Boston Mayor Martin J. Walsh, working with Councilor Michelle Wu and the City Council, have declared Sunday, September 7, 2014 "Malcolm Rogers Day" in the City of Boston, honoring the Ann and Graham Gund Director of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston (MFA) for his diligent work in making the MFA more accessible and welcoming to the public. The proclamation coincides with the Museum's MFA Community Day: Celebrating 20 Years of Director Malcolm Rogers on September 7, in which Rogers will open the doors for free to the community to enjoy a day of art-making, tours, concerts, performance, a photo booth and more.

"Malcolm Rogers has been a significant driver of Boston's cultural and artistic profile over the last twenty years," said Mayor Martin J. Walsh. "Malcolm brought new energy and creativity to the city through the MFA, drawing Bostonians and visitors to experience their diverse and expanding collection. Opening the doors to the community on this day as a means of celebration enables us to uphold the kind of inclusive, creative, and unifying culture that Boston's art community stands for."

Rogers is the longest-serving director in the MFA's 144-year history and celebrates his 20th anniversary in Boston this week. He will be honored this weekend with a series of events, including a sold-out gala and late-night "MFA by Moonlight" party, followed by the free Community Day. Rogers will be joined by Boston City Councilor Michelle Wu on Sunday at the MFA, addressing visitors of the Community Day at noon. Wu will also present him with the official proclamation.

"As the director of the Museum of Fine Arts, Malcolm Rogers has been a leader in Boston's bustling arts and culture community" said Wu. "Through his work, he has made Boston's MFA a mecca for arts and culture. I'm proud and grateful to honor him for his 20 years of dedicated service to the Museum of Fine Arts and the City of Boston."

Social media channels will use the hashtag #MR20 to highlight the festivities surrounding Rogers' anniversary, with fans and followers invited to participate on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Please visit our press release and media advisory for more information.

For more information, please contact Karen Frascona at 617.369.3442 or [email protected].