Raising funds for the museum

The Fort Collins Museum of Contemporary Art is a private nonprofit organization that is funded by memberships, sponsors and grants. Masks at MOCA is an annual fundraiser that provides nearly one-third of the museum’s budget. 150 community artists are chosen to create works of art that are exhibited the month of April. During the month, masks are bid on in a silent auction. A gala is held one week prior to the close of the exhibit where a live auction of about 15 of the masks takes place. The silent auction of the masks at the museum closes during the First Friday Gallery Walk held in May. Mask sponsors, gala ticket sales and the auction sales provide the income for the event. For more dates and event information, click here.

The process of becoming a mask artist

The Masks at MOCA project begins before the current year’s event is even completed! Artist’s names are collected as they express an interest, then added to the names of FCMOCA members and the museum’s mail list. A reservation form is sent out in July for the following year’s event. Members have the first chance at becoming a mask artist; non-members are allowed to apply later. The 150 artists chosen are notified late in August and pick up their masks in mid-September. The completed masks are due back by early December and become the property of the museum. The masks are then photographed to create print and advertising materials before the exhibit opens in April of the following year.

Lori Acott Fowler, ceramic mask