SAN JOSE, CA.- Marking a significant step forward in its 26-year history, the San Jose Institute of Contemporary Art (ICA) will move to its new permanent home at 560 South First Street in August 2006. Setting the pace for a fast-track renovation and innovative expansion of programming, the ICA will open its first exhibition in the new location on August 8. On view through September 16 in the first of three renovated gallery spaces planned for the ICA’s new location, NextNew2006: Art and Technology focuses on the work of 10 artists working in electronic media. The exhibition is being presented in conjunction with the international symposium of the Inter-Society for Electronic Art (ISEA) and the ZeroOne San Jose Global Festival of Art on the Edge.

Prior to closing the new location to the public in January 2007 to complete the large-scale renovation project, the ICA will present its highly popular Fall Art Exhibition and Auction from October 6 through October 28. Following the auction, the ICA will show an immersive mural installation by internationally recognized artist Darren Waterston from November 17 through January 5. The newly renovated building will open to the public in June 2007. During the construction period, the ICA’s administrative offices will be located off-site.

Signaling an important turning point in the ICA’s leadership position as the South Bay’s most prominent presenter of contemporary art, the new location will be the institution’s first permanent home. In 2005, the ICA’s Board of Directors launched a $4.2 million capital campaign to purchase and renovate the 7,500 square foot building located in downtown San Jose’s SoFA arts district. The Leaderships Gifts phase of the campaign, which secured $492,500 in commitments from one hundred percent of the ICA’s Board, was successfully concluded in April 2006.

A total of $1,752,500 in funding support has been raised to-date, including $500,000 from the City of San Jose’s Redevelopment Agency and $750,000 from an anonymous donor. A Program-Related Investment Loan for up to $2.4 million from the Packard Foundation will provide interim bridge financing for the project, allowing the ICA to occupy the building and complete the renovations while conducting the capital campaign. A select volunteer committee from the region is in place to lead the Major Gifts phase of the campaign, which is currently underway. Cathy Kimball, Executive Director for the last six years and spearhead of the exciting project said:

“This new permanent location affords the ICA the capability of moving confidently into the future on firm ground. In addition to an expanded exhibition schedule of the most compelling and thought-provoking contemporary art in the region, the new facility will afford us significant opportunities to introduce new initiatives, such as a printmaking studio and a resource library. It is tremendously exciting for all of us to realize this next step in the ICA’s history.”

Projected to open in June 2007, major improvements to the new ICA location include:

Increased gallery space: 1 large gallery, 2 small galleries, 1 project space; total of 3700 square feet, an increase of 1500 square feet; the additional space allows for continuous exhibitions for the first time in the ICA’s history.

Improved gallery infrastructure: precise climate control and controlled lighting, which allows the ICA an expanded ability to borrow art works from museums and private collectors for the first time in its history.

Expanded programming: permanent printmaking workshop, an artist-in-residency program, printmaking classes, and a contemporary art library/resource center.

Designer for the project is San-Jose based architect Bill Gould, whose completed projects include the Downtown College Preparatory and Ernesto Galarzo School, among others.

Established in 1980, the San Jose Institute of Contemporary Art seeks to engage Bay Area audiences of all ages and backgrounds through compelling visual art exhibitions and educational programs. With a committed emphasis on the art of our time, the ICA exhibits young, emerging talent, as well as established artists, especially from the Bay Area. The Institute provides a forum for risk-taking and innovation, resulting in exhibitions that pose questions, challenge visitors to confront their own assumptions, and inspire them to look for new connections between themselves and the work before them.

The San Jose Institute of Contemporary Art gratefully acknowledges support from the David and Lucile Packard Foundation, the City of San Jose Arts Commission, the Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts, Arts Council Silicon Valley, the Adobe Foundation Fund at Community Foundation Silicon Valley, and the members of the ICA.

NextNew2006 is funded in part by Applied Materials Excellence in the Arts: a program of Arts Council Silicon Valley and a grant from the Fleishhacker Foundation.