Visit

Wed, May 22, 2019
Open today, 11AM–8PM.
Gallery Hours
  • Mon CLOSED
  • TueCLOSED
  • Wed11AM-8PM
  • Thu11AM-6PM
  • Fri11AM-6PM
  • Sat11AM-6PM
  • Sun11AM-6PM
Admission
ICA is always Free. For All. Free admission is courtesy of Amanda and Glenn Fuhrman.
Address
Institute of Contemporary Art,
University of Pennsylvania
118 S. 36th Street
Philadelphia, PA 19104
Contact
Phone: (215) 898-7108
Directions

Take city bus #21 to 36th and Walnut Streets.

Take any green line trolley (except #10) to 36th Street.

Walk west on Market Street to 36th Street, then south to Sansom green line trolley (take any except #10) to 36th and Sansom Streets. Market/Frankford Subway west to 34th and Market Streets.

Walk west on Market Street to 36th Street, then south to Sansom green line trolley (take any except #10) to 36th and Sansom Streets. Market/Frankford Subway west to 34th and Market Streets.

Starting off on 676 West, follow signs for 76E/Philadelphia International Airport. Take Exit 345 toward 30th Street/ Market Street, take Market Street to 36th Street. Turn Left onto 36th Street, cross Chestnut Street. ICA is on your right at the next corner, 36th and Sansom Streets.

Take New Jersey Turnpike South to Exit 4 and get on 295 South. Follow signs to Walt Whitman Bridge and cross the bridge. Take I-76 West to 30th St. exit and make a left on Market St. to 36th St.

Take I-76 East to Philadelphia. Follow I-76 to 676 East to Exit 345 (3oth Street Station Exit). Keep right to stay on ramp and take ramp to Market Street. Follow directions from Market Street above.

Take I-95 North to 676 West. Follow directions from 676 West above. From South Jersey/Atlantic City. Proceed to Benjamin Franklin Bridge. Cross Bridge and merge onto 676 West. Follow directions from 676 West.

Public parking lots are located adjacent to the museum and in the surrounding area, and metered parking is available on the street. ICA is located on the campus of the University of Pennsylvania at the corner of 36th and Sansom Streets (between Chestnut and Walnut Streets), seven blocks west of the Schuykill Expressway (I-76) from the 30th Street or South Street Exits.

Tours

ICA offers two formats to engage with the artwork on display, each designed to enhance the overall viewer experience.

Please note that we require at least two weeks advance notice in order to accommodate guided tour requests.

Exhibition Tour

Exhibition tours follow the traditional museum model where guests are led through the galleries by a docent who provides context for the exhibitions and the artwork. At the conclusion of a tour, guests have the opportunity to deepen their understanding of the experience through a brief question and answer session facilitated by their guide. Exhibition tours are conducted primarily by Penn graduate students and professional staff. ICA Exhibition tours are generally 1-hour long.  



To schedule an Exhibition Tour please complete this form.

Pennsight Tour

Pennsight is a new student-led initiative designed to enhance visual acuity through art. Pennsight tours are facilitated by undergraduate docents trained in Visual Thinking Strategies (VTS), an innovative approach to viewing art that encourages critical thinking, evidence-seeking, and empathetic communication through collaborative conversation. Acquiring its foundational structure from cognitive psychology and art education, VTS has been integral in advancing fields such as medicine, design, education, and business.

Pennsight tours are ideal for:

  • Deepening your understanding of contemporary art in a supportive environment.
  • Improving public speaking and active listening skills.
  • Strengthening group dynamics.
  • Enhancing your ability to consider possibilities that extend beyond the norm.

A 1-hour tour consists of three 15-minute viewing sessions, each devoted to a different work of art. Using the open-ended, inquiry-based VTS model, docents guide participants through unpacking the layered meanings of contemporary art, discovering their own connection with the work in the process. 

During this pilot year, Pennsight tours will only be available to university student groups and classes. Professors and student leaders looking for a creative educational experience are encouraged to participate.


To schedule a Pennsight tour please complete this form.

Grade School Visitors

  • Please bring chaperones for visitors under the age of 18.
  • We recommend 1 adult for every 5–7 students.
  • Teachers are encouraged to preview exhibitions prior to a tour.

Cost

  • ICA tours are free to the Penn community and The School District of Philadelphia.
  • For all other groups there is a $50 fee (waivers are available for certain groups). 

Special Accommodations

ICA is committed to making our museum accessible to everyone. 
If there are unique circumstances specific to your group, please let us know how we can assist.  

To inquire about a fee waiver, special accommodations, or for general questions contact:
James E. Britt, Jr., Director of Public Engagement 
jbrittjr@ica.upenn.edu
215-898-5304

Pennsight is made possible by a generous grant from the Sachs Program for Arts Innovation.

Where to Stay

The Le Méridien Philadelphia, a boutique hotel located in Center City Philadelphia is ICA’s official Unlock Art partner hotel. Originally a YMCA, the hotel is housed in a 10-story Georgian revival-style structure with historical flair and is located in the heart of the city’s business district and less than one block from the Pennsylvania convention center.

Accessibility

ICA is committed to providing experiences that are accessible and inclusive for all visitors.

For information, or to notify our staff of any needs prior to your visit, please call the front desk during regular public hours at (215) 898-7108 or email us at hello@ica.upenn.edu.

Group Visits

Thinking of bringing your class, club, office or alumni group to ICA? If your group is ten persons or more you must fill out a Group Visit Form at least 24 hours in advance of your arrival at ICA.

Due to gallery size and security concerns admittance cannot be guaranteed without receiving your form 24 hours prior to your arrival. You can use this same form to schedule a guided tour.

Group Visits are available during regular ICA gallery hours.

Gallery Hours

Wednesday 11AM–8PM, Thursday through Sunday 11AM–6PM

Grade School Visitors

Please bring chaperones for visitors under the age of 18. We recommend 1 adult for every 5-7 students.

Plan a Group Visit

James E. Britt, Jr., Director of Public Engagement 
jbrittjr@ica.upenn.edu
215-898-5304

Sustainability

Learn about recycling and sustainability on Penn’s campus.