The museum has its roots in the Gallery of Fine Arts, built in 1948. Six years later, in 1954, the Saloon started up the Exhibition of Contemporary Sculpture and Painting in the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (SFRY). This was the first group exhibition of the modern fine arts production of the former state. In 1960 it started up the Biennale for young people and, in 1968 it presented the International exhibition of original drawing. Since 1990 it has been presenting Croatian artists at the European and Mediterranean Biennale for young people. In 1962 the institution changed its name to the Rijeka Modern Gallery and in 2003 to the Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art. Whilst awaiting its transfer to the complex of the former Sugar refinery, the Museum has been working on a number of collections. These are a collections of works by national authors Božidar Rašica, Romolo Venucci and Slavko Grčko as well as a collection of drawings, graphics, sculptures, posters, paintings, photographs and media art. The exhibition’s activities take place in Dolac Street as well as in Mali salon, on Korzo.