Arlington Arts Center, Arlington

The Museum of Contemporary Art Arlington, formerly known as Arlington Arts Center, is a non-collecting contemporary visual arts institution founded in 1974. It adopted its current name in September 2022 to reflect its role as Arlington County’s contemporary art museum.

The museum presents changing exhibitions rather than maintaining a permanent collection, with programs featuring emerging and established artists from the region, across the United States, and, in selected exhibitions, international creators. The museum occupies the former Clarendon Elementary School, a historic building completed in 1910 and later renamed Maury School. The organization has operated within this space since 1976. Today, the beautifully restored complex contains nine exhibition galleries, three classrooms, working studios for twelve artists, and outdoor areas dedicated to public art. The studios support working artists through a long-running residency program, though visitors should note that individual artist workshops are not always open to the public during regular gallery hours.

Exhibitions span a diverse range of media, including painting, sculpture, photography, video, installation, performance, and mixed-media art. In addition to gallery shows, the museum hosts artist talks, educational workshops, youth and family activities, and art classes tailored for various ages and skill levels. Calendar events change throughout the year, and general admission to the galleries is always free.