Who are the NCMA Contemporaries?
The North Carolina Museum of Art Contemporaries is a group composed of more than 300 young Triangle professionals in the 20- to 40-something age range who promote the Museum and increase membership by sponsoring lively social and educational fundraising events. Recent events include Raleigh gallery visits, a Derby Day party, wine tastings, First Friday Scavenger Hunt, and a retro movie night.
The Contemporaries are raising money to purchase a work of art for the Museum’s permanent collection to be housed in the new gallery building, slated for opening in spring 2010. This project follows the successful fundraising and purchase party where the group researched, voted and purchased After the Mona Lisa 2 by artist Devorah Sperber (shown below).
How can you get involved with the Contemporaries?
First, you can start by joining the NCMA Contemporaries. This important step allows you access to Museum exhibitions, discounts at Museum Store and Blue Ridge Restaurant, special savings on concerts and movies, as well as discounted or free admission to Museum events. Join now—we can’t wait to meet you!
We are always looking for new Contemporaries volunteers to participate in our events, and we encourage you to become involved! It’s fun and a great way to meet new and interesting people at one of the nation’s fastest growing public art museums.
Board Membership
With demonstrated involvement in the Contemporaries, you can have an opportunity to be elected to the Contemporaries volunteer Board of Directors.
Our board consists of approximately 20 civic-minded Contemporaries who have proven their leadership skills by actively participating on special events committees. Board member commitments include attendance at monthly meetings during two-year terms, chairing a minimum of one event per year, volunteering during events, procuring sponsorship for events, and promoting all of the Contemporaries events.
2008-09 Contemporaries Board Officers
- Jessica Bowers, President
- Orin Bishop, Vice-President
- Brooke Venable, Treasurer
Contemporaries Board Members
- Greg Behr
- Todd Delk
- Jeffiny Shutts
- Matt Musselwhite
- Rachel McLaughlin
- Susan Moore
- John Grimes
- Brad Barbour
- Barden Culbreth
- Tracy Harris
- Paul Holscher
- Chris Mangeno
- Heather Vickery
- Matthew Van Horn
- R. Jason Walls
Event chairs from the board are selected for each major event, and the event chairs organize subcommittees of volunteers from the general Contemporaries membership to orchestrate the event, planning and arranging everything from band selection to food and beverage offerings to logistics and coordination.
Contemporaies Art Purchase Fund
The NCMA Board of Trustees unanimously accepted our donation of After the Mona Lisa 2. The work of art is currently on view at the Cameron Art Museum in Wilmington as part of a special exhibition of NCMA works on loan.
Devorah Sperber (American, born 1961), After the Mona Lisa 2, 2005, 5,184 spools of thread, stainless steel hanging apparatus, aluminum ball chain, acrylic sphere, and metal stand, 85 x 87 in., 2004 Devorah Sperber/Devorah Sperber Inc. New York, North Carolina Museum of Art, Raleigh, Gift of the North Carolina Museum of Art Contemporaries, 2006 (2006.13)
To learn about Sperber’s other award-winning works of art, please visit her Web site.
