Nearly 30 years ago, a $2.5 million Housing and Urban grant established North Miami’s 23,000-square-foot Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA), which began as a single gallery formerly known as the Center for Contemporary Art.
Now another HUD grant, this time in the amount of $3 million, will bolster facility improvements at Development the thriving arts and culture hub.
(Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau)
The Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA) in North Miami.
The $3 million is part of a $35 million, six-bill appropriations package secured by U.S. Rep. Frederica S. Wilson for District 24 two years ago, which also included $3 million for North Miami Beach’s Washington Park site development; $750,000 for drainage improvement projects in Miami Gardens; $4 million to the Thelma Gibson Health Initiative for a Bahamian Museum of Arts and Culture; and $4 million for the Boys & Girls Club of Miami Dade, among other awards.
Wilson presented the $3 million check to MOCA’s director and board members last week.
(Johania Charles for The Biscayne Times)
North Miami’s Museum of Contemporary Art, after receiving a $3 million HUD grant, is considering adding technologies such as QR codes to its exhibitions.
“Thanks to Congresswoman Wilson, through this new HUD grant, we have the opportunity to continue our journey by enhancing MOCA’s facilities to help meet the needs of our expanding audiences and prepare for the continued growth of our institution and its many offerings,” said Chana Budgazad Sheldon, MOCA director. “This grant will also enable us to continue strengthening MOCA’s impact on the region’s identity, economy and quality.”
According to Wilson, nearly three years ago, then MOCA board chair William Lehman Jr. approached her with a $3 million request for the museum, prompting her to take advantage of Congress’ revived Congressionally Directed Spending and Community Project Funding, more commonly known as “earmarks.”
(Johania Charles for The Biscayne Times)
MOCA will utilize $3 million in HUD grant funding to make facility improvements to its 28-year-old building.
“I had this long list of people who wanted these earmarks, Boys and Girls Club, Circle of Brotherhood, all kinds of places. Knowing MOCA and knowing what you stand for … I put MOCA on the top of my list,” Wilson said at the check presentation.
Budgazad Sheldon said officials are still discussing what these facility upgrades will be and how the $3 million will be spent.
“We’re using this opportunity, the board, in conjunction with the city, to really assess what areas of the museum can be enhanced to support the programming currently in place,” she said. “What does it look like to enhance our education spaces, our programming spaces where we hold lectures, and finding a space where our guests and visitors can be comfortable?”
(Museum of Contemporary Art)
The Museum of Contemporary Art has become known for showcasing art on its surrounding plaza and for hosting, free outdoor music concerts.
While MOCA says there are no immediate plans to build new structures, facility improvements could consist of transforming private spaces such as the storage facility on the museum’s Paradise Courtyard, which houses its extensive art collection, into public space for art showings. Other possibilities include moving its collection off-site, improving its Pavilion classroom space and amenities to extend art education programs such as Teen Art Force and Summer Art Camp to more students, and rethinking the use of MOCA’s front plaza to serve a growing audience for more social gatherings and community offerings like its free jazz concert series.
(MorelDoucet.com)
Since MOCA began its Art on the Plaza initiative in 2021, it has been the site of art displayed in its reflecting pool, on exterior walls and even hanging from the plaza’s palm trees, such as this exhibition by Morel Doucet titled “After the Rain Comes Light: Portraits of Resilience.”
The museum is also considering making technological upgrades to include implementing QR codes with information on exhibiting art pieces and adding visual elements – like prerecorded videos of artists discussing their respective pieces – to increase interaction between guests, exhibiting artists and the works on display inside its gallery.
“In 1989, there was no MOCA. It was a small little building. It was nice to see the art world getting a toehold in North Miami, but it certainly wasn’t this,” said North Miami Councilmember Scott Galvin, praising MOCA’s accomplishments through the decades. “Here we are now 30 years later and MOCA has become a beacon to the art world, an economic driver for North Miami. People do come to see our exhibits here and also stop to eat at other restaurants and visit other galleries in the area. We’re also very proud of everything that MOCA represents not just to North Miami, but to all of South Florida.”
“This community has changed. It used to be all white, and specifically all Jewish,” said Wilson. “Within those 26 years it has evolved to become more diverse. So as the community becomes more diverse, the programs at MOCA have to become more diverse. That requires attracting more exhibitions that reflect the community at large.”
MOCA is expected to share regular reports regarding its facility improvement plans and progress with HUD.