- Luis Croquer, photo by Dave Lewinski for Hour Detroit
We've just received this news from the Museum of Contemporary Art Detroit's PR Coordinator Carlie Dennis:
Following a three-year term as Director and Chief Curator at MOCAD, the highly successful Museum of Contemporary Art Detroit, Luis Croquer will be leaving the museum to focus on his curatorial career.
“It is one of the most difficult decisions I have had to make,” said Croquer. “I am proud of what we have achieved at MOCAD and I care deeply about Detroit, but my heart is in curatorial work and I have decided to focus on this full time.”
Croquer arrived at MOCAD under a three-year contract in December 2008. During his tenure, he did an ambitious series of exhibitions and related lectures, films, and music, and was responsible for securing many significant foundation grants to support these activities. He has been involved in different aspects of the Midtown Detroit renewal, including being a member of the University Cultural Center Association.
“We are saddened to see Luis go but are, of course, supportive of his decision,” said Marsha Miro, Founding Director and Board President.
Not long ago she was Metro Times arts and culture editor, but now Rebecca Mazzei is MOCAD’s Deputy Director, and will oversee day-to-day operations during the search for Croquer’s replacement.
A committee of the MOCAD board, including Miro and Julia Reyes Taubman, Board Chairman, will act as the management team with Mazzei.
“As MOCAD celebrates its fifth year as one of the city’s most popular art institutions, our international search will begin immediately so we can fill this important position as quickly as possible,” said Taubman.
The mission of the Museum of Contemporary Art Detroit is to present art at the forefront of contemporary culture. As a non-collecting institution, MOCAD is responsive to the cultural content of our time, fueling crucial dialogue, collaboration, and public engagement.
Located on Woodward and Garfield between the Detroit Symphony Orchestra and the Detroit Institute of the Arts, Wayne State University and the College for Creative Studies, the museum is an innovative part of Detroit’s vibrant Midtown neighborhood, and functions as a hub for the exploration of emerging ideas in the contemporary arts. The 22,000 square-foot building, a former auto dealership, has been simply renovated to maintain its historic character. With its raw, flexible and cavernous spaces, the building has been well-suited to the exhibition of contemporary art. Our ambitious series of public programs includes lectures, musical performances, films, literary readings and educational activities for children.
