By Katy Zeigler, News Correspondent

With the advent of technology and the constant flow of information coming through various means of communication we have today, it is no wonder that some people feel disenchanted with the younger generation. This generation is commonly depicted as addicted to social media, texting, television and generally adverse to anything that has to do with culture. Are we, as the youth of today, losing an appreciation for the arts? Is it apathy, boredom or the thought that art isn’t “cool” enough keeping the younger generation from going to museums, listening to classical music and enriching their minds?

Several museums and other local art venues in the Boston area offer reduced or free student admissions in an effort to keep the younger generation involved with the arts. Despite these student deals – for example, the Museum of Fine Arts (MFA) offers free admission to Northeastern students – many students are unaware of their availability, or find artistic outings “inaccessible.”

According to Julie Frey, a public relations coordinator for the MFA, the museum saw more than 110,000 student guests last year. The MFA has a broad marketing campaign to promote the free admission for colleges in the greater Boston area. Frey said that at the beginning of the fall semester, the MFA ran a month-long campaign of online ads in The News, letting students know about University Member benefits. In addition to free admission, students also get 20 percent off concert tickets, 10 percent off MFA shop purchases and $5 film tickets. Frey pointed out that the MFA also coordinates with the Northeastern Office for Student Affairs (OSA).

“[OSA] will be distributing materials to students living in campus dormitories about the MFA’s collection and specifics of student membership; this information has also been shared via social media,” she said. “More recently, we’ve been running more print and online ads in the Huntington News that promote the Mario Testino: “In Your Face” exhibition and clearly state that it’s ‘Free for Northeastern Undergrads.’ These examples are from Northeastern, and we’ve been replicating them at other schools in the Boston metro region.”

With such a large marketing campaign and free admission to one of the top museums in the country, one would think that students would take advantage, or at least be aware of, the fact that such a program was available to them. However, the majority of students interviewed were not aware that the MFA offered free admission. Middler international affairs major Aditi Giri offered up a solution to the problem of students being unaware.

“If Northeastern had said something earlier on, perhaps in orientation, about how the MFA gives free admission to NU students, it would be a good way to increase student awareness. Students could go there for free everyday,” she said.

Freshman computer science major Zachary Webert said he believed that the Boston Symphony Orchestra was completely inaccessible to him.

“When I walk by the Boston Symphony Orchestra, I see people standing around in suits, so it seems like something that would be unaffordable to me,” he said.

Is it enough to raise awareness of the access and affordability that students have to such world renowned institutions? It depends on who you talk to. Webert said he thinks this generation is losing an appreciation for the arts.

“No one really goes to the art museums for fun. Just for school projects and stuff,” he said.

Giri echoed this sentiment about the younger generation as a whole, adding, “In my perspective, people in college would rather stay home, watch TV, drink. That cultural curiosity has died down.”

Personally, however, she feels that, “Art gives you a new perspective on life. When you look at these masterpieces, it gives you a new perspective on your own life.”