Dear ICA SF community,

I am thrilled to announce that the Institute of Contemporary Art San Francisco will be moving from our current building in Dogpatch to a new space Downtown this October.

Since officially launching ICA SF two years ago in October of 2022, we’ve been proud to present 8 world class exhibitions with FREE admission, pop-ups with over 120 Bay Area creatives, a public mural, programs, educational activities, and so much more. We’ve also embraced “startup mode”—flexibility, creativity, and resilience—as we seek solutions to the very real financial challenges many nonprofits are enduring at this moment.

So when Vornado Realty Trust invited us to partner with them to activate The Cube (a unique historic building at 345 Montgomery Street) starting this fall, we were incredibly excited about the possibilities this could unlock. Their offer will pave the way for financial sustainability, empower us to build towards long term success, and fully commit our resources to excellent contemporary art and artists.

We have loved our time at 901 Minnesota Street, and are hugely indebted and grateful to the Minnesota Street Project Foundation and Andy and Deborah Rappaport for their support of ICA SF and ongoing commitment to the contemporary art landscape in San Francisco.

We will greatly miss the energy and hospitality of the growing Dogpatch art scene, but know that our new building will only strengthen and expand the community we’ve built. The past two years have shown us that the Bay Area creative ecosystem responds enthusiastically to a space like ICA SF that entwines itself with the fabric of the city.

Our new home at The Cube is in the heart of the Financial District Downtown—near galleries and institutions like SFMOMA, MoAD, YBCA, the Contemporary Jewish Museum, and the Asian Art Museum. We are thrilled to join forces with our new neighbors and deepen ICA SF’s impact on our city.

ICA SF was founded with the commitment to staying nimble, examining the contours of what an art institution can be, enabling artists to experiment, and offering FREE admission for all. Looking forward, we are excited to embrace non-traditional exhibition formats and invite artists to respond creatively to the unique architecture of this building. We will be launching at The Cube with three fall exhibitions, The Poetics of Dimensions curated by Larry Ossei-Mensah; Maryam Yousif: Riverbend; and Spotlight: Kathleen Ryan. Please save the date for the grand public opening day on Friday, October 25th.

Thank you to everyone who has followed along with our journey. Thank you especially to our incredible Board of Directors for their stewardship and support. Frankly, we have already been blown away by the enthusiasm we’ve received for this move. If you are as excited as we are, consider making a gift today to be part of ICA SF’s next chapter.

With gratitude,

Ali Gass

ICA SF Founding Director

“We’re proud to have played a role in helping launch the ICA SF and will continue to advocate for a strong environment in San Francisco where artists can thrive.”

— Rachel Sample, Executive Director of the Minnesota Street Project Foundation

“ICA SF has quickly become an essential part of San Francisco’s vibrant arts scene. The move to 345 Montgomery Street not only reflects the growth of the institution but also the city’s commitment to fostering a dynamic cultural environment and revitalizing our downtown landscape. I’m thrilled to see this new chapter unfold and to witness the impact that ICA SF will continue to have on our community and beyond.“

— London Breed, Mayor of San Francisco