Following lively inaugural Exhibitions events and exhibitions in 2007, MCA DENVER continued its momentum in 2008 with an ambitious exhibition and program calendar.

A broad spectrum of 14 exhibitions gathered artists from around the world to activate the museum as a leading center for contemporary art and culture. Damien Hirst brought a sense of beauty, vulnerability, and tragedy to the Natasha Congdon Family Large Works gallery with his signature works, including Saint Sebastian, Exquisite Pain. Artist-in Residence, Jack Balas, illustrated the interconnectedness of communities and individuals through his We’ll Be Seeing You exhibition.

Programs, designed for all audiences, provided access points to engage in dialog about the art of our time. The Logan Conversation Series connected the community with innovative artists; promoting contemporary discourse by bringing internationally renowned artists to the forefront of public experience. SmART Brunch Sundays engaged families to build art appreciation in a fun and relaxed atmosphere by providing dialog, hands-on workshops, and entertaining activities for children and adults.

MCA DENVER became one of the most attractive destinations to spend Friday nights in the city through exhibition openings and artist talks, as well as multi-faceted programs such as Applied Ideas, Top 10 & WITY Cocktails, and Open Shelf Films.

In recognition of its wide-ranging influence on Colorado’s culture, MCA DENVER received ten awards for its programs and exhibitions from associations and publications, including the Downtown Denver Partnership, VISIT DENVER, RIBA (Royal Institute of British Architects), The Rocky Mountain News, 5280 Magazine, Westword, and Nickelodeon’s parentsconnect.com.

In August 2008, MCA DENVER launched its redesigned website. The new format gives visitors the option to choose from different forms of information and invites participation through comments and conversations about what art means to audiences today. As part of MCA DENVER’s open platform, each response; whether subversive, controversial, enticing, or thoughtful is regarded as a valuable contribution to the ongoing discourse about contemporary culture. MCA DENVER teamed up with other progressive institutions to create a single online resource for contemporary art in Colorado.

Contemporaryartcolorado.org is a comprehensive information hub, connecting visitors to art openings, exhibitions, lectures, and events. The collaborating institutions are: Aspen Art Museum, Clyfford Still Museum, CU Art Museum, Denver Art Museum, I.D.E.A. at the Colorado College, The Lab at Belmar, MCA DENVER, Museo de las Americas, Myhren Gallery, and Redline.