ICA Boston: Institute of Contemporary Art

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Hours:	Hours Vary see below
Ages:	Kids, Teens, Adults
In/Outdoor:	Indoor
Cost:	$$ see below
Category:	Museums

Other Ideas: Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame; Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art; EcoTarium; Discovery Museum; Old South Meeting House

ica boston institute of contemporary art photo

ica boston institute of contemporary art photo

The ICA and its impressive waterfront home are 'poised to capture the stimulation of contemporary culture.'

The museum offers exhibits on contemporary photography, painting, sculpture, architecture and video performance art in styles that appeal to the youngest viewer. Take a look at some ICA exhibits both past and present.

Yayoi Kusama's famous Love is Calling: Mirrored Room exhibit is now a part of the museum's permanent collection.

Most importantly, check out the new Play Dates for Kids, a wonderful ongoing family program with art-making, storytelling, performance, films and building tours.

View the ICA Events Calendar

Strollers are permitted throughout the museum. There are changing tables in both the women's and men's restrooms on the first floor

History
For nearly 65 years, the Institute of Contemporary Art has been introducing to Boston and the country some of the most important contemporary artists of our time, from Pablo Picasso and Robert Rauschenberg to Andy Warhol and Cindy Sherman.

Today, the ICA continues at the vanguard of contemporary art with its excellent program of exhibitions by cutting-edge artists and Vita Brevis projects that bring art into public spaces.

Other attraction that are between 7-15 minutes away include Quincy Market, Old North Church, Boston Children's Museum, The Institute of Contemporary Arts (ICA) Boston Tea Party Ship & Museum, The USS Constitution, Boston Public Garden,The Boston State House, The Museum of Fine Arts, and Fenway Park.

During the summer months, visitors can catch a water shuttle across the harbor to visit Piers Park and the ICA Watershed. Enjoy lots of wide open grassy space, spectacular views of the Boston skyline, a playground, and free access to the ICA Watershed Galleries.

Find lots more ideas on fun things to do with kids in Boston.

There are many interesting museums to visit in Boston - peruse our Boston Museums guide to find out which one you should visit next.

HOURS

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MUSEUM, STORE + CAFÉ HOURS
Tuesday + Wednesday, 10 am–5 pm
Thursday + Friday, 10 am–9 pm
Saturday + Sunday, 10 am–5 pm

Closed Mondays, EXCEPT on the following national holidays:
Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Presidents' Day, Patriot's Day, Memorial Day, Labor Day, and Columbus Day.

Closed Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's Day.
Open Independence Day, July 4.

COST

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$15 general admission
$13 seniors
$10 students
FREE members and youth 17 and under
FREE for all from 5 to 9 pm every Thursday for ICA Free Thursday Nights
FREE for families (up to 2 adults accompanied by children 12 and under) on the last Saturday of each month with the exception of December.

View Rates

WEBSITE

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www.icaboston.org

LOCATION

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25 Harbor Shore Drive, Boston, MA, 02210 map
Phone: (617) 478-3100

By car
A note on parking: Parkings is at meters or adjacent (paid) lots. There is no free parking except when meters are not in effect.
From Logan and Route 1A South: Follow the signs towards I-90 West – Ted Williams Tunnel. Take the Ted Williams Tunnel to Exit 25 “South Boston.” At the top of the ramp, continue straight crossing Congress Street and take a left onto Northern Avenue at the next light. At the first light take a right to stay on Northern Avenue. The ICA is immediately on your right.

From the west via Mass Pike: Follow I-90 East to Exit 24A, “South Station.” At the top of the ramp, continue straight on Atlantic Avenue, passing South Station and then the Federal Reserve Bank on your right. Cross Congress Street and then take a right at the next light onto Seaport Boulevard. At the first light, take a left onto Sleeper Street and then a right onto Northern Avenue. The ICA is on the left about two-thirds of the way down the street.

From points south via I-93: Heading northbound on I-93 towards Boston, take Exit 18. At the second traffic signal take a right onto the South Boston Bypass Road. Take a left at the second signal (a flashing yellow signal) onto West Service Road which takes you to Congress Street. Cross Congress Street and then take a right onto Seaport Boulevard. At the first light take a left onto Northern Avenue. The ICA is immediately on your right.

From points north via I-93: Heading southbound on I-93 towards Boston, take Exit 23 “Purchase Street.” Stay in the left lane, taking the first left at the end of the ramp onto Seaport Boulevard. At the next light, take a left onto Sleeper Street and then a right onto Northern Avenue. The ICA is about two-thirds of the way down the street on your left.

Public Transportation
Take the Red Line to South Station. At South Station take the Silver Line to Courthouse stop. Once above ground, walk down Seaport Boulevard toward the World Trade Center (away from the city), turning left onto Northern Avenue at the light. The ICA is on the right side of the street immediately around the corner.

TIPS

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The Boston area is known for all kinds of weather, so visiting a museum is one of many fun things to do on a rainy day in Boston.

REVIEWS

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First ICA Playdate - great

I finally got to an ICA playdate -- I had always been daunted by the lack of parking, etc. It was very good. The projects were a little more sophisticated, which was great as my daughter's outgrowing some of the basic stuff they're doing at the museums. There were several things to work on all within a theme. Even if I paid for lot parking,. ti would have been reasonable, as the playdates are free for adults and children. You can even you can even walk to the Children's Museum. The cafe looks, which looks like a snack bar, is really more a restaurant and takes time-- a better option might be to bring food and sit outside on the harbor walk.