Institute of Contemporary Art at the University of Pennsylvania

The basics

If rubbing shoulders with the cool kids—and taking in the very latest of the contemporary art world—is what you’re after, then Philadelphia’s Institute of Contemporary Art, located on the University of Pennsylvania’s campus, is the place to be. Housed in a modern building with high ceilings and natural light, this non-collecting institution makes artistic accessibility its mission.

Despite its collegiate affiliation, the art hall isn’t limited to students. As one of the highlights of Philadelphia’s University City neighborhood, the ICA is a perfect cultural stop-off for anyone exploring the area’s scholarly sights.

Things to know before you go

• The ICA is free for all to visit, and you don’t need to reserve tickets in advance.}

• The gallery is accessible to wheelchair users, and manual wheelchairs are available upon request.

• A coat room is provided for outerwear and luggage, but all bags must otherwise be worn in the museum.

• Visitors are invited to bring sketchbooks and pencils with them and to take non-flash photos when in the galleries.

How to get there

The Institute of Contemporary Art is located at 118 South 36th Street, part of the University of Pennsylvania’s campus area. You can walk to the museum in about 20 minutes from 30th Street Station (Philadelphia’s largest train station and major transit hub), and the area also is served by SEPTA’s Market-Frankford Line to 34th Street, as well as numerous bus and trolley lines.

When to get there

The Institute of Contemporary Art is open Wednesday through Sunday, from midday until early evening. The museum offers an ever-changing array of multimedia exhibitions—it’s worth researching its calendar before visiting to see what’s showing.

The museums of University City

Philadelphia’s University City neighborhood is best known for its resident scholarly institutions, like the University of Pennsylvania and Drexel University, both of which host publicly accessible museums. If you find yourself at Drexel, head to the Leonard Pearlstein Gallery, which showcases a range of multimedia exhibitions. And, in addition to the ICA, the University of Pennsylvania also is home to the Penn Museum, which is dedicated to archaeology and anthropology.