Moscow's Multimedia Centre for Actual Arts Opens Autumn 2010

After years of delays, the Multimedia Centre for Actual Arts (MCAA) is set to open in autumn 2010 in Moscow, replacing the cramped former Moscow House of Photography. Directed by Olga Sviblova, the new 2,000-square-meter building spans five levels with eleven galleries, allowing for rotating exhibitions every month. The institution evolved from the Moscow House of Photography, which since 1996 had built a major collection of Russian and Soviet photography and organized two biennials: the Moscow Photobiennale (even years) and the Fashion and Style Biennale (odd years). The MCAA will expand its focus beyond photography to include video, internet art, and new media, reflecting a broader integration of photography into contemporary art. Its permanent collection features iconic Russian photographers such as Alexander Rodchenko, El Lissitzky, and Georgy Petrussov, alongside contemporary figures like Boris Mikhailov and AES+F. The opening program includes exhibitions by Fabrice Hyber (as part of the France-Russia year), a major Fluxus show, and "Nuits électriques" from the Centre Pompidou (December 9, 2010 – February 27, 2011). The centre also houses a library, auditorium, and photo labs, and collaborates with the Rodchenko School of Photography.