Tours + Group Visits

The BPS Bus Fund provides a limited number of FREE buses for Boston Public Schools visiting the ICA. We’ll even schedule the bus for you!  

To qualify: 

• Your school must be a part of the Boston Public Schools district. All K-12 BPS schools are eligible; max 2 buses annually per school, pending available funding. Priority will be given to schools serving grades 8-12.  
• Schedule a guided visit or guided visit + Art Lab workshop between September and June. Guided visits are available on Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday mornings. Schools visiting on a self-guided basis are not eligible for bus funding.
• Plan to bring a minimum of 15 students, and a maximum of 40 students per visit. 

Apply for the BPS Bus Fund 

Funding is limited, and requests will be approved on a rolling basis throughout the school year. Applications must be received at least three weeks prior to your requested visit date. 

Questions? Email tours@icaboston.org 

During guided visits, K-12 groups explore how contemporary artists question and make sense of the world. Through thoughtfully crafted gallery lessons that offer opportunities for reflection, close looking, and critical thinking, K-12 guided visits nurture student agency, honor student curiosity, and embrace the diversity of thought and experience that students bring to the ICA. Gallery Teachers for K-12 Groups develop and teach thematic, multimodal gallery lessons based on ICA exhibitions that incorporate guided discussion and activities.

Guided visits for K-12 groups are available on Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday mornings. A maximum of 40 students per hour can be accommodated. A guided visit lasts approximately one hour and fifteen minutes including arrival and check-in. Your visit request must be received at least three weeks in advance.

Guided Visit Themes: 

Sense of Self 
How do artists represent ideas related to identity with their work? How do our own identities impact how we see and understand an artist’s work? During this Guided Visit, students will look closely at select artworks currently on view at the ICA. Students will reflect on the role of identity in contemporary art through group discussion, writing, and drawing prompts.

Guided Visit Group Rates (K–12 Youth Groups) 

Youth 18 and under are admitted FREE to the ICA. Rates cover guided visit fees.

10 students: $30 
11-20 students: $60 
21-30 students: $90 
31-40 students: $120 

Boston Public Schools and School-wide Title I schools: FREE 

See Group Visit FAQ for payment information.

Plan your Guided Visit

K-12 groups may add a hands-on, art-making workshop to their guided visit. Through this combined experience, students will spend half of their museum visit with a gallery teacher in the galleries and half of their time engaging in art-making in our studio art space – The Bank of America Art Lab. Students will participate in thematic, multimodal lessons while looking at works on view and have the opportunity to experiment with different art-making techniques inspired by the current Art Lab installation.

Guided visits + Art Lab workshops for K-12 groups are available on Tuesday and Thursday mornings. A maximum of 40 students can be accommodated per visit. A guided visit + Art Lab workshop lasts approximately two hours and fifteen minutes, including arrival and check-in. Your visit request must be received at least three weeks in advance.

Art Lab Workshops February – June 2025  

Playing Together

Create and collaborate in Playing Together, an interactive installation by Boston-based artist ponnapa prakkamakul in the Bank of America Art Lab. Groups can play a life-size game of Snakes and Ladders and explore ponnapa’s reimagination of this ancient pastime. Each student will make their own artwork that reflects on the role of play in their life. Using wooden square tiles and a variety of sculptural, textured, and colorful materials, students will create a “Joy Connector” to take home or add to a mosaic of visitor creations. 

Guided Visit + Art Lab Group Rates (K–12 Youth Groups) 

Youth 18 and under are admitted FREE to the ICA. Rates cover guided visit and materials fees. 

10 students: $80 
11-20 students: $160 
21-30 students: $240 
31-40 students: $320 
41-50 students: $400 

Guided Visit + Art Lab Group Rates (Boston Public Schools and School-wide Title I Schools) 

Youth 18 and under are admitted FREE to the ICA. Rates cover materials fees. 

10 students: $20
11-20 students: $40 
21-30 students: $60 
31-40 students: $80 
41-50 students: $100 

See Group Visit FAQ for payment information.

Plan your Art Lab Visit

Self-guided visits are self-paced and unfacilitated. A maximum of 40 students per hour can be accommodated. Your visit request must be received at least one week in advance.

Self-Guided Visit Group Rates (K–12 Youth Groups)  
Students: FREE youth 18 and under are always admitted FREE to the ICA
Chaperones: FREE see below for required ratios of chaperones to students
Additional Adult Chaperones: $16 each 

Required Ratios, Chaperones to Students 
Groups with K-7 grade students: 1 chaperone for every 5 students (1:5) 
Groups with 8-12 grade students: 1 chaperone for every 10 students (1:10)

Plan your Self-Guided Visit

Guided Visits 

Through guided close looking, discussion, and the sharing of contextual background information, Graduate Student Lecturers help students deepen their understanding of exhibition themes and artists. A limited number of guided visits are available throughout the year, dependent on Graduate Student Lecturer availability. A maximum of 20 students per hour timeslot can be accommodated. A guided visit lasts approximately one hour and fifteen minutes including arrival and check-in. Your visit request must be received at least three weeks in advance.

Guided Visit Group Rates (College + University Groups)  
College Students: $12 per student valid student ID required
Participating University Member Students: FREE with valid participating university ID  

Learn more about University Membership

See Group Visit FAQ for payment information.

