Tephra Institute of Contemporary Art

Museums, Historical Sites, and ZoosVirginia, United States11-50 Employees

Mission

Tephra Institute of Contemporary Art (Tephra ICA) is a non-profit, non-collecting institution committed to promoting innovative contemporary art and thinking. The word “tephra” – matter ejected from geothermal eruptions that lands upon, nourishes, and changes the surrounding environment - emphasizes the institution’s belief in the combustibility of creativity and the generation of ideas and growth that the arts can provide. 

We are devoted to celebrating artists and value the power of art to broaden perspectives, start difficult conversations, and consider alternative ideas. We work with artists, galleries, institutions, universities, thought leaders, and collectors globally. We rely on a variety of funding sources for programming, including memberships, sponsorships, grants, donations, and other fundraising efforts. 

We believe in illuminating, mirroring, and programming for the fullness of our shared world. Through collaborative and exploratory work, we create opportunity for important, complex dialogue. We are devoted to celebrating artists and value the power of art to generate new ideas and broaden perspectives.

For a full list of our social and cultural equity commitments, please visit tephraica.org/about.

Tephra ICA is W.A.G.E. Certified.

Our Story

Formally known as Greater Reston Arts Center (GRACE), the idea of Tephra ICA emerged as the institution’s programs, audience, and impact continued to evolve. We proudly reside in Reston, Virginia, whose founder, Robert E. Simon, insisted that it should be a place welcoming to all people and that it prioritize the arts as essential to a well-rounded life. Founded in 1974 as the Greater Reston Arts Center by local artists and residents committed to those ideas, Tephra ICA embraces the role of helping to fulfill and extend the original Reston vision.

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