The Institute of Contemporary Art, San Diego, a new organization dedicated to experimental art and learning, is a living laboratory of art and ideas, the organization is the invention of a merger of two local institutions, Lux Art Institute (1998), a leading contemporary arts space in North County San Diego, and the San Diego Art Institute (1941), the only cultural institution dedicated solely to experimental contemporary art in Balboa Park. The ICA San Diego embodies the shared commitments of both organizations to regional and international contemporary artists, education, and community engagement, dedicated to the presentation and support of contemporary art and artists and creative youth development.
The institute operates two locations, ICA North and ICA Central. ICA North, in Encinitas, is the former home of Lux and will continue to organize regional artist exhibitions, offer artist residencies, classes, and workshops across six acres of coastal landscape overlooking the San Elijo Lagoon but with an expanded focus on site-specific installations and commissions.
ICA Central, in Balboa Park, is nested inside a beloved Mission Revival-style building and 1,200 acres of lush public gardens, and was the home of the San Diego Art Institute. The space is dedicated to solo and group exhibitions, classes, and public programs, such as talks, gatherings, convenings, and symposia.
Credit: Overview from museum website