Institute of Contemporary Art in Moscow

The Institute of Contemporary Art in Moscow (ICA Moscow), launched in 1991, is an independent non-profit organisation which aims at realising exhibitions, research and educational projects, intended to form the basis of intensive discussions and to assist in creating an intellectual atmosphere around the phenomena of contemporary art and culture.

Initially it was an initiative by several Moscow artists and critics to represent the alternative movements in Russian art of the 1970s and 80s, but in 2001 the ICA Moscow joined with a new and permanent partner, the State Centre for Museums and Exhibitions, part of the Ministry of Culture of the Russian Federation. From that moment on, all its initiatives are aimed at integrating contemporary Russian art into the structures of the international art world.

The ICA quickly became a platform where lively discussions took place around events, small projects and exhibitions; these discussions were in themselves an important contribution to formation of a new intellectual atmosphere around contemporary art culture. The main purpose of all of the initiatives of the ICA have been to reintegrate Russian art into the international art world's structures, whether by holding debates and discussions about new tendencies, organising masterclasses, exhibitions and small projects, or by presenting interesting works by foreign artists in Russia.

The Institute has always paid special attention to its educational programme “New Artistic Strategies”. The “New Artistic Strategies” is a unique programme in Moscow to reflect upon these changes for young and developing artists and it is a vital extension of their training and entry into the internationalism of the contemporary art world. The “New Artistic Strategies” programme, in this respect, should be regarded as complementing but also extending the courses offered by existing art institutions.