VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. — The Virginia Museum of Contemporary Art (Virginia MOCA) and Virginia Wesleyan University announced they will be building a "state-of-the-art" facility for the MOCA on the University's Virginia Beach campus.
The new facility will serve as a "hub for creativity and innovation, fostering artistic expression and offering an immersive experience for visitors and students alike," the organizations wrote in a release.
They say the central location on VWU's campus makes the Virginia MOCA even more accessible.
“This partnership will anchor us in our mission to present locally relevant, nationally resonant art that is exceptional. While Virginia MOCA remains an independent museum, our collaboration with VWU will allow us to do even more of what we do best: create groundbreaking exhibitions and engage the community in thought-provoking artistic experiences," commented Gary Ryan, Director and CEO of Virginia MOCA.
"Our mission remains the same, but we are now bolstered by our partnership with VWU and its amazing educational resources.”
President of Virginia Wesleyan University, Dr. Scott D. Miller said that "this collaborative effort with Virginia MOCA will further strengthen our commitment to providing a well-rounded education for our students.”
Further details on the historic move are expected in the fall.
In other MOCA news, they've become the first Virginia Art Museum on the Bloomberg Connects app.
The Bloomberg Connects app is a free arts and culture app created by Bloomberg Philanthropies. The app joins a global network of over 200 museums and cultural institutions including the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, the Tate in London, and now the Virginia Museum of Contemporary Art.
Through the free digital guide, users can plan their visit, deepen their engagement through exclusive videos and audio, access detailed descriptions of individual artworks, virtually explore the Museum with interactive gallery maps and more.
“We are thrilled to partner with Bloomberg Philanthropies to create this new tool for connecting audiences near and far with the art, artists, and programs we present,” said Gary Ryan on the museum's inclusion on the digital platform.