MOCA is following the safety guidelines of the CDC and local authorities closely, and will reopen the Museum when it is safe. We unfortunately cannot accept rentals until we are once again open to the public.
MOCA Tucson inspires new ways of thinking through the cultivation, exhibition, and interpretation of contemporary art.
Established by artists, MOCA is Tucson’s only museum devoted exclusively to contemporary art from Tucson and around the globe. MOCA is committed to thinking globally, acting locally, and engaging with the ethics and aesthetics of contemporary life. Through varied programs, MOCA is Tucson’s primary educational resource for contemporary art and maintains a full exhibition, education, and artist-in-residence program.
MOCA Tucson resides on the ancestral lands of the Tohono O’odham people.
To help contain the spread of COVID-19 MOCA is temporarily closed to the public.
Please follow our Instagram and Facebook for updates, as well as a special new series spotlighting Tucson-based artists. Stay tuned as artists takeover MOCA’s channels for the next several weeks and get an intimate peek into life in the studio. Now more than ever we need to celebrate the creativity, invention, connections and beauty that artists bring to life!
History
Established by artists in 1997, MOCA is Tucson’s only museum devoted exclusively to contemporary art from around the globe. Housed in a repurposed firehouse in Downtown Tucson, MOCA Tucson applies creative solutions to the problems of today and tomorrow through the vehicle of contemporary art. We create programming that is ambitious, innovative, and that is responsive to the wants and needs of our community. A pioneering museum of its kind in the community, MOCA Tucson currently hosts rotating exhibitions by locally, nationally, and internationally renowned contemporary artists—critical exhibitions that spur dialogue and that foster empathy between artists and audiences. Our bold programming is highly engaging for diverse audiences and creates a welcoming, inviting space for visitors to learn more about the changing world we live in. MOCA Tucson is an important incubator and connector for contemporary art across the Southwest region and beyond.
Board of Trustees
Board of Directors
Kira Dixon Weinstein, President
Danny Vinik, Vice President
Luis Soto, Secretary
James Tharp, Treasurer
John Burcher
Karen Christensen
Chrissy Frey
Samuel Ireland
Courtney Johnson
Dan S. Martin
Justin Martinez
Joanne Stuhr
Danny Vinik, Vice President
Luis Soto, Secretary
James Tharp, Treasurer
John Burcher
Karen Christensen
Chrissy Frey
Samuel Ireland
Courtney Johnson
Dan S. Martin
Justin Martinez
Joanne Stuhr
Ambassador Council
Carolyn Bass
Jessica Baylon
Jessica Baylon
Burak Bekat
Annamaria Biagini
Annamaria Biagini
Sherman Bodner
Kim Bourn
Tony Canchola
Elizabeth Cherry
Susan Dubow
Tony Canchola
Elizabeth Cherry
Susan Dubow
Sara Habib
Sara Hubbs
John Hudak
Rick Joy
Angela Kapp
Violet Kasser
Sara Hubbs
John Hudak
Rick Joy
Angela Kapp
Violet Kasser
Kris Kerry
Terri Kessler
Lisa Lovallo
Debi Chess Mabie
Terri Kessler
Lisa Lovallo
Debi Chess Mabie
Olivier Mosset
Denise Newton
Mary Okoye
Yun Gee Park and Scott Duerstock
Denise Newton
Mary Okoye
Yun Gee Park and Scott Duerstock
Lauren Pew
Jane Poynter
Anne Ranek
Hope Reed
Stacey Richter
Evie Stefenson-Marquart
David Taylor
Harold Thomas
Keren Winkelman
Lesli Wood
Amy Zuckerman
Jane Poynter
Anne Ranek
Hope Reed
Stacey Richter
Evie Stefenson-Marquart
David Taylor
Harold Thomas
Keren Winkelman
Lesli Wood
Amy Zuckerman
STAFF
Laura Copelin
Interim Director & Curator
Eli Burke
Education Director
What do you do at MOCA?
As the Education Director I have the privilege of creating unique programs that serve populations in Tucson that may not traditionally be invited into the museum space. This role includes facilitating programs, developing curriculum, coordinating youth and community programs, seeking funds through grant research and grant writing, working with our creative and talented team of teaching artists, and best of all, working to provide FREE or low-cost access to arts education to youth and communities all over Pima County.
Why work at MOCA?
