Blue Star Museum Program at MOCA Jacksonville Presented by CSX
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — MOCA Jacksonville, a cultural institute of the University of North Florida, has proudly partnered with Blue Star Museums and CSX to offer free admission to the families of active duty and former military and first responders from Armed Forces Day on May 18 through Labor Day on September 2, 2024. The Blue Star Museum initiative is a collaboration between the National Endowment for the Arts, Blue Star Families, the Department of Defense, and more than 2,000 museums nationwide that wish to show appreciation for military families who face multiple deployments and reintegration challenges. To support this program, CSX partnered with MOCA Jacksonville to expand this free admission opportunity to include not only active-duty military, but also former military and first responders.
"We are thrilled to extend our support to military families and first responders through our partnership with MOCA Jacksonville. Through our signature philanthropic initiative, Pride in Service, CSX supports hundreds of thousands of active-duty, veteran and first responder service members across our rail network, while also representing the pride the company has in serving our hometown of Jacksonville," says LaSandra Boykin, community investments director at CSX. "MOCA is a Jacksonville treasure with something for everyone to discover and this partnership underscores our commitment to military families and first responders by providing them with free access to the enriching experiences offered at the museum. We hope this partnership serves as a token of our gratitude and a gesture of appreciation for their dedication to our community and nation."
CSX is one of the nation's leading transportation suppliers offering a broad range of services including rail, intermodal container and rail-to-truck transload services. The company is headquartered in Downtown Jacksonville just a few blocks from MOCA Jacksonville. Both CSX and MOCA are working to provide opportunities to area military families and support the revitalization of downtown.
Through its commitment to community building, MOCA Jacksonville provides access to arts and educational experiences for the entire community, introduces contemporary art to thousands of students in Duval County through school tours and family programming, and supports local artists through the exhibition of innovative, locally created works of art. With an ambitious program schedule, MOCA provides a platform for community discussion and debate, critical and creative thinking, and cultural exploration, while acting as a vital community convener for creative conversation. The museum team is committed to providing opportunities to connect and experiences that are welcoming, respectful, thought-provoking, and engaging.
To take advantage of this program, please bring valid military or first responder identification. Those who qualify are welcome to bring up to five family members. Learn more about visiting MOCA Jacksonville by visiting our website at mocajacksonville.unf.edu.
Operational support for MOCA Jacksonville is provided by the City of Jacksonville, the Cultural Council of Greater Jacksonville, the Donald and Maria Cox Fund, the Florida Division of Cultural Affairs, the Haskell Endowment, the Jessie Ball duPont Fund, MOCA Jacksonville’s Centennial Sponsors, the National Endowment for the Arts, and the University of North Florida. Additional support provided by the Jax Fine Arts Forum.
ABOUT MOCA JACKSONVILLE
The Museum of Contemporary Art Jacksonville celebrates its 100th anniversary in 2024, as the oldest art museum in the region and one of the first art museums to be established in the state of Florida. This celebration year is an opportunity for MOCA to give back to the community that has been its home for a century by presenting groundbreaking exhibitions and programs that will engage the community and elevate Jacksonville as a regional destination for arts and culture.
One hundred years ago, a group of visionary, pioneering women came together to imagine the kind of city they wanted Jacksonville to be — the kind of community they wanted to live in and be a part of. At the core of their vision for a rich, vital, dynamic city were art, culture, and education. Thus, what we now call MOCA Jacksonville was born — first as a series of exhibitions by artists of the day, used as a fundraising tool to support public school education; then as a guild; and later as an art museum and educational leader.
A century later, MOCA’s mission remains focused on the art, artists, and ideas of our time, with a vision that unites education, creativity, and community building in the heart of downtown Jacksonville. Throughout 2024, MOCA will celebrate its centennial year — looking to the past to recognize the legacy of the visionary leaders and important milestones that have brought us to this point; marking this moment with extraordinary exhibitions and programs that will not only elevate MOCA, but provide a stimulus and create an energized destination for our Downtown to build upon; and imagine the future that we want for our great city, nourishing our community through art and culture for the next 100 years.
For more information including hours of operation, admission prices and upcoming exhibitions and programs, call 904-366-6911 or visit mocajacksonville.unf.edu.
ABOUT CSX
CSX, based in Jacksonville, Florida, is a premier transportation company. It provides rail, intermodal and rail-to-truck transload services and solutions to customers across a broad array of markets, including energy, industrial, construction, agricultural, and consumer products. For nearly 200 years, CSX has played a critical role in the nation's economic expansion and industrial development. Its network connects every major metropolitan area in the eastern United States, where nearly two-thirds of the nation's population resides. It also links more than 240 short-line railroads and more than 70 ocean, river and lake ports with major population centers and farming towns alike. More information about CSX Corp. and its subsidiaries is available at www.csx.com. Like us on Facebook (http://facebook.com/OfficialCSX) and follow us on X, formerly known as Twitter (http://twitter.com/CSX).
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