Institute of Contemporary Arts
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 Location within Central London
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| Established | 1947 |
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| Location |
The Mall, London (offices in Carlton House Terrace) |
| Coordinates | 51°30′24″N 0°07′50″W / 51.506608°N 0.13061°W |
| Director | Stefan Kalmár |
| Public transit access |
 Charing Cross Charing Cross
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| Website | www.ica.art |
The Institute of Contemporary Arts (ICA) is an artistic and cultural centre on The Mall in London, just off Trafalgar Square. It is located within Nash House, part of Carlton House Terrace, near the Duke of York Steps and Admiralty Arch. It contains galleries, a theatre, two cinemas, a bookshop and a bar. The current director is Stefan Kalmár.
The ICA was founded by Roland Penrose, Peter Watson, Herbert Read, Peter Gregory,Geoffrey Grigson and E. L. T. Mesens in 1947. The ICA's founders intended to establish a space where artists, writers and scientists could debate ideas outside the traditional confines of the Royal Academy. The first two exhibitions, "40 Years of Modern Art" and "40,000 Years of Modern Art" were organised by Penrose, and reflected his interests in Cubism and African art, taking place in the basement of the Academy Cinema, 165 Oxford Street. The Academy Cinema building included the Pavilion, a restaurant, and the Marquee ballroom in the basement; the building was managed by George Hoellering, the film, jazz and big band promoter.
With the acquisition of 17 Dover Street, Piccadilly, in May 1950, the ICA was able to expand considerably. Ewan Phillips served as the first director. It was the former residence of Vice Admiral Horatio Nelson. The gallery, clubroom and offices were refurbished by modernist architect Jane Drew assisted by Neil Morris and Eduardo Paolozzi. Paolozzi decorated the bar area and designed a metal and concrete table with student Terence Conran.
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Wikipedia