Company Profile
Museum of Contemporary Art Jacksonville
Company Overview
A Cultural Institute of the University of North Florida, the Museum of Contemporary Art Jacksonville (MOCA JAX) is the only museum in Northeast Florida dedicated to contemporary art. The Museum is committed to promoting the discovery, knowledge, and advancement of the art, artists, and ideas of our time, and serves the community and its visitors through exhibitions, collections, educational programs, and publications designed to enhance an understanding and appreciation of contemporary art with particular emphasis on works created from 1960 to the present.
Located in the heart of historic Downtown Jacksonville, MOCA is one of the city’s most significant cultural assets. Among the most prominent contemporary art museums in the Southeast, MOCA’s exhibitions and programs set the pace for arts and art-integrated programming on a regional and national stage. Renowned in this community, MOCA casts the spotlight on Jacksonville as a burgeoning, vital arts destination.
The museum is also a cornerstone of Jacksonville’s multibillion-dollar downtown revitalization plan with exhibitions and programs that bring new visitors to the civic core during the day, at night, and on weekends.
Company History
MOCA Jacksonville celebrates its centennial in 2024! Founded in 1924, the Museum of Contemporary Art Jacksonville was the first visual arts organization in Jacksonville, and one of the first art museums in the state of Florida.
The museum grew out of the work of the Women’s Club of Jacksonville, which regularly hosted art exhibitions for the public, with the purpose of fundraising for the city’s public schools. The civically minded women of the Club were some of the most influential changemakers in Jacksonville during the early 20th century and founded the Jacksonville Fine Arts Society in 1924, leading to what is now MOCA Jacksonville. These visionary women broke with the norms of their time by coming together to make meaningful change in our city, starting more than two decades before women had the right to vote.
Over the years, the museum has lived in many locations and has been known by many names. In 1948, the Jacksonville Fine Arts Society became the Jacksonville Art Museum (JAM) which, in 2003, found its permanent home in the historic Western Union building in downtown Jacksonville. That same year it would change its name to the Museum of Contemporary Art Jacksonville (MOCA) to better reflect the focus and makeup of its permanent collection had developed.
In 2009, MOCA became a cultural institute of the University of North Florida, creating a turning point for the museum and bringing its ongoing themes of art and education full circle. Through this partnership, the museum is committed to creating a place where everyone in the UNF community can interact with and learn from museum content, enjoy entertainment and enrichment opportunities, view art and ideas from around the world, and engage in career development opportunities that prepare students for life after graduation. Beyond those directly affiliated with the university, MOCA—as UNF’s downtown footprint— links campus to community and enables the University to reach audiences around the world through intellectual and cultural exchange, partnerships, and professional leadership.
Benefits
...and much more are available. As a University of North Florida employee, your compensation includes a very generous benefits package.
** Final benefits may differ.