Virginia Beach’s Museum of Contemporary Art, better known as MOCA, is moving to the Virginia Wesleyan University campus. While some are sad that it is leaving the Oceanfront’s Vibe District, others are excited to see the museum grow.
“After nearly four decades there, we grew past the limits of our old building,” said Executive Director of MOCA Alison Byrne. “The move opens the door to a brighter future for the organization, one where we can welcome more visitors, offer more learning opportunities, and support more artists on a larger scale.”
The move has been in the works since its announcement in July 2023, and it’s expected to open this April. However, some art students in particular, are sad to see it move.
“I honestly am a little sad about [the move],” said senior Addison Watters, a member of the VPAA Visual Arts strand. “I like how close it is to the beach, and now I won’t be able to run down after.”
While the move has created some challenges, Bryne stated that their next exhibition (the one opening the building) has already been planned.
“Our opening exhibition is Nina Chanel Abney: The Pursuit of Happiness,” said Byrne. “Her bold, colorful, and socially engaged work invites people into fresh conversations about culture and community. There are also planned works for Seamless: Art and Design, an exhibition that brings together artists who are also designers and who have shaped contemporary visual culture. Featured artists include Shepard Fairey, Shantell Martin, Eric Haze, and Steve “ESPO” Powers, along with others.”
The move has its ups and downs, as explained by Byrne’s daughter, junior Niamh Poe.
“Being on a college campus makes it feel connected to a bigger arts community, instead of just one neighborhood,” said Poe. “It’s more spacious and it’ll be surrounded by students, which means more people will go and check out what’s happening there.”
Byrne agrees that the move will increase opportunities.
“Moving to the Virginia Wesleyan University campus gave Virginia MOCA the space and creative environment we needed to grow,” Byrne said. “The new museum offers larger galleries and studios and a more central location that’s easy for people across Hampton Roads to reach.”
The move will be official later this year. Make sure you check out the new building, as Byrne cannot “wait to welcome everyone to the new museum.” For more information, visit https://virginiamoca.org/.
