John Akomfrah, Purple, 2017. Six-channel HD color video installation with 15.1 surround sound; 62 minutes. Installation view, John Akomfrah: Purple, Museo Nacional Thyssen-Bornemisza, Madrid, 2018. Courtesy Lisson Gallery and Museo Nacional Thyssen-Bornemisza. © Smoking Dogs Films
Photo by Ally Schmaling.
Photo by Ally Schmaling
MORE THAN A TOUR
Join our guides for dynamic, out-of-the-box, and creative conversations about works on view.
Please select one of the visit types below to begin planning your experience. For more information about any of our tour options, email tours@icaboston.org.
Guided Visit at the ICA Watershed
Youth groups will explore topics including community, climate change, food, and home during discussion-based tours led by ICA Educators. Guided visits at the ICA Watershed last about 1 hour and 15 minutes (includes check-in, orientation, and tour). Maximum number of participants in a group is 30 students with at least 3 chaperones. Guided visits at the Watershed are only available Tuesday–Friday, 11 AM–5 PM. Reservations are required at least 3 weeks in advance.
Please note that the full run length for Purple is 62 minutes. Guided tours will not include a full viewing of this work.
Watershed Guided Group Visit Rates (K-12 groups):
Admission to the Watershed is free for all. Rates cover tour fees.
Groups that serve BPS or Title I Youth
FREE
Groups that do not serve BPS or Title I Youth
Getting to the ICA Watershed:
Groups will coordinate their own transportation to the ICA Watershed, located at 256 Marginal Street in the Boston Harbor Shipyard and Marina, East Boston.
Groups can reach the Watershed by public transportation (MBTA Blue Line to Maverick). Large buses may drop off and pick up in the Boston Harbor Shipyard and Marina, but please note this is an active shipyard and group leaders should exercise caution when unloading their groups. Accessible parking is available at the Watershed; there is no public parking.
Click here to download the Youth Group Discussion Guide for the ICA Watershed, summer 2019.
PLAN YOUR GUIDED VISIT AT THE WATERSHED
Self-Guided Visit at the ICA Watershed (grade 9-12 only)
Groups of 10-30 students with chaperones may visit the Watershed independent of a tour guide. Please note: self-guided visits are limited to groups with students who are high-school age (grades 9-12) or older. Please schedule at least 1 week in advance.
Watershed Self-Guided Group Visit Rates:
Admission to the Watershed is free for all.
Getting to the ICA Watershed:
Groups will coordinate their own transportation to the ICA Watershed, located at 256 Marginal Street in the Boston Harbor Shipyard and Marina, East Boston.
Groups can reach the Watershed by public transportation (MBTA Blue Line to Maverick). Large buses may drop off and pick up in the Boston Harbor Shipyard and Marina, but please note this is an active shipyard and group leaders should exercise caution when unloading their groups. Accessible parking is available at the Watershed; there is no public parking.
Click here to download the Youth Group Discussion Guide for the ICA Watershed, summer 2019.
PLAN YOUR SELF-GUIDED VISIT AT THE WATERSHED
Guided Visit at the ICA Watershed
Tours led by trained educators, who, through an interactive approach, provide social and cultural contexts for understanding contemporary art. Guided experiences at the Watershed will also include an introduction to the rich history of the shipyard where the Watershed is located.
Guided visits at the ICA Watershed last about 1 hour and 15 minutes (includes check-in and tour). Guided visits at the Watershed are only available Tuesday–Friday, 11 AM–5 PM. Maximum number of participants in a group is 25. Reservations are required at least 3 weeks in advance.
Please note that the full run length for Purple is 62 minutes. Guided tours will not include a full viewing of this work.
Groups interested in using the ICA water shuttle service for transportation between the Seaport and East Boston must coordinate their visit at least 4 weeks in advance. Maximum capacity for these groups is 25 people and is subject to availability. See rates below. Water shuttle service is provided through Boston Harbor Cruises. A step on and three steps down are required to board; wheelchairs and strollers may be brought on board if they are collapsible and light enough for crew to handle. Boston Harbor Cruises crew is available for assistance. The Piers Park Dock in East Boston is 0.2 miles from the ICA Watershed in the Boston Harbor Shipyard and Marina.
