Adam Pendleton: Becoming Imperceptible, installation view (photo by Jerry Birchfield, courtesy MOCA Cleveland)
To ring in its 50th anniversary, the Museum of Contemporary Art Cleveland (moCa) will open its doors with free admission, starting March 16. The plan is part of OPEN HOUSE, a series of initiatives to invite new, diverse audiences to the museum by reducing the economic barriers presented by high ticket prices, homogenous hiring practices, and inaccessible programming.
“Removing the economic barrier to visitation is just one phase of our OPEN HOUSE initiative,” says Jill Snyder, moCa’s Kohl Executive Director. “Inclusion is a central focus, and to effectively serve all audiences we will integrate welcoming, collaborative practices into every aspect of our business.”
Along with free admission, moCa will establish a diversity curatorial fellowship and an engagement guide apprenticeship program; create enhanced onsite programming for families and teens; and add an education specialist to its staff. The museum will launch a PNC-funded “Family Fun on Saturdays” including guided tours, hands-on workshops, and activities for age-inclusive audiences.
A moCa press release explains, “Situated within a broader national dialogue about the 21st century role of museums, moCa’s OPEN HOUSE initiatives embrace the societal imperative for greater civility, social justice, and informed public discourse.”
