News Summary
The Virginia Museum of Contemporary Art has secured reaccreditation from the American Alliance of Museums, underscoring its commitment to excellence. The museum plans to expand and relocate to accommodate more exhibitions and educational programs. Newly appointed Executive Director Gary Ryan aims to enhance community engagement and support arts growth. This milestone highlights the museum’s dedication to cultural enrichment and evolving standards, positioning it for a vibrant future as it serves Virginia Beach and beyond.
Virginia Beach, Virginia – The Virginia Museum of Contemporary Art (Virginia MOCA) has successfully achieved reaccreditation from the American Alliance of Museums (AAM), a prestigious recognition regarded as the highest standard for museums across the United States. This reaccreditation comes after a comprehensive process aimed at ensuring that museums adhere to national standards and best practices.
Virginia MOCA has maintained its accreditation since 2010 and reaffirmed its commitment to excellence through a year-long self-study, which was followed by a site visit from peer reviewers. The final assessment was conducted by the AAM’s Accreditation Commission. Currently, only about 1,100 out of the 33,000 museums in the nation hold such accreditation, placing Virginia MOCA among a select group of 58 accredited museums within Virginia.
The reaccreditation is celebrated as a significant milestone for Virginia MOCA, signaling the organization’s unwavering commitment to providing quality programming and community engagement. Executive Director Alison Byrne emphasized that this recognition highlights the museum’s adherence to the evolving standards of U.S. museums.
As the museum celebrates this important achievement, it is also preparing for an exciting future. Virginia MOCA plans to expand and relocate to the Virginia Wesleyan University campus. The new facility is designed specifically to accommodate an increased number of exhibitions, educational programs, and community initiatives, exemplifying the museum’s dedication to serving its audience and enhancing cultural outreach.
Leadership Transition
Alongside the reaccreditation announcement, Virginia MOCA also introduced Gary Ryan as the newly appointed executive director, succeeding Debi Gray. Ryan is set to begin her new role in January and brings a wealth of experience from her previous position as development director and interim co-executive director at the Katonah Museum of Art in New York. Additionally, she founded Palermo Strategy, a fundraising consulting firm, and has held roles at the Metropolitan Opera and Brooklyn Academy of Music.
Under Debi Gray’s leadership, Virginia MOCA not only received its initial accreditation in 2010 but also underwent a rebranding effort in 2011, helping to elevate the museum’s national profile. The museum gained recognition for its compelling exhibitions, including notable solo shows by artists such as Inka Essenhigh and Mickalene Thomas, as well as impactful group exhibitions that have resonated with audiences.
Future Goals
Ryan, a lifelong arts enthusiast who grew up in the nearby city of Norfolk, expressed her appreciation for the vibrant cultural scene from an early age. She views her new role as an opportunity to cultivate creative thinking and self-expression while providing artists with exciting venues to showcase their work. The Virginia MOCA board chair, Andrew Hodge, noted that Ryan’s selection was intended to build upon Gray’s successful tenure, ensuring continuity in the museum’s mission and objectives.
The reaccreditation by AAM and the forthcoming changes at Virginia MOCA underline the museum’s commitment to evolving with the needs of the community and supporting the arts on a broader scale. As the museum looks towards its future, it aims to enhance its contributions to the cultural landscape of Virginia Beach and beyond.
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- 13 News Now
- Wikipedia: Virginia Museum of Contemporary Art
- WAVY News
- Google Search: Virginia Museum of Contemporary Art
- ARTnews
- Google Scholar: Virginia Museum of Contemporary Art
- Pilot Online
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Virginia Beach
- Pilot Online – Virginia Beach Art Museum
- Google News: Virginia MOCA
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VIRGINIA BEACH STAFF WRITER The VIRGINIA BEACH STAFF WRITER represents the seasoned team at HEREVirginiaBeach.com, your trusted source for actionable local news and information in Virginia Beach, Virginia Beach City, and beyond, delivering "news you can use" with comprehensive coverage of product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news impacting the region—supported by years of expert reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates, while offering top reporting on high-profile events like the Virginia Beach Neptune Festival, East Coast Surfing Championship, and military homecoming celebrations, alongside key organizations such as the Virginia Aquarium, Virginia Beach Convention Center, and Oceana Naval Air Station, plus leading businesses in tourism and defense like Busch Gardens and Northrop Grumman, and as part of the broader HERE network including HEREWilliamsburg.com, providing credible, in-depth insights into Virginia's vibrant landscape. HERE Virginia Beach HERE Williamsburg
