The Museum of Northern California Art: A Butte County Educational Treasure

The Chico area community is fortunate to have a variety of experiences for families in the outdoors and within the walls of cultural institutions. One of the most remarkable is the Museum of Northern California Art (monca), housed in a beautiful 1927 Classical Revival building situated on the tree-lined Esplanade. A place to view art of Northern California artists, reflect on the creative process and become a link to the past and future, monca beckons families to enter its doors and discover what lies within.

monca Exhibits Educate, Promote Health and Healing

The museum is dedicated to education – whether it is for students, adults or families – understanding and promoting art as both an exciting discovery and a place for health and healing. Exhibition themes have ranged from veterans, graffiti and tattoo art to quilts and art about bikes. Host to the annual Snow Goose Festival, monca’s accompanying art show “Perch, Flutter, Soar” is on exhibit for approximately two months in January and February each year and gives art viewers the time to truly become involved with not only “looking” but also being engaged and inspired by the creativity of the exhibit.

Art Students Enhance monca Gallery Experiences

The museum has been the recipient of the talented CSU art education student creation of Family Gallery Guides for many of its recent exhibitions. Thanks to a grant and connection with Dr. Sangmin Lee, CSU assistant professor of Art Education, visitors can not only look at artwork but also delve deeper into thinking about the “whys” and “hows” behind the exhibitions. For the past four years monca has worked with Kit Kelly, a special education teacher at Chico High School. His 9th through 12th grade ESN students meet daily and work on functional academics and communication while also doing community service with monca and on the CUSD campus. The monca galleries sparkle because of their dedication and hard work!

monca welcomes young artists to proudly display their work.

Investing in the Next Generation

The Museum is filled with events and field trips, with schools coming from as far away as Camptonville, Orland and Oroville. It also offers a Roger Steel Legacy Fund to schools who need bus or admission fee funding. Museum events are geared to all age levels and are often built around health and healing connections with art.

From Foot Foundation classes and tea blending to swing dancing, monca continues building audiences as it follows its mission to promote awareness of Northern California artists through collections, exhibitions and educational programs. This mission also acknowledges the future is in the hands of the next generation. To nurture these young minds, monca created a junior board consisting of both college and high school students. Student board members learn the ins and outs of running a museum, creating exhibitions and programs and ensuring their generation is involved in various aspects of the museum.

Expanding monca’s Educational and Creative Reach

The annual Butte County Museum Weekend brings large numbers of families to monca not only to see the creativity within its walls but to also participate in artmaking projects together. Beyond the museum walls, the monca bus travels to various events in the community. Watch for them at CARD events in Chico parks, the Paradise Chocolate Festival and more. The bus opens a space to create, read about art or do puzzles together with friends and family.

The museum not only exhibits art from Northern California artists but also has an art library filled with over 700 books donated by museum members that include artists, art movements and cultures.

Come spend time reading and talking about what makes you want to create! Are you a writer?

Try using the vintage typewriter, slow down and put into words your thoughts and desires. Do you play the piano? monca has one that is begging for fingers to create beautiful sounds to accompany the artwork. The friendly and knowledgeable monca staff hope to see you and your family on your next visit!

Volunteers help make monca a North State treasure. If you would like to volunteer at the museum, you can sign up at monca.org.