The Institute of Contemporary Arts (ICA) has strongly rebutted media reports that it may be about to close. The organisation has been troubled by reports of financial and artistic problems, but a spokesperson told AP that “the ICA is not about to shut, nor is the ICA in crisis”. The London-based multi-disciplinary contemporary arts centre was granted £1.2m under Arts Council England’s (ACE) Sustain scheme, and was one of only 10–15% of recipients to be charged with specific conditions in relation to the money. ACE has recently confirmed the second payment of £600,000, which was granted “to support the ongoing change programme, on the basis that key conditions are met”. An ACE spokesperson told AP that it expects the ICA to “become financially viable” as a result of the change programme. The ICA will be announcing redundancies as part of this programme, among them the Director of Exhibitions. The current post-holder, Mark Sladen, has already left, and has been replaced by independent curator David Thorp.
