Curious About How Museums Work
We want to improve museum transparency. That starts with learning about how these institutions function. Each of our employees plays an important role in creating an enriching museum experience, from acquiring and caring for objects and designing exhibitions to working with audiences to interpret collections. Museum professionals work collaboratively across departments such as curatorial, education, design, conservation, public relations and more, using a range of interdisciplinary skills.
Highlighted YouTube Videos
To learn more about museum professionals and their role at the MFA, check out these videos on the MFAs YouTube channel.
Artist | Student | Curator
Also check out the MFA Voices playlist on YouTube to hear about the experiences of staff members throughout the Museum.
Art conservation is the preservation of artistic, historic, and cultural materials intended to protect and preserve works of art. A unique behind-the-scenes perspective into this profession will be on view in a new Conservation Center set to open in spring 2022.
A Personalized Fine Arts Education
At SMFA you won’t find rigid curricula or one-size-fits-all general education requirements. Instead, our students design individualized programs of study that include intensive studio coursework and relevant liberal arts and sciences courses on both the SMFA and Medford/Somerville campuses. They explore and research ideas, grapple with complex challenges, and build technical skills under close mentorship from faculty, staff, and other community members.
An ongoing loop of discussion and feedback is a crucial element of the SMFA experience. Each semester, students participate in critiques known as review boards, during which they present their work to a small group of faculty and peers and discuss their progress as artist-thinkers and makers. Each artist produces a written statement about their work in advance, and their reviewers produce summaries of their impressions of the work and suggest ways for the student to hone their practicefor example, suggesting the student look up the work of a sympatico artist or recommending reading material relevant to the student’s interests and passions, thereby helping the student take a research-based approach to their development as artists and scholars. Review boards also inform each student’s curricular pathway, often in surprising ways. It’s a flexible, challenging, highly personal, and rewarding process of learning how to stretch oneself continuouslyand for a lifetimeas an artist.
May I Take Photographs
Yes and no. In general, you may take still, no-flash photographs for private, noncommercial use in Museum galleries that are devoted to the MFAH collections, including Cullen Sculpture Garden. However, some works in the collections cannot be photographed. Your best bet is to ask Museum staff to help you identify the areas where photography is permitted. Photographs cannot be published, sold, reproduced, transferred, distributed, or otherwise commercially exploited in any manner whatsoever. For more information, see the Museum’s policies.
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Free Admission For Participants In The Texas Lone Star Card Program
Participants in the Texas Lone Star Card program receive free access to the buildings on the Museums main campus, as well as Bayou Bend and Rienzi. A guest who presents a Texas Lone Star Card and photo ID can receive free admission for up to 6 people on one card.
Excludes dated and timed-entry events, including films, programs, special events, and some ticketed exhibitions. Please be sure to call ahead for tour information for Bayou Bend and Rienzi .
Museums On Us Free General Admission For Bank Of America Cardholders
Each Bank of America cardholder gets one free general admission to the MFAH as part of the Museums on Us customer benefit program, applicable to the first full weekend of every month.
Present a valid Bank of America, Merrill, or Bank of America Private Bank credit or debit card and photo ID at point of entry. Admission is nontransferable and good for one free general admission for the cardholder only. Offer does not include free admission to ticketed exhibitions or events.
Bank of America associates are also eligible for free general admission on designated Museums on Us weekends. Present current proof of employment and photo ID.
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How Much Does It Cost To Visit The Mfah
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General admission is $12 with student ID. Additional pricing may apply for specially ticketed exhibitions. Students of any college or university can receive free general admission by presenting an art-related assignment and college ID. Students of institutions that are part of the University Partnership Program receive free general admission and discounts for specially ticketed exhibitions, with ID. Participating colleges and universities:
- The Glassell School of Art
- Houston Community College, Center of Excellence for Visual and Performing Arts, Visual Arts
- Rice University
- University of Houston School of Art
- University of Houston-Downtown, Department of Arts and Humanities
- University of St. Thomas
Admission is always free to the Hirsch Library Cullen Sculpture Garden Brown Foundation, Inc. Plaza PNC Roof Garden Glassell School of Art café and shop. Learn more about ways to visit for free.
Are Coat Checks Open
Yes, we offer complimentary coat check at the Huntington Avenue Entrance.
Bags smaller than 11 x 15 inches are welcome . Backpacks must be carried as a handbag or worn on the front side of the body. Bags in excess of 11 x 15 inches containing needed medical equipment, or for use in nursing or baby care, are allowed in the Museum if tagged at arrival.
In-person guided tours are suspended at this time.
