ICA History: 1980s
The political bent of the ICA continued into the new decade, as 1980 saw three high-profile feminist art exhibitions: Issue: social strategies by women artists, About Time – Video, Performance and Installation by 21 Women Artists and Women’s Images of Men. There was also continued controversy with Les Levine’s Blame God exhibition displayed on billboards across London, which was quickly withdrawn by the billboard companies.
The theatre continued strong with regular performances from feminist theatre company Monstrous Regiment and experimental pioneers The People Show. The ICA also hosted the London International Festival of Theatre and the London Mime Festival and Dance Umbrella.
In 1981 the ICA opened the Cinematheque and Video Library. The Video Library was open to members to watch films and tv programmes at their own convenience; the Cinematheque to show scheduled programmes of experimental and less-seen work. The Cinematheque presented works by Bill Voila and Nam June Paik, screened a programme of music videos and held a season of Derek Jarman films to coincide with an exhibition of his paintings.
The MusICA series continued throughout the 1980s, and a new series called Rock Weeks began. The series saw performances by Cabaret Voltaire, the Smiths, The Cocteau Twins, Sonic Youth, amongst many others, and Einstürzende Neubauten’s legendary Concerto for Voice and Machinery.
Launched September 2007