Free admission for Massachusetts residents on January 20.

BOSTON (January 14, 2025)—On Monday, January 20, the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston (MFA), and Citizens invite the community to commemorate the life and work of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. at a free open house for Massachusetts residents. This year marks the 23rd anniversary of the MFA’s partnership with Citizens during this annual celebration, which has welcomed more than 120,000 attendees into the Museum’s galleries. The open house will run from 10 am to 5 pm, and free tickets—including access to Georgia O'Keeffe and Henry Moore on the major exhibition’s final day—will be available on a first-come, first-served basis with a valid Massachusetts zip code.

“This is a wonderful opportunity for our community to gather, reflect, and find inspiration through art in honor of Dr. King’s vision for commitment to actions that create change,” said Matthew Teitelbaum, Ann and Graham Gund Director. “We are deeply grateful to Citizens for their longstanding partnership, and all they do in support to make this day one of deep meaning for all of Boston.”

“Citizens is proud to support the MFA once again in honoring the incredible life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.,” said Lisa Murray, President of Citizens Massachusetts. “This year’s celebration offers the community a unique opportunity to come together, reflect on his teachings and lasting impact in furthering equality and economic justice for all people.”

Events and Activities

Drop-In Art Making: “Stained Glass” Doves

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

Visitors can explore light and color by creating window-hanging art in the style of stained glass and in the shape of a dove, a universal symbol of peace and unity.

Guided Tours

11 am, Noon, 1 pm, and 2 pm; Meet in Sharf Visitor Center

Free 60-minute guided tours are offered throughout the day, inviting visitors to look closely at artwork across the Museum's collection. Participants of all ages and experiences are welcome.

MFA Job Fair

11 am–3 pm, Shapiro Family Courtyard

Learn about engaging, dynamic, and fun career opportunities at the MFA and take part in open interviews for security officer positions. Learn more about job openings at the Museum and how to apply.

La Comparsa de Hyde Square Task Force

11 am and 12:15 pm, Shapiro Family Courtyard

Youth Ambassadors from Hyde Square Task Force bring their vibrant comparsa to the MFA! Rooted in the deep history of African influence on Caribbean street celebrations, the comparsa showcases the rich interconnectedness of Afro-Latin dance, music, and theater traditions from the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, and Cuba.

Welcome and Remarks

11:15 am, Shapiro Family Courtyard

Matthew Teitelbaum, the MFA’s Ann and Graham Gund Director, and Lisa Murray, Massachusetts president, Citizens, welcome visitors to the MLK Day Open House.

Radical Heroes

11:15 am, 1 pm, and 2:15 pm; Gallery 168

In honor of the legacy of Martin Luther King Jr., ArtSpark Boston presents the 30-minute program “Radical Heroes.” ArtSpark is a community-powered music and arts event series based in Boston that aims to fight for racial equity in the creative arts. These special performances of poetry and music reflect on MLK’s vision for racial justice, once considered radical, that has since sparked transformative worldwide change.

Spotlight Talks: ‘Dream 2: King and the Sisterhood’

11:30 am and 12:45 pm, Gallery 158

Phoebe Segal, cocurator of Power of the People: Art and Democracy, highlights Faith Ringgold’s story quilt Dream 2: King and the Sisterhood. The work showcases the underappreciated importance of female leaders in the civil rights movement and features a speech written and delivered by Michele Wallace, Ringgold’s daughter, on King’s birthday in 1987.

Teen Talks: Articulating Love

12:30 pm, 1 pm, and 1:15 pm; Galleries 328, 155, 261, and 280

Students from the MFA's Teen Programs give spotlight talks on works across the museum.

The Color of Love

1–2:15 pm, Shapiro Family Courtyard

ZUMiX and Beat the Odds present a youth-driven performance exploring the question: What is the color of love? Through a blend of original music and carefully chosen covers, the performance aims to inspire love and joy within the community. It invites us to reflect on love as a choice we make and as a space we create for all the shades of love to find us.

Wee Wear the Crowns

1–3 pm, Riley Seminar Room

Join Boston-based racial justice organization Wee the People for an intergenerational art-making extravaganza celebrating Black kings, Black culture, and unapologetic Black joy: Wee Wear the Crowns! Inspired by iconic painter Jean-Michel Basquiat, whose crown motif honored Black American heroes, participants can collage their own gold or silver crown with decorative materials and wall-to-wall images of Black culture.

At 2 pm, gather in the book nook for a story time reading of the award-winning picture book Memphis, Martin, and the Mountaintop: The Sanitation Strike of 1968.

Music from DJ Slick Vick

2:30–4 pm, Shapiro Family Courtyard

Hailing from Boston, DJ Slick Vick is a young music visionary best known for her diverse range of musical interest and high-energy DJ sets. She believes that music is a universal language that connects humanity, and that the dance floor is a sacred space where human connection is not only found but amplified.

About Citizens Financial Group, Inc.

Citizens Financial Group, Inc. is one of the nation’s oldest and largest financial institutions, with $219.7 billion in assets as of September 30, 2024. Headquartered in Providence, Rhode Island, Citizens offers a broad range of retail and commercial banking products and services to individuals, small businesses, middle-market companies, large corporations and institutions. Citizens helps its customers reach their potential by listening to them and by understanding their needs in order to offer tailored advice, ideas and solutions. In Consumer Banking, Citizens provides an integrated experience that includes mobile and online banking, a full-service customer contact center and the convenience of approximately 3,100 ATMs and approximately 1,000 branches in 14 states and the District of Columbia. Consumer Banking products and services include a full range of banking, lending, savings, wealth management and small business offerings. In Commercial Banking, Citizens offers a broad complement of financial products and solutions, including lending and leasing, deposit and treasury management services, foreign exchange, interest rate and commodity risk management solutions, as well as loan syndication, corporate finance, merger and acquisition, and debt and equity capital markets capabilities. More information is available at www.citizensbank.com or visit us on X (formerly Twitter), LinkedIn or Facebook.

About the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston

The MFA brings many worlds together through art. Showcasing masterpieces from ancient to modern, our renowned collection of more than half a million works tells a multifaceted story of the human experience—a story that holds unique meaning for everyone. From Boston locals to international travelers, visitors from across the globe come to experience the MFA. Through both art and audience, the Museum brings together diverse perspectives—revealing connections, exploring differences, creating a community where all belong. Plan your visit at mfa.org.