Museum of Contemporary Art Jacksonville facts for kids
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| Established | 1924 |
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| Location | 333 North Laura Street Jacksonville, FL 32202 |
| Type | Art museum |
| Public transit access | Bus: Riverside Trolly Monorail: James Weldon Johnson Park Station Northbank Line
Southbank Line
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Building details
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| 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 cool art museum in Jacksonville, Florida. It focuses on contemporary art, which means art from our time. The museum is part of the University of North Florida and is one of the biggest contemporary art places in the Southeastern United States. It shows amazing art from artists all over the world, the country, and the local area.
About MOCA Jacksonville
A Look Back: How It Started
MOCA Jacksonville began a long time ago in 1924. It was first called the Jacksonville Fine Arts Society. This was the first group in Jacksonville dedicated to visual arts. Later, in 1948, it became the Jacksonville Art Museum. In 1978, it was the first museum in Jacksonville to be officially recognized by the American Alliance of Museums. This means it met high standards for museums.
In 1999, the museum found its permanent home. This was the old Western Union Telegraph Building. It's a historic building with a cool Art Deco style. The building is next to James Weldon Johnson Park in downtown Jacksonville. After moving, the museum changed its name to the Jacksonville Museum of Modern Art (JMOMA).
The building was completely redone inside. It now has art galleries, classrooms for learning, a theater, a museum shop, and a cafe. The renovation of the large, six-floor building finished in 2003. The museum had a big re-opening party in May of that year.
Growing and Learning
After moving downtown, the museum grew a lot. More people became members, and its collection of art got much bigger. The museum added many important artworks, growing to almost 800 pieces. In November 2006, JMOMA changed its name again to the Museum of Contemporary Art Jacksonville.
MOCA Jacksonville is an important part of Jacksonville's plan to make its downtown area better. The museum's art shows and programs bring many new visitors to the city center. People come during the day, at night, and on weekends. The museum also has special programs for kids. These include reading programs and art classes on weekends. They also offer tours, talks, movies, and books for both kids and adults.
In 2009, the University of North Florida took over the museum. It now serves as a special cultural place for the university.
What You Can See There
MOCA Jacksonville always has new and exciting art shows. These shows feature works by modern artists. You can see many different types of art, like paintings, sculptures, and video art. The third floor of the museum often has new exhibitions. These shows change about every four months, so there's always something new to discover!
The museum features a wide range of contemporary artists. For example, in 2022, they had shows like State of the Art: Locate and Project Atrium: Chiharu Shiota: Letters of Love. In 2021, you could have seen Ally Brody: Public Domain or Damián Ortega. They also had Project Atrium: Rina Banerjee in 2020. These are just a few examples of the many different artists and art styles you might find at MOCA Jacksonville.
