Holiday Hours

The ICA will be closed on Thu, Nov 28 and will close early at 5 PM on Fri, Nov 29.

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Advance tickets are now available for visits through December. Book now

The Teen Arts Council presents The Current, an event that will center creativity and raise awareness for caring for ourselves, our communities, and our climate. Details will be added as the date gets closer.

Enjoy free artmaking and activities that tell stories through colors! What can the use of color tell you about a place, person, or feeling? Explore how artist Stanley Whitney employs colors and abstraction in Stanley Whitney: How High The Moon. Reserve free admission tickets online in advance*. All activities are drop-in, first come first served, space is limited.

*On Saturday, April 26, museum admission is FREE for families when accompanied by kids ages 12 and under, with up to 2 adults per family. Tickets must be reserved online in advance. Use the code PLAYDATE when reserving your ticket(s). Advance tickets are strongly recommended; day-of tickets are not guaranteed.

Stay tuned for the complete lineup of activities!

Free Admission for Youth

Youth 18 and under always receive FREE museum admission. The ICA is committed to providing access to the art and artists of our time—and we do this with the incredible support of our community. Explore the +1 Membership: a free ICA membership program for youth 0-18.

Questions? Reach out to us at familyprograms@icaboston.org.

Join us for a day of free family fun! Immerse yourself in the artwork of Sara Cwynar, featured in the galleries and on the Sandra and Gerald Fineberg Art Wall! Create artwork inspired by her photography and its layering of images, textures, and symbols from pop culture. Reserve admission tickets online in advance*. All activities are drop-in, first come first served, space is limited.  

*On Saturday, March 29, museum admission is FREE for families when accompanied by kids ages 12 and under, with up to 2 adults per family. Tickets must be reserved online in advance. Use the code PLAYDATE when reserving your ticket(s). Advance tickets are strongly recommended; day-of tickets are not guaranteed.  

Stay tuned for the complete lineup of activities!  

Free Admission for Youth

Youth 18 and under always receive FREE museum admission. The ICA is committed to providing access to the art and artists of our time—and we do this with the incredible support of our community. Explore the +1 Membership: a free ICA membership program for youth 0-18.

Questions? Reach out to us at familyprograms@icaboston.org.

Join us for a day of free family fun! Participate in art-making and activities inspired by artwork in the exhibition Portraits from the ICA Collection. Reserve free admission tickets online in advance*. All activities are drop-in, first come first served, space is limited.  

*On Saturday, February 22, museum admission is FREE for families when accompanied by kids ages 12 and under, with up to 2 adults per family. Tickets must be reserved online in advance. Use the code PLAYDATE when reserving your ticket(s). Advance tickets are strongly recommended; day-of tickets are not guaranteed.  

Stay tuned for the complete lineup of activities!  

Free Admission for Youth

Youth 18 and under always receive FREE museum admission. The ICA is committed to providing access to the art and artists of our time—and we do this with the incredible support of our community. Explore the +1 Membership: a free ICA membership program for youth 0-18.

Questions? Reach out to us at familyprograms@icaboston.org.

Enjoy free artmaking and activities that showcase performance art! Dive into the art of costuming and create your own fashion designs in Costuming for the Stage and Screen, developed in partnership with the Boston Ballet. Reserve free admission tickets online in advance*. All activities are drop-in, first come first served, space is limited.  

*On Saturday, January 25, museum admission is FREE for families when accompanied by kids ages 12 and under, with up to 2 adults per family. Tickets must be reserved online in advance. Use the code PLAYDATE when reserving your ticket(s). Advance tickets are strongly recommended; day-of tickets are not guaranteed.  
  

Stay tuned for the complete lineup of activities!  

Free Admission for Youth

Youth 18 and under always receive FREE museum admission. The ICA is committed to providing access to the art and artists of our time—and we do this with the incredible support of our community. Explore the +1 Membership: a free ICA membership program for youth 0-18.

Questions? Reach out to us at familyprograms@icaboston.org.

The East Boston Artists Group presents Harboring Creativity at the ICA Watershed. Featuring the work of 45 local emerging and established artists who live, work, or create in East Boston, this presentation is a wonderful reflection of the creativity and innovation of East Boston and its surrounding neighborhoods. 