If you would like to plan a visit at both the ICA Watershed and the ICA Seaport, please contact tours@icaboston.org for more information.
Watershed Guided Group Visit Rates (College, Adult, and Senior):
Admission to the Watershed is free for all. Rates cover tour fees.
College students (member) without water shuttle | Free
College students without water shuttle | $3
College students with water shuttle | $8
College students (member) with water shuttle | Free
Adults and seniors (member) without water shuttle | Free
Adults and seniors without water shuttle | $3
Adults with water shuttle | $14
Seniors with water shuttle | $12
Adults and seniors (member) with water shuttle | Free
Getting to the ICA Watershed
The ICA Watershed is located at 256 Marginal Street in the Boston Harbor Shipyard and Marina. Visitors can reach the Watershed by public transportation (blue line to Maverick), private water taxis, and by foot. Please note: For safety reasons, bicycles are not permitted within the shipyard. Bike racks and a Blue Bike station are available at nearby Piers Park. Accessible parking is available at the Watershed; there is no public parking.
PLAN YOUR GUIDED VISIT AT THE WATERSHED
Self-Guided Visit at the ICA Watershed
Groups of 10-30 visitors may visit the Watershed independent of a tour guide. Please schedule at least 1 week in advance.
Watershed Guided Group Visit Rates (College, Adult, and Senior):
Admission to the Watershed is free for all.
Getting to the ICA Watershed
The ICA Watershed is located at 256 Marginal Street in the Boston Harbor Shipyard and Marina. Visitors can reach the Watershed by public transportation (blue line to Maverick), private water taxis, and by foot. Please note: For safety reasons, bicycles are not permitted within the shipyard. Bike racks and a Blue Bike station are available at nearby Piers Park. Accessible parking is available at the Watershed; there is no public parking.
Visiting both ICA Watershed and the ICA/Boston (Seaport)
Groups scheduling self-guided visits at the ICA Watershed may also arrange for a self-guided visit to the ICA/Boston (Seaport). Please contact tours@icaboston.org for more information. Additional rates may apply.
If a group is interested in using the ICA water shuttle service for transportation between the Seaport and East Boston they must coordinate their visit at least 4 weeks in advance. Water shuttle reservations are unavailable on Thursday nights. Maximum capacity for these groups is 25 people and is subject to availability. Water shuttle service is provided through Boston Harbor Cruises. A step on and three steps down are required to board; wheelchairs and strollers may be brought on board if they are collapsible and light enough for crew to handle. Boston Harbor Cruises crew is available for assistance. The Piers Park Dock in East Boston is 0.2 miles from the ICA Watershed in the Boston Harbor Shipyard and Marina.
PLAN YOUR SELF-GUIDED VISIT AT THE WATERSHED
Payment is due in full upon arrival. To qualify for group rates, groups must schedule in advance using the Group Visit Registration Form and arrive and pay at the ICA together as a group. Cash, credit cards and checks made payable to the Institute of Contemporary Art are all acceptable forms of payment.
The ICA does not accept payment in advance. However, a credit card may be put on file in advance of the visit to be charged the day of visit.
A $25 cancellation fee will be assessed to scheduled Guided Visit groups that cancel less than 24 hours prior to their scheduled appointment time.
The ICA Watershed’s current exhibitions are listed here.
We strongly recommend that teachers of registered groups preview the exhibits before their scheduled visit. The ICA Watershed is free and teachers may visit during open hours.
Accessible parking is available at the Watershed; there is no public parking. The ICA/Boston (Seaport) does not have on-site parking and please be aware that parking availability in the area is limited, especially on weekdays. We encourage visitors to use public transportation whenever possible. For more information on parking and directions, click here.
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