UNF to take over MOCA operations

[thelakelander]

The University of North Florida will take over operation of the Museum of Contemporary Art and lend the museum up to $500,000.

UNF’s board of trustees voted Thursday to approve the deal following an 11-month review of the museum’s finances, building, art collection, legal obligations and funding.

The move increases UNF’s Downtown presence, strengthens the school’s art and design department and creates more opportunities for joint programs and use of the museum’s resources.

full article: http://jacksonville.bizjournals.com/jacksonville/stories/2009/04/13/daily39.html

[kellypope]

Oh wow. I had no idea just how dire the museum's financial status was. This is troubling...

[Joe]

I wouldn't call it dire. Preston Haskell has artwork in his personal collection at home that are worth more than $500,000. But I'm sure the Museum's trustees want to explore other options before they start to personally fund the whole enterprise.

This sounds like a pretty good strategic alliance.

[coredumped]

Agreed, UNF has expanded like crazy (crossing kernan & buying 2 buildings in the past year). Hopefully they can add some classes downtown & be a player in the art walk.

[Charles Hunter]

Ironically the MOCA building is where UNF's too-short-lived downtown branch campus was housed.

[gatorback]

agreed.  UNF and FCCJ or whatever they are calling themselves these days should focus development downtown.  IMHO

[mtraininjax]

it will give UNF a foothold back downtown.

For what purpose? Offering art classes and an art degree downtown?

When UNF starts crying over the Florida budget, this will blow up in their face. State schools are already crying over the budgets, yet UNF has 500,000 to offer to buy an art museum.

Perhaps someone can fill in all the details, rather than conjecture.