Vision

Nomadic by design and non-collecting by choice, the Institute of Contemporary Art San Francisco (ICA SF) is an arts organization dedicated to commissioning and producing boundary-pushing museum-scale contemporary art for all.

Committed to evolving alongside our city, we strive to meet the changing needs of our communities through ambitious, site-responsive projects that reimagine the relationship between art, architecture, and civic life.

We believe in the power of art to revitalize San Francisco’s cultural landscape. We offer artists from around the world opportunities to push boundaries and experiment with new ideas. By embracing an intentionally nomadic model that leverages strategic partnerships and community engagement, ICA SF operates with a nimbleness that allows us to respond dynamically to the city’s evolving needs and generates cultural momentum, proving that temporary interventions can catalyze positive lasting change in neighborhoods and communities. Admission is always free.

I am so excited to share with you the official launch of ICA SF’s intentionally nomadic model. This move is based on all of our learnings from the last 4 years of being a nimble arts organization, founded to be “always under construction.”

ICA SF was founded as a new type of organization, with a goal to rethink what it means to be a museum. In a city as dynamic as San Francisco, pushing boundaries is in our DNA, and our move downtown illuminated this vision. We witnessed the excitement of an expanded audience, reminding us of the powerful impact that free, high-quality exhibitions can have on the revitalization of a city. It became clear: our greatest strength isn’t tied to a single location, but to our ability to activate spaces with purpose and bring people together through contemporary art.

Moving to The Cube was, in fact, a shift in mindset toward embracing an intentionally nomadic model, one that is responsive to the needs of artists and San Francisco alike. ICA SF is now fully leaning into this model by preparing to activate multiple sites across the city with ambitious, experimental art experiences. In this new landscape, vacant space, public spaces, and significant architectural sites around the Bay Area create incredible opportunities for artists to realize projects.

Our experiences over the last four years also taught us that innovative partnerships can yield the most ambitious and wildly creative outcomes. Through an intentionally nomadic model and citywide presence, we can collaborate with a multitude of businesses, institutions, and communities to bring art, energy, and conversation to wherever San Francisco needs it most.

We are excited to share our upcoming projects with you. Stay tuned for our next exciting announcements!

And to our incredible supporters: Thank you to everyone who made our game-changing move downtown possible! You showed us where our greatest strength lies. Taking that leap increased our visibility, made us a crucial civic partner, and reaffirmed the power of activating found spaces. Help us continue our impact across downtown and across SF as we do this over and over again. You made our evolving model possible. Thank you, and help us keep going!

— Alison Gass, Founding Director and Chief Curator

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