Arts

Bring the kids for free family fun at ICA’s Watershed

A day of free family programming takes place on July 30.

The ICA's East Boston Watershed building hosts family programming on July 30. Photo by Mel Taing

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Families with children receive free admission to the Institute of Contemporary Art on Saturday, July 30. At “Play Date: Watershed Family Day,” the ICA’s East Boston annex, the Watershed, will host a community event centered on families with live music, art making, and free admission.

Watershed’s summer exhibit, “Revival: Materials and Monumental Forms,” will be on view during Family Day. The large-scale exhibit features the work of six artists from around the world, all using reclaimed industrial and everyday materials to create artwork focused on the industrial background of the Watershed, a former copper pipe factory. Artist El Anatsui (Anyako, Ghana) creates glittering tapestries from old bottle caps and other debris, while Boston-based Joe Wardwell has put together a new site-specific installation about the history of labor songs.

The ICA’s water shuttle, which provides service between the Watershed and the ICA main building, is free with ICA general admission. Advanced general admission ticket reservations, while free on Family Day, are strongly recommended. Tickets will have timed entry. For more information and to request tickets, head to icaboston.org/events/play-date-watershed-family-day.