LA MOCA Admission To Be Free, Thanks To Gift From Board President

LOS ANGELES -- Admission to the Museum of Contemporary Art in downtown Los Angeles will soon be free, thanks to a $10 million gift from the president of the museum's Board of Trustees.

Trustees President Carolyn Clark Powers announced her pledge Saturday, during a benefit to celebrate MOCA's 40th anniversary.

"It's a way for me to support the museum and be of service to the Los Angeles community," she explained. "I am committed to the museum's continued success and leadership, and to MOCA being at the forefront of diversity, inclusiveness, and openness of spirit. Art has the unique ability to bridge cultural and socio-economic divides."

"Charging admission," she said, "is counterintuitive to art's ability and purpose to connect, inspire and heal people.''

Currently, general admission is $15 at the museum, or $10 for seniors and $8 for students with ID. Officials said the museum will immediately begin working on a roll-out plan to implement the new admission policy.

``We have aspired to be able to provide free general admission for some time, and it is only with this incredible gift that we can now make it a reality," MOCA Board of Trustees Chair Maria Seferian said. "This is a major moment in the life and history of MOCA. Free general admission is a step towards making the museum a more inclusive cultural and civic hub. What a great 40th birthday present!''

The Museum of Contemporary Art is located at 250 S Grand Ave. More information is available at www.moca.org.

City News Service contributed to this report.