit access | Washington Metro  at Virginia Square |
The Museum of Contemporary Art Arlington (MOCA Arlington) is a special place for modern art. It is an art museum and a center for visual arts. This museum is in Arlington, Virginia, and it opened in 1974.
MOCA Arlington does not collect art to keep forever. Instead, it focuses on showing new and exciting art. The museum has been in the historic Maury School building since 1976. It shows art by artists from the Mid-Atlantic region. The museum helps people learn about and enjoy visual arts. It also offers spaces for artists to work.
MOCA Arlington is a large art center. It has 17,000 square feet of space. This includes nine galleries for showing art. There are also studios for twelve artists. Plus, it has two classrooms for art lessons. It is one of the biggest places for modern art in the Washington D.C. area. The center used to be called the Arlington Arts Center (AAC). It changed its name to MOCA Arlington in September 2022.
Art Shows and Exhibitions
MOCA Arlington puts on about 12 art shows each year. Artists can send in their ideas for shows. A special committee reviews these ideas. This committee includes famous artists, critics, and art experts. They choose the artists who will show their work.
The museum plans different kinds of shows. Some are solo shows, featuring one artist. Others are group shows chosen by a jury or a curator. This means you can see many types of art. The museum also has themed shows twice a year. These shows often get attention from local art writers. Newspapers like The Washington Post write about them. These themed shows often have extra programs. These programs help explain the art. They also let you hear from the artists themselves.
Art Classes and Learning
MOCA Arlington offers many art classes. There are classes for adults, teens, and children. These classes help people improve their art skills. They are great for beginners or those who are already good at art. The teachers are professional artists. Many of them have high degrees in their art fields.
You can learn different art forms here. Classes include photography, sculpture, painting, and drawing. The museum also has special classes for children who learn at home. They even offer classes where you can learn art and practice another language at the same time!
Artist Studios
MOCA Arlington has special studio spaces for artists. These spaces are rented at a lower cost. Twelve artists can work here. They can create art and be part of an artistic community. Artists are chosen based on their talent. They are also chosen for how well they can work with the community. The museum tries to have many different kinds of artists.
Artists come from all over the United States and other countries. They can stay for short periods, from one week to six weeks. This gives them a great place to focus on their art.
See also
In Spanish: Arlington Arts Center para niños