Plan your Guided Visit

Self-Guided Visits

Self-guided visits are self-paced and unfacilitated. A maximum of 40 students per hour can be accommodated. Your visit request must be received at least one week in advance.

Self-Guided Visit Group Rates (College + University Groups)  
College Students: $12 per student valid student ID required
Participating University Member Students: FREE with valid participating university ID 

Learn more about University Membership

See Group Visit FAQ for payment information.

Plan your Self-Guided Visit

Guided Visits 

Through guided close looking, discussion, and the sharing of contextual background information, Graduate Student Lecturers help groups of visitors deepen their understanding of exhibition themes and artists. A limited number of guided visits  are available throughout the year, dependent on Graduate Student Lecturer availability. A maximum of 20 group members per hour timeslot can be accommodated. A guided visit lasts approximately one hour and fifteen minutes including arrival and check-in. Your visit request must be received at least three weeks in advance.

Guided Visit Group Rates (Adult + Senior Groups)   
Nonmember Adults: $16 per person plus $100 guided visit fee
Nonmember Seniors (ages 65+): $14 per person plus $100 guided visit fee 
ICA Members: FREE admission plus $100 guided visit fee 

Learn more about ICA membership

Plan Your Guided Visit​

Self-Guided Visits

Self-guided visits are self-paced and unfacilitated. A maximum of 40 group members per hour can be accommodated. Your visit request must be received at least one week in advance.

Self-Guided Visit Group Rates (Adult + Senior Groups)  
Nonmember Adults: $16 per person
Nonmember Seniors (ages 65+): $14 per person
ICA Members: FREE 

Learn more about ICA membership

See Group Visit FAQ for payment information.

Plan Your Self-Guided Visit

​

What is the ICA’s payment policy?
Payment is due in full upon arrival. To qualify for group rates, groups must schedule in advance using the Group Visit Request 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.

Does the ICA accept payment in advance?
The ICA does not accept payment in advance. Payment is due in full upon arrival.

Does the ICA offer a discounted group rate?
Yes, groups who schedule in advance using the Group Visit Request Form receive a discounted admission rate (youth 18 and under are always free). Guided visits may incur an additional fee.

If more than 50% of group members are recipients of federal disability assistance (SSDI, SSI, VA benefits, etc), Massachusetts EBT (Electronic Benefit Transfer), or WIC (Women, Infants & Children Nutrition Program), your group may be eligible for waived group visit fees. Contact us at tours@icaboston.org for more information.

My group is larger than 40. Can the ICA accommodate us for a group visit?
For some larger groups we are able to accommodate all group members by staggering arrival times. Our maximum capacity is 40 group members per hour.

Can my group schedule a visit the ICA Watershed in East Boston?  
The ICA Watershed is a seasonal space open to visitors during the summer months. Groups may schedule visits to the Watershed during its open season.

Is there a cancellation fee?  
A $50 cancellation fee will be assessed for guided visits that cancel less than 24 hours prior to their scheduled arrival time.

What will be on view when my group visits?  
All of the ICA’s current exhibitions are listed here. We cannot guarantee access to all of our galleries as some are periodically closed pending new installations.

Can I preview the exhibition before I bring my group?
We strongly recommend that teachers of registered groups preview the exhibitions before their scheduled visit. The ICA offers free admission for teacher pre-visits. Contact the Education Department at 617-478-3148 or  tours@icaboston.org for more information or to schedule a pre-visit. Please note, teacher pre-visits must be scheduled in advance in order to receive free admission.

What resources are available to prepare students for their visit to the ICA?   
The ICA’s Pre-Visit Guide for K-12 Group Visits is a social narrative that reviews what to expect on the day of your class visit to the ICA. Teacher resources provide K-12 educators with information on select exhibitions and artists, including discussion questions, curricular connections, and resources for further exploration.

What accommodations are available for my group? 
Our galleries are all accessible for visitors using mobility devices. A limited number of manual wheelchairs are available in the State Street Corporation Lobby on a first-come, first-served basis. Please make note of any required accommodations in your Group Visit Request Form. Learn more about our accessibility initiatives.

Does the ICA have parking? 
The ICA 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.

I am coming with a bus. Where is the drop-off location? 
Groups arriving via bus may drop-off directly in front of the ICA. Please direct bus drivers to access Harbor Shore Drive via Pier 4 Blvd to avoid students crossing the street after exiting the bus. See bus map

Where can my group eat lunch? 
Groups may opt to bring their lunches and eat them outdoors on the ICA’s Jill Medvedow Grandstand overlooking the harbor. There are many restaurants, coffee shops, and more close by in the Seaport. Explore the options to learn what else the neighborhood has to offer.

Are students allowed to sketch in the galleries or complete a written assignment?  
Small sketchbooks and notepads are welcome in the galleries, but please avoid propping papers on gallery walls or display cases. For artwork safety, only #2 pencils are permitted. Pens, markers, colored pencils, and other art supplies are not permitted. We recommend that students bring a hard surface to write on, such as a clipboard or notebook. The Education Department has a small number of clipboards available if requested in advance.

I am a college/university professor. Can I lecture to my students in the galleries?  
Professors may lecture or lead tours for their students in small groups of 15 or less. If planning to lecture or lead a tour for your students, indicate your intention when filling out your Group Visit Request Form. During your visit, please be mindful of where your group is gathering and avoid blocking visitor flow through the galleries.