Boston Mayor Michelle Wu recently announced the expansion of the city's free access program for families, titled Boston Family Days. Originally a pilot known as BPS Sundays, which offered complimentary admission to Boston Public Schools students and their families at various cultural venues, this initiative now opens its doors even wider. As reported by the City of Boston's official website, the expansion includes all Boston school-aged children, along with the addition of three new cultural institutions: the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum, and the Museum of African American History.
The program, starting in January 2025 and planned to last until December 2026, promises the first two Sundays of each month filled with free admissions for students in grades K-12 or enrolled in Boston Pre-K, plus two guests, to a total of nine cultural venues. By showing their Program Pass, designed as magic keys to the city's centers of culture and learning, students and their guests can unlock an experience rich in the arts and sciences. However, due to high demand, Mayor Wu encourages families to reserve tickets online—a testament to how popular these educational jaunts have become.
A successful first run of the program welcomed over 44,000 participants, with venues like the Boston Children's Museum and the Institute of Contemporary Art receiving a significant number of first-time visitors. The data showed that more than half of the student participants were economically disadvantaged, highlighting the program's reach beyond the barriers of socioeconomic status. According to a statement provided by the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum's Director, Peggy Fogelman, their involvement is a natural continuation of the institution's legacy of making art accessible to the city's youth.
The city-wide collaboration reflects a universal belief among local educators and leaders that providing these cultural experiences is essential for fostering the community's growth and development. Dr. Noelle Trent, President & CEO of the Museum of African American History, told the City of Boston's official website about the importance of students seeing themselves 'reflected in this history' through exploring the city's rich and diverse past.
As museums and educational institutions continue to back this initiative, financial support from local, civic, and philanthropic partners plays a critical role in its expansion. Notably, Amazon and the Barr Foundation are among the contributors facilitating this access to cultural education. Amazon's head of Community Engagement for New England, Jerome Smith, expressed the company's enthusiasm in supporting local children's cultural and creative endeavors.
For more details about signing up for Boston Family Days and the enrollment platform launch, families can reach out to the dedicated email address [email protected], or visit the program's information page. The initiative marks a significant investment in the future of Boston's youth by delivering enriching experiences that could shape the city's next generation of leaders and thinkers.