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What Can I See When I Visit What Is The Difference Between The Permanent Collection And Special Exhibitions
Works from the MFAs collection are mostly displayed in galleries dedicated to the art and objects from a certain geographic location, time period, or medium. Most of the works youll see in the galleries are owned by the MFA and many displays are permanent, that is, they are on view for the foreseeable future and will be there the next time you visit.
Exhibitions are curated collections, usually about certain artists or themes and often have works that are from other collections in addition to the MFAs. Often years in the planning, special. exhibitions are temporary and usually on display for a limited period of time. Learn more about exhibitions:
No Need To Pay General Admission If
- You are visiting on a Thursday, when general admission is free for everyone, courtesy of Shell Oil Company. Ticketed exhibitions are separate from general admission and remain ticketed on Thursdays.
- You are age 12 or younger. This age group receives free general admission every day.
- You present a Lone Star Card and photo ID.
- You are age 18 or younger and visiting on a Saturday or Sunday with a library card from any public library in Texas. The library cardholder receives one free general admission offer does not apply to ticketed exhibitions or events.
- You are visiting only the library, shop, café, or Glassell School.
- You are a college student with an art-related assignment or attend an institution that participates in the University Partnership Program. Learn more
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Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum
The University Membership includes benefits for free museum admission for ALL Bunker Hill Community College students, faculty and staff , discounts on gallery tours, free self-guided visits, free tickets to select public programs and lectures, complimentary participation in the Museum Pass Program for your university’s library, and 15% off rental events held at the Museum. Follow the link below for instructions to secure admission tickets online.
Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum Discounts
If you bring your Museum of Fine Arts ticket stub to the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum within two days of purchase, you can save $2 off adult and senior general admission.
Combine this with the other great discounts available at this museum and you might not have to pay much at all to get inside!
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Free Admission For Being A Bank Of America Customer
Bank of America has a distinctive program of Museums on Us® to offer its customers free admission on the first full weekend of every month to more than 200 museums. Museum of Fine Arts, Boston is one of the participating museums. If you have a Bank of America credit card or debit card, you are eligible to receive one free pass for Museum of Fine Arts, Boston on the first weekend each month. It is a great perk that can save you hundreds of dollars per year in value if you have one of the following eligible credit cards:
The Fenway Boston Massachusetts
Combine the power of a prestigious art school with a world-class academic institution to offer an unparalleled interdisciplinary education through the unique partnership between School of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, and Tufts University. With guidance from faculty advisors, who are professional artists, students build a path of study informed by their individual aspirations, creative vision and academic interests. As one of two schools in the United States affiliated with a major museum SMFA, students have access to the MFAs collections, as well as exclusive exhibition opportunities and internships. Partnerships with Northeastern University, the Pro-Arts Consortium, and other top-ranked colleges in Boston provide additional academic opportunities for degree-seeking students. With a student body comprised of motivated artists from all over the United States and 25 countries, the SMFA values cultural, artistic, and intellectual diversity. The School presents an annual schedule of notable visiting artists, public programs, and professional development resources. This is the school for students seeking to break boundaries and be the future of contemporary art.
DEGREES OFFERED: BFA, Combined Degree , Post-baccalaureate Certificate, MFA, and MAT degrees in interdisciplinary studio art artistic disciplines are listed below Majors Offered
ACCREDITATION: NASAD, NEASC
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Museum Of Fine Arts In Boston
Opened in 1870, Museum of Fine Arts in Boston, Massachusetts, is the fifth largest museum in the United States. It contains more than 500,000 works of art, making it one of the most comprehensive collections in the Americas. More than one million visitors each year come to experience art from ancient Egyptian to contemporary, special exhibitions, and innovative educational programs. It is one of the most visited art museums in the world.
The Museum of Fine Arts possesses materials from a wide variety of art movements and cultures. The museum also maintains a large online database with information on over 346,000 items from its collection, accompanied with digitized images.
The museum is affiliated with the School of the Museum of Fine Arts at Tufts. The Museum has undergone significant expansion and change in recent years 2010 marked the opening of the Art of the Americas Wing, with four levels of American art from ancient to modern. In 2011, the west wing of the Museum was transformed into the Linde Family Wing for Contemporary Art, with new galleries for contemporary art and social and learning spaces. Improved and new galleries for the MFA collections are always opening.
Umass Students And Staff Gain Free Admission To The Museum Of Fine Arts In Boston
University now a member of the MFAs University Membership Program
By Chris McLaughlin, Assistant News EditorSeptember 10, 2019
Beginning in summer 2019, University of Massachusetts students, staff and faculty have free entry to the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston.
This past August, UMass agreed to join the MFAs University Membership Program. The program, according to UMass News & Media Relations, provides a complimentary ticket per day into the museum and its various exhibits to those with a UMass valid ID, including a UCard.
