Institute of Contemporary Arts Boston
In contrast to the formal atmosphere of the Museum of Fine Arts, the Institute for Contemporary Arts offers a program that includes forums for poetry, readings, lectures, films and musical recitals. A back-door theater gives the place the feel of a local community center rather than an art museum. But an art museum it is. Housed in a 19th-century brick Victorian police station and firehouse, the museum has two levels of exhibition space.

Because of its limited size, there are no permanent acquisitions, making the ICA the oldest non-collecting art facility in the United States. But that hasn't hampered the museums sense of adventure or experimentalism. The emphasis is always on fresh, international contemporary art. Exhibitions generally feature the works of a single artist. A new building is underway that will allow ICA to begin its own collection and expand its services to the community with 18,000 square feet of exhibition space, a 300-seat performing arts theater, a media center, educational facilities, a bookstore and a restaurant.