Learn more

Join us at Seaport Studio to eat snacks, snap a photo in our photo booth, and explore and make art in our teen galleries. Find out about paid opportunities to be creative, build career skills, and connect with community in our photography, film making, music production, and creative leadership programs.

First 50 teens receive a pair of Converse to customize.

While you’re in the neighborhood, check out Youth Fest! presented by Boston Music Project.

Relax during the holiday weekend, and stream family-friendly short films created by kids, for kids, curated by the Boston International Kids Film Festival! The films will be available through the ICA website from Wednesday, November 27 through Sunday, December 1.

If you would like to receive a reminder and the link to the films when they go live, you can register here. 

Sign up to be updated when the films go live

Please note there is no on-site Play Date this month. If you are in Seaport, please join us in our Art Lab installation and activity, Courage to Care!

Featured Films

The Scramble (3:03)
Angelina Retodo, United States 

A ninja chef goes on a journey to find a rare dragon egg and cook the ultimate omelet. Along the way, she encounters a mysterious stranger who stands in the way of her culinary dream. 

Drawing Land (7:40)
Tony Collingwood, United Kingdom  

We join an artist as he draws a little character called a Splot. The Splot begins to talk back to the artist as he draws. Soon we are on a journey through the sketchbook searching for the Splot’s special colour, meeting lots of fun characters along the way. 

Shepherd Shippington and the Missing Mutts (3:52)
Erim Xolo Cetinel, United States 

Upon discovering the dogs of a seaside town mysteriously disappear, it is up to a group of children to rescue their beloved hounds. 

Two One Two (4:10)
Shira Avni, Canada 

Two One Two, by award-winning filmmaker Shira Avni, combines shimmering clay on glass animation with personal archives in this deeply intimate, experimental animated documentary love letter to motherhood, parenting on the spectrum, and two headed monsters everywhere. 

The Queen’s Flowers (11:32)
Ciara Leinaala Lacy, United States 

A magical take on a true story, The Queen’s Flowers is an animated short adventure for kids that follows Emma, a native Hawaiian girl in 1915 Honolulu, as she makes a special gift for the last monarch of Hawai`i, Queen Lili`uokalani.  

Sprout (9:28)
Carolina Bermúdez, United States 

Sprout is a light-hearted 3D animated short created for children. The story follows Sprout, a tiny robot, who quickly becomes overwhelmed by his list of garden tasks that he’s unable to complete. After chaos ensues, misfit animals turned friends offer support, and Sprout learns that it’s ok to accept help from others. Together, Sprout and his new friends accomplish all of their tasks in the garden through teamwork.  

Bridge: My Little Friends (9:30)
Kazuyuki Ishihara, Japan 

‘I’ll take you to see Shiro. That’s a promise!” Jin, a cat, promised Mugi, who was saddened by the loss of his beloved dog Shiro. Jin, who loves Mugi, heard an anecdote about the “Rainbow Bridge” from his owner, Kageyama, and decided to take Mugi to see Shiro at the foot of the rainbow! Will Jin be able to save Mugi from his grief? Jin invites the pigeons and squirrels in the neighborhood to join him on his grand mission!

About the Artists

Filmmakers Collaborative:

Founded in 1987, Filmmakers Collaborative is a tax-exempt organization that provides low-cost fiscal sponsorship to independent media makers. It is now the grantee of record for thousands of media projects across the country. Our mission is to sponsor and support the independent media community through fiscal sponsorship as well as offering programming opportunities that bring people together for learning and networking. Filmmakers Collaborative not only offers fiscal sponsorship but also actively engages with youth through our dynamic programs, including the Boston International Kids Film Festival and FC Academy, our year-round student filmmaking program. We believe every child has a unique story to share and provide them with a supportive platform to explore their creativity and find their voice through the art of filmmaking.

The Boston International Kids Film Festival (BIKFF):

The Boston International Kids Film Festival highlights the talent of independent filmmakers everywhere while inspiring young people to share their own stories with the world. Filmmakers Collaborative created the BIKFF in 2013 with a goal of showing kids that making a film can be a powerful way to tell a story, express your emotions, state a point of view and (more importantly) to have fun! By screening amazing student-made films from around the world while at the same time offering these young filmmakers a look at professionally-made films created just for them, we are enabling the next generation of filmmakers to realize the power and potential of media. Join us on November 22—24, 2024 to celebrate the 12th annual Boston International Kids Film Festival!

