Museum of Contemporary Art Toronto Canada facts for kids
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| Former name | Museum of Contemporary Canadian Art |
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| Established | 1999 |
| Location | 158 Sterling Road Toronto, Ontario |
| Type | Art museum |
The Museum of Contemporary Art Toronto Canada (MOCA) is an exciting art museum and gallery in Toronto, Ontario. It used to be known as the Museum of Contemporary Canadian Art (MOCCA). MOCA is an independent organization and a registered charity. This means it works to serve the public and gets support from donations.
Contents
History
How MOCA Started
The museum first opened its doors in 1999. It was created from the former Art Gallery of North York. At that time, it was called the Museum of Contemporary Canadian Art (MOCCA).
Moving to New Places
In 2005, MOCCA moved to a new home. It was an old textile factory in downtown Toronto. The City of Toronto government helped make the building ready. They spent a lot of money to renovate it.
In 2015, the building MOCCA was in was going to be torn down. It was replaced by new apartments. Before moving, MOCCA had a special art show. It was called Queen West Yacht Club by Dean Baldwin.
A New Name and Bigger Space
The museum was a very important place for art in Toronto. It worked with many artists and other groups. This helped connect Toronto's art scene to the rest of Canada and the world.
MOCCA showed art from over 1,100 artists. These artists were from Canada and other countries. The museum held more than 200 exhibitions. About 40,000 people visited each year.
As the museum needed to move, it looked for a bigger space. This new space would help it grow even more. In 2016, the museum changed its name. It became the Museum of Contemporary Art Toronto Canada (MOCA).
In September 2018, MOCA moved into its current location. This new building is very large, about 55,000 square feet. It is a renovated old factory in the Lower Junction area. The museum received money from the Canada Cultural Spaces Fund to help with this move.
MOCA works with other museum groups. These include the Canadian Museums Association and the Ontario Museum Association. It also works with the Ontario Association of Art Galleries.
Awards
When the museum was on Queen Street West, it gave out an award. This was called the MOCCA Award in Contemporary Art. In 2010, a famous artist named Edward Burtynsky received this award.
Exhibits
Art Shows at the Old Location
The museum's old location on Queen Street West had two main areas for art. One was a large space, about 5,000 square feet. The other was a smaller "Project Room," about 1,000 square feet.
More than 80 art shows were held in these spaces. About 800 artists showed their work there. Some of these artists included Suzy Lake and Kris Knight. The museum also showed art by artists from other countries.
International Art Shows
Since 2001, the museum has also presented art shows in other countries. These places include the United States, China, and France. They also had shows in Germany, Italy, and Spain.
See also
- Art in Canada
- Contemporary art museums
- List of art museums
- List of museums in Toronto
Images for kids
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In September 2018, the museum was moved to the Tower Automotive Building.
