Name: Legacy at the Table: MCA Dinner Series
Start: 2026-06-24T18:00:00-05:00
End: 2026-06-24T20:00:00-05:00
Location: 1934 Poplar Ave, Memphis, TN, United States, Tennessee 38104

This spring, your art museum invites you to take part in an intimate and artfully curated dinner series celebrating one of Memphis’ most influential creative institutions.
In conjunction with 'Memphis College of Art, 1936–2020: An Enduring Legacy,' the Memphis Brooks Museum of Art presents three elegant seated dinners honoring the school that shaped generations of artists and helped define Memphis’ cultural identity. Each dinner is presented by acclaimed chef and MCA alum Karen Carrier, each evening draws inspiration from a distinct chapter in MCA’s history.
DATES:
May 20, 2026—The Founding Vision: James Lee Memorial Art Academy
The series begins at the very beginning. This evening honors the school’s earliest years, an era defined by bold beginnings, intimate mentorship, and a pioneering belief that Memphis deserved a serious art academy. Guests will experience a dinner inspired by the passion and personal commitment that launched the institution, celebrating the artists and educators who laid its foundation.
June 24, 2026—A New Home, A Growing Influence: The Rust Hall Years
The second dinner reflects the school’s period of growth and permanence following its move to Rust Hall in 1959. This era marked confidence, expansion, and an increasingly visible role in shaping the city’s creative life. The evening celebrates the ambition and architectural presence that signaled MCA’s maturity—when the school became a cultural anchor.
Sept. 23, 2026—Creative Momentum: Memphis College of Art in Its Contemporary Era
The final dinner honors MCA’s later decades—an era defined by experimentation, contemporary energy, and a generation of artists who carried Memphis onto a national and global stage. This evening celebrates the school’s spirit of exploration, collaboration, and creative risk-taking, culminating in a tribute to the enduring community MCA fostered.
WHY ATTEND?
Because this is a gathering of those who care deeply about Memphis’ creative legacy, and you're a part of that! These evenings are designed for collectors, patrons, and culturally engaged leaders who value artistry not only on the walls, but in every detail of an experience. Each dinner is served family-style to encourage connection and conversation, blending refinement with warmth. Expect a high-end, carefully orchestrated evening where culinary artistry meets cultural memory.
A limited number of VIP experiences include:
-A private pre-dinner tour of the exhibition led by an MCA alum featured in the show
-A welcome reception within the exhibition
Seating is intentionally limited to preserve the intimacy of the experience.
SUPPORT:
'Memphis College of Art, 1936–2020: An Enduring Legacy' is presented by Raymond James, with supporting sponsorship from Henry Luce Foundation, Grinder Taber Grinder, and Formanek Foundation. The exhibition is sponsored by the National Endowment for the Arts, the Wyeth Foundation for American Art, Anonymous, The James Lee House, Ellen and Brig Klyce, KC and Jeff Warren, Doug Carpenter + Associates, Kaywin Feldman and Jim Lutz, and the Art Now Collective.
The exhibition is part of the 2026 Tennessee Triennial, a statewide initiative celebrating contemporary artists and highlighting the strength and diversity of Tennessee’s visual art scene. The museum is proud to join the Frist Art Museum, the Knoxville Museum of Art, and the Hunter Museum of American Art in Chattanooga in this important collaboration.
All exhibitions at the Memphis Brooks Museum of Art are underwritten by the MBMA Exhibition Fund: Lead support provided by Kay Clark, and Maggie and Milton Lovell, with additional funding from Anonymous, Irene and Ron Ayotte, Gloria and Kenneth Boyland, Deborah and Bob Craddock, Susan and James Edelman, Debi and Galen Havner, Sally Hergenrader, James R. Humphreys, Barbara and Pitt Hyde, Betty and George Johnson, Kristen and Jay Keegan, Valerie and Carl Person, Deborah D. Tipton, Bill Townsend, and the Doris S. and Hubert Kiersky Charitable Remainder Trust.