School Tours

Students explore the ICA’s architecture, special exhibitions and/or the permanent collection with a guided tour, then delve into their own hands-on investigations and problem-solving with a related art making activity in the Bank of America Art Lab. Organized around themes exploring ideas, materials and processes in contemporary art, architecture and design, these combined Tour + Art Lab programs are offered in two-hour blocks (approximately one hour gallery visit and one hour Art Lab.) This combined program is offered on the following days
and times. Three weeks advance notice is required to schedule.

Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday
10 am – 12 pm, 11 am – 1 pm, or 12 – 2 pm
Thursdays only, 4 – 6 pm (for after-school groups)

To book these tours, please return to the Group Visits page, fill out the registration form and return it to the Tour Program Manager as instructed. Please note that the form must be recieved at least 3 weeks prior to the tour date.

Art Lab Themes

Architecture and Design
Our building is unique. Step inside and learn about the architects’ design for this work of art. Notice the architects' choice of materials--inside and outside, discover their solutions for practical and engineering challenges, and gain an appreciation for how our museum relates to its surroundings and to the city of Boston. Following a guided tour, students will work with similar design concepts on a smaller scale in The Bank of America Art Lab. 

Introduction to Contemporary Art
See how contemporary artists often get creative ideas from non-traditional materials or from using traditional materials in unusual ways. Find out how and why ICA Collection and special exhibition artists such as Cornelia Parker, Tara Donovan and Ugo Rondinone transform ordinary materials into noteworthy works of art. In the Bank of America Art Lab, students use imagination coupled with techniques and processes like those of artists on view to create sculptural collages inspired by their own identity and interests or by another theme.

 

Tours and Art Lab activities are made possible by support from Bank of America, The Fuller Foundation, the U.S. Institute of Museum and Library Services, the JPMorgan Chase Foundation, and the William E. and Bertha E. Schrafft Charitable Trust.