Boston International Kids Film Festival logo

Questions? Reach us at familyprograms@icaboston.org.

Your support helps keeps programs like this – both virtual and in-person – free and accessible. If you are able, please consider becoming a member or making a one-time gift to support the ICA. 

Veronica Robles Cultural Center (VROCC) presents “2024 Dia de Muertos,” New England’s largest multi-day “Day of the Dead Celebration,” offering a series of events to honor our ancestors and deceased loved ones. On Sunday, November 3, celebrate the last day of programs with us in two locations in East Boston: The day will begin at the ICA Watershed with a presentation of altars created by local artists and community members and will include a Catrina’s Parade to Central Square Park in East Boston. The Day of the Dead festival at Central Square Park will feature live performances, artisans, local food vendors, and ongoing shuttle bus trips to the ICA Watershed to view the altars. This year VROCC marks its 12th year bringing this rich tradition for everyone to enjoy.

Schedule

  • Altar exhibition at the ICA Watershed | 11 AM–4 PM
  • Catrina’s Parade from ICA Watershed to Central Square Park, East Boston | 1 PM
  • Day of the Dead Festival in Central Square Park | 11 AM–4 PM

Check out VROCC’s full series of “Day of the Dead” events

Note: ICA Water Shuttles will not be running.

Offrenda illustration

Try our Day of the Dead activity

Create an Ofrenda!

Crea una Ofrenda!

Veronica Robles Cultural Center Tree Logo

Join us for artmaking, workshops, and activities inspired by our newest exhibitions! Move with Urbanity Dance in an all-ages workshop that explores creative movement. Create your own universe that reflects the concentric form of The Last Transmission, the central artwork in Tau Lewis: Spirit Level. Relax while being surrounded by art with story time in the galleries. Reserve free admission tickets online in advance*. All activities are drop-in, first come first served, space is limited.

*On Saturday, October 26, museum admission is FREE for families when accompanied by kids ages 12 and under, with up to 2 adults per family. Tickets must be reserved online in advance. Use the code PLAYDATE when reserving your ticket(s). Advance tickets are strongly recommended; day-of tickets are not guaranteed.

Please note, as a contemporary art museum, the ICA serves as a forum for a broad range of ideas and perspectives. The exhibitions on view in our galleries rotate regularly, and at times artworks may address difficult topics, evoke strong emotions, or contain mature content. If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to familyprograms@icaboston.org.

Infinite Universes in the Art Lab | 10 AM–3 PM

1st Floor, Bank of America Art Lab

Create your own universe inspired by the circular, repeating motifs of The Last Transmission by Tau Lewis. Using paper fasteners and decorative materials, layer the levels of your universe to make them rotate around each other, revealing and concealing different designs as you cycle through. Artmaking is drop-in on a first come first served basis, space is limited.

Dance Workshops with Urbanity Dance | Timing TBA

2nd Floor, Theater

Join a teacher from Urbanity Dance in a workshop for all ages! Play through experimentation with movement! Play with perspective, form, and creative collaboration in a group workshop for all ages. Participation is on a first come, first served basis, space is limited.

Books and Looks | 11:30 AM + 12:30 PM

4th Floor, Galleries

Join our staff for a guided reading of family-friendly storybooks! Find a new story or revisit an old favorite, all while surrounded by exciting works of art.  

About the Artists

Urbanity Dance

Urbanity Dance is a nonprofit arts organization that exists to inspire, engage, and empower individuals and communities through the art of dance and movement. Founded by Director Betsi Graves, Urbanity Dance was created in 2011 in the spirit of three goals: 1) to propel contemporary dance to the forefront of Boston’s cultural landscape; 2) to serve an unmet demand for affordable and accessible dance training; and 3) to leverage dance as a tool to foster bodily autonomy and creativity in local schools and community spaces. Through three interconnected pillars of Company, School, and Community, the organization offers a resilient, powerful community platform that builds synergy, investment, and connection.

Free Admission for Youth

Youth 18 and under always receive FREE museum admission. The ICA is committed to providing access to the art and artists of our time—and we do this with the incredible support of our community. Explore the +1 Membership: a free ICA membership program for youth 0-18.

Questions? Reach out to us at familyprograms@icaboston.org.