Items

• 
  2020-05-13

  Moving hands-on online

  Online Question and Answers session done with the School and Family Programs Manager at the Institute of Contemporary Art in Boston. The piece reflects on the Virtual Quilt Project, as well as the experiences of being an arts and cultural heritage professional during the CoVid-19 pandemic. This object highlights how museums have been forced to change their practices in response to the pandemic, and the unexpected benefits from some of those changes at the Institute of Contemporary Art.
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  2020-05-27

  Looking at Art

  Video created by the Institute of Contemporary Art in Boston as part of the activities for their Play Date events, which are tailored to families and young children. The video is aimed at younger viewers and models for them how to look at a piece of art, and includes some questions for the audience to ask themselves. As museums have transitioned more to digital spaces, they have had to create programming that can appeal to all parts of their audience. This video highlights how museums are continuing to engage with children during the pandemic, and how they are using their collections in an educational environment even at a distance.
• 
  2020-05-29

  Self Guided Activities

  Self-guided activities that are part of the Play Date event series for children and families hosted by the Institute of Contemporary Art in Boston. As museums had to transition to virtual engagement and shut down their physical sites, they had to find new ways to interact with their audience. This was especially true for events tailored for younger audiences, who might not find the same enjoyment from a virtual museum as opposed to the physical space.
• 
  2020-07-01

  Welcome Back! Free Admission for All

  Facebook event created by the Institute of Contemporary Art in Boston to highlight their reopening schedule, and the free admission they're offering. The page also highlights timed tickets to control crowds, and what parts of the museum will be available when the museum reopens. This object highlights the conflict museums face in bringing back visitors and draw attention to their offerings, even as they need to continue limiting crowds.
• 
  2020

  Threads of Connection Virtual Quilt

  Virtual project from the Institute of Contemporary Art Boston that is an extension of their Art Lab installation Threads of Connection. The project prompts people of all ages to create a quilt square of their own and email it to the ICA in order to continue building a vast digital quilt. This activity combines two things that museums have sought to do during social distancing; give people activities while at home and engage with them on social media. in doing so, it keeps museums relevant and engaging even if people cannot physically access their collections.
• 
  2020

  Virtual Harbor Market

  Webpage from the Institute of Contemporary Art Boston that functions as an online version of the museum's summer harbor market. The page links to stores of BIPOC artisans and artists in the Boston area. Museums are more than just sites of learning, their spaces are often multi-functional and host many events throughout the year. Given the pandemic, museums have had to employ digital methods in order to take important programs/events and recreate them on their websites.
• 
  2020-05-29

  ICA Staff Recommends

  Webpage from the Institute of Contemporary Art Boston that highlights different materials that staff at the ICA are listening to, reading, watching, playing, etc. The list Pages like this emphasize how museums are seeking to help their audience engage in not just their individual collections, but the subject of the museum itself. This is especially true for more focused museums, like the ICA, that can encourage their audience to continue engaging in contemporary art even if the museum itself is closed.
• 
  2020-07

  Visiting the ICA: Know Before You Go and FAQ

  Webpage of the Institute of Contemporary Art further explaining some of their reopening policies and answering likely questions. As museums are reopening, they require updated policies that are easily explained and accessible to visitors. This webpage offers further explanation on how new policies will affect visitors, and how visitors can obtain tickets to the museum once it reopens.
• 
  2020-06-30

  Virtual ICA Gala Honoring Virgil Abloh and Sterling Ruby

  Virtual gala hosted by the Institute of Contemporary Art in Boston that honors two contemporary artists, Virgil Abloh and Sterling Ruby. The video features tributes from artists and others in the contemporary art world, as well as musical performances. Videos like this highlight ways that museums have sought to use virtual platforms to replicate events that once would have been in person. These events have significance in terms of raising money for the institution, as well as engaging their audiences and members.
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  2020-07-09

  ICA Boston Reopening Policies

  Reopening policies of the Institute of Contemporary Art in Boston, including their new practices for the museum, the store, and tickets. The document also covers additional safety measures undertaken by staff. As reopening has continued in Boston despite rising cases throughout the country, museums and cultural heritage institutions are publishing plans that highlight their safety measures and how they're protecting staff and visitors. This document highlights several of the policies that many museums are employing.
• 
  2020-06

  A Mini Guide to Creative Protest

  A guide to creating protest materials developed by the Art Lab at the Institute of Contemporary Art in Boston. The brief guide asks participants how they can inspire others to fight for racial justice and Black lives. The guide also links to examples of each type of protest materials that are available in the ICA's collection and viewable online. As protests against the murder of George Floyd by 4 Minneapolis police officers have happened across the country, museums and cultural heritage sites have stood in solidarity with these protests while highlighting how their own collections relate to ongoing discussions about race in the United States.