The San Jose Institute of Contemporary Art (ICA) is an art gallery founded in 1980 that is located in downtown San Jose, California.
The San Jose ICA is a non-profit organization, and is a member and community supported art gallery. The San Jose ICA is known as an easily accessible contemporary art space for all ages and backgrounds. They are a big part of the urban fabric of the community. They participate in the South First Friday gallery walks as well as host member and community discussions about their current exhibits. The San Jose ICA is free admission and offers various events such as opening receptions, docent tours, tours for school groups, and Talking Art Lecture Series.
History
Established in 1980, San Jose ICA calls home to downtown San Jose. In the year 2000 the San Jose ICA came under the leadership of Cathy Kimball, former curator at the San Jose Museum of Art. Kimball helped the San Jose ICA to become a better known cultural institution in the Bay Area by presenting the works of renowned artists from the United States and around the world. After working for years toward their long term goal of acquiring a permanent home, in 2006 the San Jose ICA purchased a 7,500-square-foot building in the SoFA (South First Area) Arts District of downtown San Jose. 3,700-square-feet of gallery space within were divided into 3 different interchangeable gallery spaces that are in cohesive relation to one another. With the increase of gallery space, it allowed for a more continuous and long term exhibition space for site specific, solo, and group installations, a first in the San Jose ICA’s history.