In partnership with Citizens, admission to the MFA—including access to “Hallyu! The Korean Wave”—is free for all Massachusetts residents on June 19 in honor of Juneteenth, the oldest nationally observed commemoration of the ending of slavery in the United States.

Join us for performances, participate in art-making activities, catch a talk, and see “Hallyu!,” a new exhibition highlighting South Korea’s meteoric rise as a cultural trendsetter on the global stage.

Events and Activities

Art Fair with Mission Hill Main Streets

10 am–3 pm
Shapiro Family Courtyard

Mission Hill Main Streets works with local businesses, residents, and institutions in Boston’s Mission Hill neighborhood to revitalize local businesses and strengthen the community. Drop by to meet some of the local artists who partner with the organization, including Aminata Dakowa, LeShonda Zene, Michelle Zene, and Zahirah Nur Truth. Enjoy an array of paintings, fabric creations, fluid art, handcrafted paper items, resin, and more!

Drop-In Art Making: Collage

10 am–4 pm (last entry 3:45 pm)
Huntington Avenue Lawn and Druker Family Pavilion

Use patterned paper and mixed media to create your very own colorful collage!

Photo Booth

10 am–4 pm
Sharf Visitor Center

Channel your favorite K-pop idol and strike a pose in our “Hallyu!” photo booth.

Free Guided Tours

10:30 am, Noon, and 1:30 pm
Meet at Sharf Visitor Center

Wondering where to start your visit to the MFA? Experience the Museum on a free 60-minute guided tour. Led by knowledgeable guides, look closely at artwork across the MFA’s collections. Learn more about old favorites and discover something new! Participants of all ages and experiences are welcome.

Drag Story Hour with Arabella Ladesse

11 am and Noon
Henry and Lois Foster Gallery (Gallery 158)

Join the fabulous Arabella Ladesse, Portland, Maine, Princess, from the Boston chapter of Drag Story Hour for a family story time!

Face Painting

11 am–3 pm
Sharf Visitor Center

Stop by and get some summertime happiness painted on your cheek!

Boston City Singers Presents ‘Freedom’

11:30 am and 1 pm
Shapiro Family Courtyard

Boston City Singers presents Freedom, a program of spirituals and folk songs celebrating Juneteenth. Founded in 1995 in Dorchester to provide outstanding opportunities—musical and beyond—for young people ages four through 18, Boston City Singers performs music from all ages and cultures while teaching many concepts and skills it takes to be a successful adult. Known for its family atmosphere, the program acknowledges and welcomes diversity of all kinds. The tour choir, which has toured globally for the past 16 years, is conducted by Jane Money, founding artistic director, and Kimani Lumsden, world rhythm ensemble director.

Blackness Is Monumental

1-3pm
Riley Seminar Room

What are monuments for? What do they teach us about who matters? And how can we radically reimagine monuments to lift up and reclaim our stories?

Join Wee the People, a social justice project, for an art-filled intergenerational workshop called “Blackness Is Monumental.” Collage your own monument to Blackness with recycled materials including boxes, tubes, gems, vintage photos, and wall-to-wall images of Black art, culture, history, and experience.

At 1:30 and 2:30 pm, gather to hear a reading of The Artivist (2023), an award-winning picture book by Nikkolas Smith about how kids can combine art and activism in their daily lives.
 

Boston Latin School Step Squad

12:15 pm
Shapiro Family Courtyard

Catch a performance by the BLS Step Team, a coed group open to all grade levels that has been an integral part of the school since the 1980s. Originally named the BLS Pep Squad, the team creates intricate original routines every single year and performs them at other local schools and throughout the community.

OrigiNation Cultural Arts Center

1:30 and 2:30 pm
Shapiro Family Courtyard

OrigiNation presents powerful and innovative choreography that honors the spirit of Juneteenth and celebrates African American heritage. Through a blend of contemporary, African, and hip-hop dance styles, the company shares stories of resilience, freedom, and joy.