History

. . . pioneering a collaborative model between artists and museums

MarinMOCA springs from deep roots in the Marin County arts community. In 1983, a group of eleven artists from the College of Marin set-up a studio in an old barn in rural Indian Valley. The experience of working in a vital artistic community inspired an ambitious goal: To create an organization where contemporary art and artistic expression is accessible to all members of the community. In 1993, they took a big step forward and moved to the former Administration Headquarters at Hamilton Air Force Base, negotiating a contract with the City of Novato for expanded space. By 2005, they were an established gallery, hosting their first national exhibition. With the launch of the Marin Museum of Contemporary Art in 2007, the dream had become a reality.