Tickets are not limited to solely undergraduate students as graduate students and continuing education students are also included, the statement said.
The statement specified that effective immediately those who qualify, including members of the Mount Ida campus, will be provided access to one of the most comprehensive art museums in the world.
I love being able to go to the MFA whenever I have some free time, said Samantha Woolf, a junior studying journalism at Emerson College, whose students also receive free admission.
Ive been able to expose myself to art, history, culture and more, she added. Taking advantage of free admission is great for a college student like me who is saving money. Its awesome that I dont have to worry about cost when I want to go to the MFA.
UMass Boston is the only other participating UMass campus and free entry is only available for undergraduate students enrolled there.
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Faculty And Staffmemberships & discounts
BU Faculty & Staff receive free access to the the Institute of Contemporary Art and Museum of Fine Arts, Boston and discounted access the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum. Please visit our BU Museum Membershipspage for information on how to reserve tickets.
When reopened, Faculty & Staff can receive free passes to access the Harvard Art Museums .
Though not offered during the 2020/2021 academic year, faculty and staff can typically receive a 50% off discount on Boston Symphony Orchestra tickets with the BSO College Card.
A full list of these memberships and more are available on our Faculty & Staff discounts page.
Coming To Visit In Person
To learn more about general admission tickets, special exhibition tickets, or updated mask policies, review our Visit page with information about hours, access, and a map.
If you attend an institution that is part of the Museums University Membership Program, general admission tickets are free. If cost is a barrier for you or a family members experience at the MFA, please visit our Tickets page where you can find more information about special offers and events.
The Museum is a beautiful space to relax and spend time. If you are looking for a unique space to read, sketch, or concentrate on school work, the Museum offers plenty of peaceful areas. Calderwood Courtyard is located in the center of the MFA and is a great place to relax or grab a coffee from the Garden Cafeteria. The Huntington Avenue lawn is also a great place to enjoy a warm day in one of the many lawn chairs.
Follow this close looking guide to connect with our collection.
If youre looking to take home part of the MFA experience, the Linde Family Wing Bookstore and Shop has home decor, jewelry, stationery, prints, Art on Demand, fashion accessories, and toys. The MFA also has an online shop with select items available for purchase and curbside pickup.
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Museum Access Request Form
The Council for the Arts at MIT provides free general admission to the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum , the Institute of Contemporary Art , and the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston for MIT students, faculty, and staff. Tickets for the MFA are available in person, day of a promo code is no longer required.
For more information or questions, please contact
Institute of Contemporary Art, Boston
The ICA is open and timed entry tickets are required for university members. Use the form below to receive information about reserving a free ticket through MITs ICA University Membership.
Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum
The Gardner Museum is open and timed entry tickets are required. Use the form below to receive information about reserving a free ticket through MITs Gardner Museum Membership.
Eligibility For Free Admission
The MFA offers free admission and guided tours to Title I schools, public schools in Boston and Lawrence, and all schools in New Hampshire and Maine.
Indicate that your school meets one of these criteria when requesting your visit. Some schools may also be eligible for reimbursement of bus expenses.
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How Do I Present Tickets Purchased Or Reserved Online At The Door For Entry
Visitors and members who reserve tickets in advance are encouraged to select the Print at Home option to receive tickets electronically. Tickets may be presented on a mobile device or printed on paper. All tickets will be scanned at the door. To speed up your entry, have your tickets ready when you arrive at the Museum.
About The School Of The Museum Of Fine Arts At Tufts University
The School of the Museum of Fine Arts offers BFA and Combined Degree undergraduate programs, as well as graduate and non-degree programs, with areas of study that run the gamut from painting and sculpture to performance to virtual reality.
Students work with faculty across two campuses that together encompass almost 450,000 square feet of classroom, library, and studio space. We are closely connected with the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, and part of Tufts University’s School of Arts and Sciences. Our graduates go out into the world as highly skilled scholar-artists ready to make a difference.
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Can I Use My Membership Card For Admission
For general admission, membership cards admit MFA members daily per the limits of their membership level. For special exhibitions, timed-entry tickets are required for all visitors for specific exhibitions members cannot gain entry to special exhibitions with their membership card alone. Members have access to free or discounted special exhibition tickets, limited to the benefits of their membership level. We encourage all members to reserve tickets in advance online or by phone.
Two Campuses Countless Possibilities
As an SMFA student, you’ll take advantage of Boston, a vibrant, welcoming city where art, culture, and entertainment are everywhere. Across the Charles River, at our Medford/Somerville campus, you can take liberal arts and sciences classes and dig into a world of activities, clubs, and community groups. Whether hanging out with friends at campus events, checking out a show at a club, or searching for the city’s best food truck, you’ll choose your own adventureinside the classroom, and beyond.
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