Join us for our annual MLK Day Open House. This year, the MFA offers free admission for Massachusetts residents. Celebrate the legacy of Dr. King by surrounding yourself with art making, performances, and talks with members of our community!

Events and Activities

Community Partners

10 am–3 pm
Shapiro Family Courtyard

Stop by to meet representatives from some of our community partners and learn about the great work they’re doing. Participating organizations include ArtSpark Boston, BAGLY, MFA Teen Programs, and YouthBuild Boston.

Drop-In Art Making: Mixed-Media Collage

10 am–4 pm (last entry 3:45 pm)
Druker Family Pavillion

Create your own mixed-media collage on stretched canvas. For inspiration, head to Gallery 155 to take a closer look at Mark Bradford’s Backward C (2005), a large-scale artwork that looks like a painting but is actually made of cut- and ripped-up posters, flyers, maps, and other paper materials!

ASL Tour and Art Making Led by Deaf Artist Takiyah Harris

10:15–11:45 am
Meet at the Linde Family Wing Entrance

Join Haptic artist Takiyah Harris for a guided tour of art from across the MFA’s collection that celebrates the legacy of Dr. King. Afterward, join fellow Deaf community members to make art inspired by the tour.

Advance registration encouraged. To RSVP please email: [email protected]. Both the tour and art-making activity are led in American Sign Language with no voice interpretation.

Guided Tours

11am, Noon, 1 pm, and 2pm
Meet in 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 collection. Learn more about old favorites and discover something new! Participants of all ages and experiences are welcome.

ArtSpark Presents

11:30 am–Noon
Shapiro Family Courtyard

ArtSpark Boston presents a special performance by Dom the Composer. The singer-songwriter shares a selection of original music inspired by his artistic journey, presented in the spirit of honoring Dr. King’s enduring influence and vision for racial justice. ArtSpark supports creatives of color through resources, training, and community-focused programming across the greater Boston area.

Songwriting and Social Justice: An Interactive Workshop by Carlos Herrand Pou

11:30 am–12:30 pm
Riley Seminar Room

Join Community Music Center of Boston (CMCB) faculty member Carlos Herrand Pou to explore the intersection of music and advocacy. Through interactive exercises, group discussions, and focused listening activities, learn how music can spark dialogue, build community, and inspire meaningful change. No songwriting experience required! Open to 30 participants on a first-come, first-served basis.

Spotlight Talk: Mark Thomas Gibson’s Banner Project

Noon and 1 pm
Gallery 265

Learn about Mark Thomas Gibson’s monumental “Banner Project,” the latest installment in his ongoing Town Crier series exploring American history and the fast-moving politics of our present day.

With Carmen Hermo, Lorraine and Alan Bressler Curator of Contemporary Art.

Spotlight Talk: Martin Puryear: Nexus

12:30 and 1:30 pm
Gallery 268

Take a guided tour of the exhibition “Martin Puryear: Nexus” —the first major survey of the artist’s work in nearly 20 years, which traces his distinctive approach to form, material, and craft.

With Daisy Alejandre, curatorial assistant, Department of Contemporary Art.

A Little History

12:30–1 and 1:30–2 pm
Gallery 168

Experience “A Little History,” an interactive educational performance presented by Castle of Our Skins that tells the stories of nine legendary figures in Black History. Each is paired with originally composed poems and music by Anthony R. Green showcasing the figures’ importance in Black History. Learn about Phillis Wheatley Peters, Garrett Morgan, Madam C. J. Walker, George Washington Carver, Margaret Bonds, Ed Bland, Angela Davis, Bayard Rustin, and Barack Obama.

Community Music Center of Boston: Instrument Petting Zoo

12:30–1:30 pm
Riley Seminar Room

Join CMCB faculty and staff for a hands-on instrument petting zoo, where curious musicians of all ages can explore a wide variety of instruments up close. Hear, touch, and try instruments from all musical families. This welcoming, interactive event is the perfect way to spark curiosity and inspire a lifelong love of music!

Embrace and Evolve

1–2:15 pm
Shapiro Family Courtyard

ZUMiX presents a youth-driven performance centered around the theme “Embrace and Evolve.” The young performers carefully chose this theme after drawing inspiration from the art in the MFA’s collection. Experience several short pieces that embody the transformative power of the arts by embracing the present while revealing the evolution within movement and revolutionary work.

Through a blend of original music and thoughtfully chosen covers, the performance invites us to envision a brighter tomorrow grounded in the realities of today. This is a collaborative effort between VOCES, Pop Rocks, Streetwise, and artist and change maker Zakiyyah.

Living Water Performance

2:30–3:30 pm
Shapiro Family Courtyard

Enjoy a captivating concert from Living Water, a dynamic gospel group known for its powerful sound and unwavering commitment to spreading a message of hope and faith. Founded by Gary Lyon in 2006, this talented ensemble has made a lasting impact in the gospel scene through inspiring lyrics, rich harmonies, and uplifting melodies that speak to the soul.