Boston's Curators and Installers Build Two Major Museum Exhibitions This Week

The Institute of Contemporary Art Boston opened its summer installation July 10 after a crew of six preparators completed 11 custom wall panels and three suspended platforms in the waterfront building at 25 Harbor Shore Drive.

The timing aligns with the start of peak tourist season and a rebound in foot traffic that has brought more local residents back to venues after several years of lower attendance. Institutions across the city now face pressure to refresh displays quickly while keeping labor costs in check.

At the Museum of Fine Arts on Huntington Avenue, a parallel project finished last month when staff from the South End studio collective Fabric Boston mounted 14 works by Dorchester painters inside the Linde Family Wing. Both sites used the same local welding shop on Albany Street for metal brackets.

Months of planning on site

Preparators logged 1,400 hours between April and July on the ICA project alone, according to internal schedules reviewed by the museum. General admission at the ICA stands at $20 for adults this summer, up from $18 last year, while the MFA charges $25 on weekdays.

Lighting designer Maria Torres, who works on contract for both institutions, adjusted 87 fixtures to meet new energy standards that took effect in January. The changes reduced electricity use by 12 percent during evening hours, museum records show.

Next steps for visitors

Free preview hours run at the ICA every Thursday evening through August 28. The MFA will hold an open studio session with the Fabric Boston crew on July 22 at 6 p.m. on the first floor. Tickets for either event can be reserved through the venues' websites.