Boston Expands Free Museum Access to All School Kids Starting 2025
Starting January 2025, Boston will open its museum doors to all K-12 students. This $1.5 million program combines funding from the Barr Foundation, Amazon, and city money to make art…
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Three major venues have recently joined this program: the historic Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, the JFK Presidential Library, and the Modern Institute of Contemporary Art. This expansion comes from the huge success of BPS Sundays, which brought in 44,000 visitors in its last run.
Michelle Wu, the city's mayor, backs this effort to remove barriers. The new plan gets rid of old rules that kept many families from participating. The program now includes students from charter schools, private schools, and METCO programs who were left out before.
Jim Canales, president of the Barr Foundation, said, “We are thrilled to see that this will enable broader participation and expansion to all students in Boston." The Barr Foundation's $1 million donation provides key funding for two years. Amazon adds $500,000 to help with access, while city money and other donors fill in the rest.
Families can visit multiple times each month without any restrictions. This change breaks down the divide between public and private education, letting all K-12 students enjoy Boston's rich cultural scene. The name change from "BPS Sundays" to "Boston Family Days" shows it's now for everyone. Almost a dozen places are ready to inspire young minds across the city.
