The National Centre for Contemporary Arts (NCCA) is a museum, exhibition and research organization which aims its efforts at the development of contemporary Russian art within the context of the global art process, at the creation and implementation of programs and projects in the sphere of contemporary art, architecture and design both in this country, and beyond its borders.
The National Centre for Contemporary Arts was created in Moscow in 1992, at the moment when contemporary art was only acquiring the basis for its normal existence and development in Russia. The Centre provided an important and crucial structure consolidating the activities of masters of contemporary art, stimulating their creative efforts. The activity of NCCA has been essential in the processes of the reorganization of the artistic life in Russia during the 1990s. It was important both for Moscow, where the Centre was based then, and for many regions of the country where NCCA efforts initiated the implementation of art projects in the sphere of contemporary art triggering the processes of its development there.
Today, when the efforts of the previous years are bringing fruit, the National Centre for Contemporary Arts continues its active work aimed at the development and popularization of the Russian contemporary art and its integration in the global art context. At present NCCA is a network institution with its branches in major cultural centres of Russia, such as St. Petersburg, Nizhnii Novgorod, Yekaterinburg, Kaliningrad, Vladikavkaz and Tomsk.
The activities of the National Centre of Contemporary Arts follow several basic lines:
*popularization and support of contemporary Russian art;
*various forms of curator work helping realize exhibition and audiovisual projects, installations, performances, hold video and movie presentations, creative sessions;
*analytical and information research activity in the sphere of contemporary art;
*educational activities – lectures, seminars, master classes;
*work to form the collection of contemporary art, including Russian and foreign art.
These basic lines of activity correspond with a number of long-term programs developed by the Centre staff. Every program features the implementation of individual projects initiated both by the experts of the Centre, and by other curators, researches, masters of contemporary art with the support and immediate participation of creative and technological subdivisions of NCCA.
Today NCCA is a leading Russian state institution specializing in the issues of contemporary art. The activity of the Centre evolves in close cooperation with artists and independent experts in the sphere of contemporary art, art culture and various organizations, such as museums, research institutions, public organizations, both in Russia, and abroad.
The National Centre for Contemporary Arts works under the auspices and with the constant support of the Ministry of Culture of the Russian Federation.