MOCA is so important for a community like Tucson. I am grateful that there is a forum for engaging with contemporary art in our city. Contemporary art is a global conversation and I believe that all communities should have the opportunity to participate in that conversation. MOCA is unique in that it creates the opportunity for us to engage in this critical dialogue. It is a privilege to be a part of that process, not just as someone who values contemporary art, but as an artist myself.
What do you do when you’re not at MOCA?
When I am not working at MOCA you can find me doing one of three things: going on nature hikes, making art and playing video games with my kids, making art in my studio, or working to finish my PhD in Art And Visual Culture Education. I am currently finishing up my third and final year of coursework and preparing for my comprehensive exams.
Carrie Hess
Finance Director
What do you do at MOCA?
I manage the numbers!
Why work at MOCA?
I believe contemporary art is an important part of our culture, especially as Tucson continues to grow. The conversations it inspires us to have and the inspiration it instills in me to continue to think outside of the box, are truly rewarding reasons to work at MOCA.
What do you do when you’re not at MOCA?
I enjoy getting lost in the mountains for days, drinking good beer, and eating good food.
Wylwyn Reyes
Exhibitions Director
What do you do at MOCA?
A little bit of everything, but mainly all things relating to the exhibitions. The curator and I work with artists, curators, galleries, and other organizations to materialize each exhibition. We create 3-4 exhibitions a year. There’s never a dull moment.
Why work at MOCA?
It’s my chosen family. The team I work with is incredible. We all wear many hats and we wear them well. MOCA is special because it reflects Tucson’s many beautiful nuances. Inclusivity, edgy, compassionate, a little weird, and a ton of fun. MOCA embraces uniqueness and celebrates the quirkiness that Tucson is known for.
What do you do when you’re not at MOCA?
My passions are art and design. When I’m not working with artists at MOCA, I’m collaborating with artists somewhere else. I am a member of SUBSPACE art collective and Monsoon art collective. I’m deeply involved with the Tucson art scene, as a contributor and supporter. It’s a sickness really, a beautiful sickness.
Morah Riedl
Curator of Community Engagement
What do you do at MOCA?
We all wear a lot of hats at MOCA! My hats rotate between planning public programs, managing our social media channels, working with our artists-in-residence, and overseeing our volunteers and interns.
Why work at MOCA?
As a Modern and Contemporary Art Historian, there is nowhere else in Tucson I’d rather work! I truly stand behind the remarkable work MOCA does for contemporary artists, and I am grateful to work with folks who are as passionate about art as I am. No two days are the same, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.
What do you do when you’re not at MOCA?
My hobbies include sleeping as much as possible, dancing as much as possible, and on any given night you can probably find me eating tacos at BKs or Boca!
Wesley Creigh
Facilities Manager
What do you do at MOCA?
Facilities management, exhibition install, production support, and a lot of pinch-hitting for other departments!
Why work at MOCA?
There’s a new challenge every day which I appreciate because it keeps things fresh and different. We have a great team that I enjoy working with daily and I love catering to the diverse needs of all the incredible artists we get to feature here. And our educational programs make me very proud!
What do you do when you’re not at MOCA?
When I’m not at MOCA I am at my home studio making my own artwork, doing odd jobs, building community, and exploring this gorgeous region where I am privileged to call home.
Employment
Volunteering+Internships
MOCA offers a variety of volunteer positions, including: Front Desk/MOCAshop, museum programs, special events (ie: MOCA Gala), and other museum projects. If you’re interested in volunteering, contact Morah Riedl at morah@moca-tucson.org.
MOCA TUCSON’s Internship Program is designed to give interns the opportunity to experience working in various departments within a contemporary art museum. Interns will be accepted into specific departments and/or will participate in the Museum Studies Internship Program (MSIP). Departments include: Visitors Services, Preparator, Curatorial, Public Programs, Education, MOCAshop, Communications, Registrar, Marketing, and Development. This is an excellent opportunity for students interested in learning the ins and outs of an art museum/non-profit institution. It is preferred that interns have taken at least one introductory contemporary art class and have prior experience in customer service. The MSIP takes place each academic semester and can be taken for University credit if approved by your department. Interns are interviewed and accepted at the beginning of each semester (January, May, and August). To apply, please send you CV and cover letter to eli@moca-tucson.org
No person shall be denied employment, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or subject to discrimination in any program or activity, on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran’s status, socio-economic background, sexual orientation, or gender identity.
Facility Rentals
Please fill out the questionnaire below if you are interested in renting space at MOCA for an event.
Contact
Questions? Comments? Contact us using the form below.