14th October 2020
The Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA) announced today the creation of an Environmental Council, the first for a major art museum in the United States. Brian Sheth, founder of the Sheth Sangreal Foundation, is one of the Founding Council members.
The Council is focused on climate, conservation, and environmental justice in furtherance of the museum’s mission. It will also support artists working on critical environmental issues by financially supporting meaningful exhibition and educational programming such as an upcoming exhibition with the artist Olafur Eliasson (2024).
In development since Klaus Biesenbach became the Director of MOCA in 2018, the museum will unfold important initiatives made possible by the Council within the first year, including financial commitments and expertise to work toward institution-wide carbon negativity, carbon-free energy, environmentally-focused museum quality exhibitions, educational programming, related artist support, and reductions in emissions and consumption. MOCA plans to publicly share the Council’s efforts and progress as a platform for public dialogue and engagement on this urgent topic.
MOCA Environmental Council Founders and Co-Chairs are David Johnson and Haley Mellin. Founding Council members are Njideka Akunyili Crosby, Aileen Getty, Agnes Gund, Sheikha Al Mayassa Bint Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani and Brian Sheth. Expert advisors to the Council include Illina Frankiv, Dan Hammer, Lisa P. Jackson, Lucas Joppa, Jen Morris, Calla Rose Ostrander and Enrique Ortiz. MOCA Executive Director, Klaus Biesenbach, and MOCA Deputy Director, Advancement, Samuel Vasquez will be ex-officio members of the Council and assure continuity and communication between the Council’s priorities and the museum’s activities and operations.
To learn more about this initiative follow the links below:
MONGABAY: Can an art museum drive sustainability? Q&A with MOCA’s Klaus Biesenbach
