M+ and MoMA Forge Landmark Collaboration to Enhance Global Art Exchange

In a landmark move for the art world, Hong Kong's M+ museum and New York's Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on February 18, 2025, marking MoMA's first comprehensive collaboration with an Asian institution.

This partnership encompasses six key areas: joint curatorial research and exchange; conservation and collection management; artwork loans; sharing sustainability practices; training and professional development; and exhibition and program exchange. The collaboration aims to foster international cooperation and cultural exchange between the two esteemed institutions.

M+ is a relatively new institution, having opened its doors on November 12, 2021, in Hong Kong's West Kowloon Cultural District. The museum focuses on 20th and 21st-century visual culture, encompassing visual art, design and architecture, and moving image. Its collection includes over 6,400 items as of 2021, with notable acquisitions such as the M+ Sigg Collection of Chinese contemporary art. Suhanya Raffel has served as the museum's director since January 2019.

MoMA, established in 1929, is one of the world's most influential museums dedicated to modern and contemporary art. Located in Midtown Manhattan, New York City, MoMA's collection comprises approximately 200,000 works spanning 150 years, including masterpieces like Vincent van Gogh's "The Starry Night" and Pablo Picasso's "Les Demoiselles d'Avignon." Glenn D. Lowry has been the museum's director since 1995.

The MOU between M+ and MoMA encompasses six primary areas of collaboration:

1. Joint Curatorial Research and Exchange: Both institutions will engage in collaborative research projects and curator exchanges to enhance their respective exhibitions and programs.

2. Conservation and Collection Management: The museums will share best practices in the acquisition, preservation, care, display, and access of artworks.

3. Artwork Loans: The agreement facilitates the loaning of artworks between the two institutions, enriching their exhibitions and providing audiences with a broader range of artistic experiences.

4. Sharing Sustainability Practices: M+ and MoMA will exchange information and strategies to promote sustainability within their operations and exhibitions.

5. Training and Professional Development: The partnership includes initiatives for staff training and professional growth, fostering a deeper understanding of museum practices across cultures.

6. Exhibition and Program Exchange: The institutions will collaborate on exhibitions and programs, allowing for a dynamic exchange of ideas and artistic expressions.

Suhanya Raffel, Museum Director of M+, expressed enthusiasm about the partnership:

"We are excited to embark on this partnership, which will not only deepen mutual understanding and strengthen our exchange, but also set the stage for collaboration on curatorial affairs, collection development, exhibition research, and museum operations. We value our open and ongoing dialogue and look forward to many joint efforts with MoMA to come. The signing of this MOU affirms M +’s commitment to collaboration with pre-eminent cultural institutions around the world and strengthens M+’s position as Asia’s global museum of contemporary visual culture."

Glenn D. Lowry, The David Rockefeller Director of MoMA, highlighted the significance of the collaboration:

"We are thrilled to partner with M+ on an ambitious new collaboration, to exchange expertise and ideas that will help us take our museums forward in new and exciting directions and create more opportunities for our global audiences to experience and engage with contemporary art and artists."

This partnership signifies a major step in fostering international cultural exchange between the East and the West. By collaborating, M+ and MoMA aim to bridge cultural gaps, promote mutual understanding, and provide diverse audiences with access to a broader spectrum of contemporary visual culture. The exchange of exhibitions and programs will offer audiences in both regions exposure to different artistic perspectives and practices, enriching the global art scene.

While MoMA has engaged in various international collaborations, this MOU represents its first comprehensive partnership with an Asian institution. This development reflects a growing recognition of the importance of Asia in the global art landscape and underscores the region's rising prominence in contemporary visual culture.

The comprehensive partnership between M+ and MoMA marks a significant milestone in the art world, promising to enrich the cultural landscapes of both Hong Kong and New York through shared knowledge, resources, and artistic endeavors.