ICA has served as the University of Pennsylvania’s preeminent venue for contemporary art and culture since our founding in 1963 by the visionary Dean of the School of Fine Arts (today’s Weitzman School of Design), Holmes Perkins. As part of a larger campus community, our artist-centric program is grounded in the research and intellectual rigor of a premier academic institution.

As a student at Penn, this is your space to learn about and interact with new, exciting ideas while experiencing the innovative work of under-recognized artists from around the world.

ICA is proud to offer complimentary memberships to all Penn Graduate and Undergraduate students. Members receive

• Access to private exhibition previews with artists and curators 
• Early announcements about each season’s exhibitions and programs
• 25% discount on all ICA publications
• Personal invitations to exclusive ICA events

Claim your free student membership today! For more information, please contact Caroline Tweedy at ctweedy@ica.upenn.edu.

ICA Guided Tours are free for Penn Students and faculty. They are interactive exchanges designed to enhance your experience and understanding of the artwork on view. Each tour is led by an ICA Gallery Ambassador who will leverage their skills as an art historian and/or artist to provide additional context for and engage your group in dialogue around the art.

To request a guided tour with an ICA Gallery Ambassador complete this form. 

The ICA Student Board is a group of undergraduate students that create and promote active, participatory experiences for students to engage with the art and artists of our time. Working collaboratively with staff, ICASB members lead social media campaigns and outreach efforts,  interact with artists, curators and arts professionals throughout Philadelphia, and develop programs with other student groups and community partners. 

For additional information about the ICA Student Board, please contact Public Engagement Project Manager & Administrative Coordinator Brittany Clottey at bclottey@ica.upenn.edu.

The Student Board works in collaboration with student groups across Penn to produce programs and showcases at ICA. To submit a program request please complete this form.

ICA offers year-round opportunities for Penn students, local artists and arts practitioners to gain valuable museum experience, while engaging with the Philadelphia arts community at-large.

The Gallery Ambassador (formerly Graduate Lecturers) position is a paid opportunity to engage in meaningful dialogue with ICA visitors about critical issues pertaining to the arts while enhancing your own creative and teaching practice. The position is open to 5 local artists and 5 Penn Graduate students each year who receive training on facilitation, artful thinking, de-escalation, and in-gallery curriculum building. Ambassadors also work closely with ICA’s Public Engagement and Curatorial Departments to organize and lead exhibition-related tours and 2-3 workshops as part of the ongoing Extra Credit series.

Student interns and work studies play an integral role in ICA’s mission to provide access for all to engage and connect with art. Through these programs, students gain access to the inner-dynamics of museum administration, often working closely with staff on curatorial research, planning public programs, and marketing campaigns. 

Penn students who are interested in work study opportunities should visit the Student Financial Services website and search for the positions under the Institute of Contemporary Art.

For more information on summer internships, please see visit the SHIP website for updates and to check when applications become available.