# Event Details - **Event Name**: Legacy at the Table: MCA Dinner Series - **Event Start and End Date**: Wed, 23 Sep, 2026 at 06:00 pm – Wed, 23 Sep, 2026 at 08:00 pm (-05:00) - **Event Description**: 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. Legacy at the Table: Celebrating Memphis Art is generously sponsored by Maggie and Milton Lovell. The Legacy at the Table dinner series is sponsored by Mahaffey Event and Tent Rentals and Art Now. - **Event URL**: https://allevents.in/memphis/legacy-at-the-table-mca-dinner-series/200030317990804 - **Event Categories**: art, exhibitions, food-drinks, nonprofit - **Interested Audience**: - total_interested_count: 6 ## Ticket Details ## Event venue details - **city**: Memphis - **state**: TN - **country**: United States - **location**: 1934 Poplar Ave, Memphis, TN, United States, Tennessee 38104 - **lat**: 35.14242 - **long**: -89.99605 - **full address**: 1934 Poplar Ave, Memphis, TN, United States, Tennessee 38104 ## Event gallery - **Alt text**: Legacy at the Table: MCA Dinner Series - **Image URL**: https://cdn-az.allevents.in/events2/banners/788c4a4b08a9a7fa2947568740c7951473743ce185e005860fe37fb556720894-rimg-w1080-h1350-dcf85858-gmir?v=1786828808 ## FAQs - **Q**: When and where is Legacy at the Table: MCA Dinner Series being held? - **A:** Legacy at the Table: MCA Dinner Series takes place on Wed, 23 Sep, 2026 at 06:00 pm to Wed, 23 Sep, 2026 at 08:00 pm at 1934 Poplar Ave, Memphis, TN, United States, Tennessee 38104. - **Q**: Who is organizing Legacy at the Table: MCA Dinner Series? - **A:** Legacy at the Table: MCA Dinner Series is organized by Memphis Brooks Museum of Art. - **Q**: What has been the experience of attendees at Memphis Brooks Museum of Art's events? - **A:** Attendees have given Memphis Brooks Museum of Art a rating of 5/5 based on reviews from early attendees on AllEvents. Memphis Brooks Museum of Art has a verified profile on AllEvents where you can read reviews and explore their upcoming events. - **Q**: Who is this event for? Is it right for me? - **A:** Legacy at the Table: MCA Dinner Series is ideal for art lovers, trade professionals, collectors, and exhibition enthusiasts exploring the latest in their field. Whether you're a first-time attendee or a longtime enthusiast in Memphis, this event is thoughtfully curated to deliver a standout experience worth every moment. If Legacy at the Table: MCA Dinner Series sounds like your kind of event, don't wait - spots fill up fast. ## Structured Data (JSON-LD) ```json [ { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "Event", "name": "Legacy at the Table: MCA Dinner Series", "image": "https://cdn-az.allevents.in/events2/banners/788c4a4b08a9a7fa2947568740c7951473743ce185e005860fe37fb556720894-rimg-w1080-h1350-dcf85858-gmir?v=1786828808", "startDate": "2026-09-23T18:00:00-05:00", "endDate": "2026-09-23T20:00:00-05:00", "url": "https://allevents.in/memphis/legacy-at-the-table-mca-dinner-series/200030317990804", "eventStatus": "https://schema.org/EventScheduled", "location": { "@type": "Place", "name": "1934 Poplar Ave, Memphis, TN, United States, Tennessee 38104", "address": { "@type": "PostalAddress", "streetAddress": "1934 Poplar Ave, Memphis, TN 38104-2756, United States", "addressLocality": "Memphis", "addressRegion": "TN", "addressCountry": "US" }, "geo": { "@type": "GeoCoordinates", "latitude": "35.14242", "longitude": "-89.99605" } }, "eventAttendanceMode": "https://schema.org/OfflineEventAttendanceMode", "description": "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.\n\nIn conjunction with 'Memphis College of Art, 1936–2020: An Enduring Legacy,' the Memphis Brooks Museum of Art presents three el", "organizer": [ { "@type": "Organization", "name": "Memphis Brooks Museum of Art", "url": "https://allevents.in/org/memphis-brooks-museum-of-art/564674", "description": "Founded in 1916 & located at 1934 Poplar Ave. in historic Overton Park, Memphis Brooks Museum of Art is home to Tennessee’s oldest and largest major collection of world art. 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