A private donor has gifted $1 million to the Museum of Contemporary Art of Georgia (MOCA GA) to help move the organization toward its goal of establishing a new home.
Native Atlantan, philanthropist and art lover, Elkin Goddard Alston, formally made the gift on Sept. 6 at a signing celebration.
Alston said the urge to donate came to her in the middle of the night. She wanted to make the gift to the organization while she was able to see the good her donation would bring, she said.
“MOCA GA is a valued institution for Atlanta and all of Georgia," said Alston in a statement. "In its 16 years, it has celebrated and supported Atlanta and Georgia artists with exhibitions, programs, permanent art collection and historical archives.”
MOCA GA President/CEO, Annette Cone-Skelton, said the gift would be used as seed funding to support the institution in finding a permanent home.
Co-founded in the early 2000s by Cone-Skelton and David Golden, the museum has had a few homes in its 16 year history. It first opened at 1447 Peachtree St. before moving to the current location in TULA Art Center at 75 Bennett Street.
"We truly believe that this project will be a catalyst for our museum’s growth and for the advancement of contemporary art throughout the state," said Philip Babb, chair of the MOCA GA Board of Directors.
