The ICA will begin charging an admissions/members fee from 12 February, as it returns to its roots as a membership organisation. The re-introduction of Day Membership set at £1 is expected to generate much needed cash and could raise up to a quarter of a million pounds for the gallery and projects. The membership builds on a hugely successful 2013 when more than 433,000 people visited the ICA’s main venue on the Mall, the highest figure in the last 8 years for the ICA, with a further 20,000 visiting off site projects. Membership of the ICA has grown by 63% in the last year, to 8,725 members and its popularity.
The ICA membership scheme is the oldest of a UK arts venue and the ICA archive records a rich history of artists, curators and writers who have been ICA Members. Day Membership includes access to art exhibitions in the main galleries and displays in the Fox Reading Room, as well as use of ICA facilities such as the Café Bar and free wifi. To ensure that we are still as accessible as ever we will maintain our policy of concessionary pricing on Tuesdays, when there will be no Day Membership. As an ICA Member with an annual subscription (£30 annually), free Day Membership will be one of your benefits, in addition to: £3 Cinema tickets on Tuesdays, 25% off Limited Editions, £3 Discount on Films, 10% Discount on all Books, 10% Discount at the ICA Café Bar, 20% off all ICA DVDs and ICA Catalogues, 12 free preview screenings a year, Discounts on all talks and events, Free admission to Culture Now, Friday Salons and Artists’ Film Club, Invitation to all Private Views, Monthly Newsletter, 10% Discount in Cass Art.
The ICA was founded in 1946 by Roland Penrose, Peter Watson and Herbert Read and a Day Membership option existed from 1948 to September 2008. The ICA membership scheme is the oldest of a UK arts venue and the ICA archive records a rich history of artists, curators and writers who have been ICA Members. The ICA supports radical art and culture. Through a vibrant programme of exhibitions, films, events, talks and debates, the ICA challenges perceived notions and stimulates debate, experimentation, creativity and exchange with visitors. Founded in 1946 by a group of artists and critics including Roland Penrose, Peter Watson and Herbert Read, the ICA continues to support artists in showing and exploring their work, often as it emerges and before others. The ICA has been at the forefront of cultural experimentation since its formation and has presented important debut solo shows by artists including Damien Hirst, Steve McQueen, Richard Prince and Luc Tuymans. More recently Pablo Bronstein, Lis Rhodes, Bjarne Melgaard, Lutz Bacher and Juergen Teller have all staged key solo exhibitions, whilst a new generation of artists, including Luke Fowler, Lucky PDF, Hannah Sawtell and Factory Floor have taken part in exhibitions and residencies. The ICA was one of the first venues to present The Clash and The Smiths, as well as bands such as Throbbing Gristle. The inaugural ICA / LUX Biennial of Moving Images was launched in 2012, and the ICA Cinema continues to screen rare artists’ film, support independent releases and partner with leading film festivals.
Photo and Vine video : Siobhan Davies Dance ICA London © Artlyst 2014