MOCA GA
Grounded
The Museum of Contemporary Art of Georgia (MOCA GA) has grounded itself in the community for more than 23 years, taking up the mantle of preserving the legacies of Georgia artists. Founded in 2000 with a mission to collect and archive significant, contemporary works by the artists of the state of Georgia, MOCA GA supports artists all over our state, creating a vibrant artistic hub to champion artists continuing to live, work, and show their art in Georgia.
Exceptional cities have—or should have—exceptional contemporary art museums. MOCA GA has made do with rented spaces, often in older buildings that are structurally inefficient and capacity constrained.
In 2015, museum leadership began searching for locations to build a facility worthy of its collection and mission. The next year, MOCA GA unexpectedly received $1 million in seed funding from the late Elkin Goddard Alston that would launch the campaign to build a new home.
In 2019, MOCA GA signed the contract to purchase a 1.05-acre site at the Goat Farm Arts Center, a creative complex located in West Midtown that is currently undergoing a $250 million campus transformation. Mack Scogin Merrill Elam Architects generously contributed their design skills to imagining a 26,000-square-foot facility that will allow MOCA GA to fully protect its permanent collection and archive in an acclimated, gold-standard environment.
“The board and staff of MOCA GA have worked for years to create a landmark out of a dream. When our dream became possible, we turned to Coxe Curry to help make it a reality. Supported by their guidance every step of the way, we will soon break ground for a new museum facility that will celebrate and create more opportunities for Georgia artists.”
After providing advice and counsel along the way, we completed a campaign planning study and immediately launched into directing and managing the $14.4 million Grounded campaign in 2022. We have helped MOCA GA activate its board, steward a group of steadfast supporters called the Groundbreakers, secure major grants from institutional donors, and map out a path to close the gap to their goal.
Thanks to the singularity of ambition fostered by MOCA GA’s leadership, preparation of land for construction will begin this spring, and the building is slated for completion in late summer 2025. MOCA GA’s new home and accompanying programs will be a standout addition to our city’s cultural landscape—one that will continue to preserve and promote the significant artwork created in our state.
Location: Atlanta, GA
Sector: Arts & Culture
Proudest Moment: Watching MOCA GA break ground on a new, permanent home.
Coxe Curry Services Utilized: Pre-Study Consulting, Campaign Planning Study, Campaign Consulting