User:Pepperpot35/Museum of Contemporary Art Denver

The Museum of Contemporary Art Denver (MCA Denver) is a non-collecting art museum located in Lower Downtown (LoDo) Denver, Colorado. MCA Denver is known for its innovative programming and temporary exhibitions, and is the first art museum in Denver dedicated exclusively to featuring contemporary art. As noted in the Museum's Mission Statement, "MCA DENVER is an innovative forum for contemporary art that inspires and challenges all audiences, creating understanding and dialog about art of our time."

As a cultural institution, MCA Denver has existed since 1996. Since the opening of its permanent home {designed by London-based architect David Adjaye) on October 29, 2007, MCA Denver has held over thirty different exhibitions, welcoming nearly 80,000 visitors through its doors. In March 2009, Adam Lerner, Ph.D, was named as the Director of the Museum of Contemporary Art Denver and Chief Animator in the Department of Structures and Fictions. MCA Denver also merged with The Laboratory of Art and Ideas at Belmar (The Lab at Belmar) in March 2009, effectively combining both museums into one entity.

History
MCA DENVER was founded in 1996 by community leader and philanthropist Sue Cannon and a group of committed volunteers and artists who responded to the community’s desire and need for a contemporary art museum in Denver. For seven years MCA DENVER occupied a renovated fish market in Sakura Square in lower downtown Denver. MCA DENVER has grown substantially under the leadership of Executive Director/Chief Curator Cydney Payton who came on in 2001. Under her guidance, MCA DENVER has grown significantly in all areas: exhibitions, programs, staff and income. Payton began presenting nationally significant exhibitions including Over One Billion Served: Chinese Conceptual Photography, which then went on to tour at museums throughout the country including at the International Center for Photography in New York. In addition, MCA DENVER’s revenues grew from $493,520 in 2001 to $1,398,866 in 2006. Membership has increased during this same time period by 370%.

Exhibitions
Since October 2007, over forty different artists have exhibited at MCA Denver, in either temporary solo or group exhibitions, including Barnaby Furnas, Rex Ray, Arlene Shechet, Jane Hammond, Damien Hirst, Don Ed Hardy, Chris Ofili, Red Grooms and Candice Breitz.

Programming
Since the merger with The Lab at Belmar in March 2009, MCA Denver has hosted Mixed Taste: Tag Team Lectures on Unrelated Topics.