Virginia Museum Of Contemporary Art

THE VIRGINIA MUSEUM OF CONTEMPORARY ART (VIRGINIA MOCA) IS A NON-PROFIT INSTITUTION WHICH EXISTS TO FOSTER AWARENESS, EXPLORATION, AND UNDERSTANDING OF THE SIGNIFICANT ART OF OUR TIME. ACCREDITED BY THE AMERICAN ALLIANCE OF MUSEUMS, VIRGINIA MOCA'S INTEGRATION OF ITS FOUR PRIMARY ACTIVITIES-GALLERY EXHIBITIONS, STUDIO ART CLASSES, EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS, AND THE BOARDWALK ART SHOW - VIRGINIA MOCA ENGAGES A DIVERSE REGIONAL PUBLIC IN THE RICH AND ACTIVE LANGUAGE OF CONTEMPORARY VISUAL ART. ITS ANNUAL ATTENDANCE ACROSS ALL EVENTS, INCLUDING THE RENOWNED ANNUAL BOARDWALK ART SHOW, IS MORE THAN 300,000.

EXHIBITIONS: VIRGINIA MOCA IS A NON-COLLECTING, AAM-ACCREDITED MUSEUM THAT STRIVES TO DEMONSTRATE OUR SHARED HUMANITY THROUGH THE PRESENTATION OF LOCALLY RELEVANT, NATIONALLY RELEVANT CONTEMPORARY ART THAT IS EXCEPTIONAL. THERE ARE FOUR PRIMARY EXHIBITION SPACES, ACROSS WHICH THE MUSEUM PRESENTS APPROXIMATELY 20 EXHIBITIONS PER YEAR. MAJOR EXHIBITIONS ARE PRESENTED IN THE MAIN GALLERY SPACE UP TO 3X PER YEAR AND LAST YEAR INCLUDED THE WORK OF KARA WALKER. IN AN ONGOING EFFORT TO REMOVE BARRIERS, EXHIBITION ADMISSION IS FREE. EXHIBITION ATTENDANCE EXCEEDED 20,000 IN 2023 (+17% VS. PRIOR YEAR), A MUSEUM RECORD. THIS NUMBER DOES NOT INCLUDE SPECIAL EVENTS OR PROGRAMMING ATTENDANCE.

EDUCATION: CLOSE LOOKING AND INQUIRY-BASED EXPLORATION ANCHOR EDUCATION FOR YOUTH, STUDENTS, FAMILIES, TEACHERS, AND ADULTS AT VMOCA. COUPLED WITH UNDERSTANDING THE IDEAS BEHIND THE WORK IS MATERIALS AND METHODS INSTRUCTION. PROGRAMS INCLUDE SCHOOL TOURS (ON SITE AND VIRTUAL), ARTIST- IN-RESIDENCE PROGRAMS IN THE MUSEUM ATRIUM SPACE, REGULAR AND FREE FAMILY FEST DAYS; YOUTH AND ADULT STUDIO CLASSES; MASTER CLASSES WITH PRESENTING ARTISTS; LECTURES IN THE GALLERIES; PRESENTATION AND CELEBRATIONS OF STUDENT WORK; SUMMER ART CAMPS, AND CONTINUING EDUCATION FOR TEACHERS. MANY EDUCATION PROGRAMS ARE FREE, AND FOR THOSE THAT ARE NOT, SCHOLARSHIP FUNDING IS AVAILABLE.

BOARDWALK ART SHOW: THIS ANNUAL EVENT, NOW IN ITS 67TH YEAR, WAS THE SEED FROM WHICH THE CURRENT MUSEUM SPRUNG. THE MUSEUM CELEBRATES ITS LOCAL AND ARTISTIC COMMUNITIES WITH THIS FREE, 3-DAY OUTDOOR EXHIBITION OF ORIGINAL ARTWORK, ACROSS MEDIA, ON THE ICONIC VIRGINIA BEACH BOARDWALK. CLOSE TO 30,000 VISITORS CONNECT WITH A COUPLE HUNDRED ARTISTS, EXPLORING THEIR WORK, LEARNING ABOUT THEIR PRACTICE, AND BUYING ARTWORK. CORPORATE AND INDIVIDUAL SPONSORS FROM ACROSS THE REGION PROVIDE SUPPORT, WHILE PATRONS MAKE A VISIT TO THE FREE AND EASILY ACCESSIBLE BOARDWALK ART SHOW A YEARLY PILGRIMAGE. THE CITY OF VIRGINIA BEACH CONSIDERS THE VMOCA BOARDWALK ART SHOW A SIGNATURE EVENT FOR THE CITY. THE ART SHOW IS EMBEDDED IN THE DNA OF VIRGINIA BEACH GIVEN THE ART SHOW BEGAN 7 YEARS BEFORE THE CITY OF VIRGINIA BEACH WAS FORMED.