It looks like the Museum of Contemporary Art North Miami (MOCA) and the Bass Museum of Art in Miami Beach may soon make good on their merger talks, much to the consternation of North Miami officials. Both institutions are city museums, but the North Miami City Council is vocally opposed to a merger that would see MOCA’s collection moved to the Bass facilities. North Miami officials took the podium at a city council meeting on March 11 to make their position clear. “We’re not going to let Miami Beach steal MOCA from us,” said former mayor Kevin Burns. The council voted to do “whatever is necessary” to keep the museum in the city.
A statement issued by MOCA’s press office the next day described a plan currently under consideration that would “focus exhibition and related programming in Miami Beach” with “a robust schedule of educational and outreach programs in North Miami.”