Travel with the ICA - Institute for Contemporary Art

Contemporary Art Travel with the ICA

Venture near and far with fellow art enthusiasts for an insider’s glimpse into regional, national, and international contemporary art scenes. ICA at VCU travel opportunities are carefully selected, with access to private collections, artist studio visits, global art fairs and festivals, premier exhibitions, and galleries.

Upcoming Travel Opportunities

Portugal’s Enchanting Douro Valley
October 8 – 16, 2026
Registration Brochure

Sail along the Douro, the “river of gold,” through Portugal’s UNESCO-listed wine region aboard the luxurious, 51-cabin river vessel AmaSintra. Enjoy private tastings at lush, historic vineyards and guided looks at some of the region’s most important cultural treasures, from UNESCO World Heritage Sites to innovative contemporary art and architecture. Includes a guided tour
of Porto’s Museu de Arte Contemporânea de Serralves, designed by Pritzker Prize-winning architect Álvaro Siza Vieira.

Zürich & Basel Featuring Art Basel
June 13 – 21, 2027
Registration Brochure

Since 1970, Art Basel has drawn leading collectors, curators, and art lovers to Switzerland each June. Travelers will experience curator-led access to the world’s leading event for modern and contemporary art in this celebration of art, design, and craftsmanship in Zürich and Basel, with excursions to Lucerne and border towns in Germany and France.

Curated Currents: Culture & Art Along Japan’s Inland Sea Featuring Guntû
October 26 – November 5, 2027
Registration Brochure

On this special land-and-sea program, sail Japan’s Inland Sea for three nights aboard the
meticulously designed Guntû, a 17-suite floating ryokan (traditional inn) with wood-lined interiors and exquisite seasonal dining. Enjoy an overnight in Osaka for an introduction to Asian ceramics before your cruise. Aboard Guntû, step ashore on the art islands of Naoshima and Teshima. Continue onward to Bizen, one of Japan’s most historic pottery towns, and Kyoto.

The Museum Travel Alliance (MTA)

Are you seeking additional curated, art-focused travel opportunities? The ICA at VCU belongs to the Museum Travel Alliance (MTA), a consortium of museums and cultural institutions whose patrons and members are passionate about cultural travel. MTA is able to offer its constituents access to a curated selection of exclusive travel opportunities led by renowned scholars and curators. Travel with like-minded enthusiasts on international and domestic journeys that awaken new insights into art and culture. Visit UNESCO World Heritage sites, travel on elegant chartered vessels and luxury trains, go behind the scenes of major cultural institutions as you discover world masterpieces in context, and enjoy local culinary delights. Click here to learn more about the Museum Travel Alliance.
For more information about ICA travel opportunities or to be invited to future opportunities to explore the world of art together, please contact Sarah Beasley, Donor Relations Associate, by phone at 804-828-0105 or by email at beasleysp@vcu.edu.

Click here to access VCU’s alumni travel program.