Martin Luther King Jr., or MLK, Day is Jan. 20, and with it comes opportunities for Boston residents to experience the arts through free immersive activities. From art-making to live performances honoring the Civil Rights Movement leader’s legacy, MLK Day opens the arts scene to all.
The only National Day of Service in the calendar year, MLK Day is an active day of public reflection, emphasizing the need for engagement with King’s continued legacy. Museums across the United States collaborate with civic engagement and local activist groups to strengthen community and allow all to access the arts.
The Museum of Fine Arts
The Museum of Fine Arts, or MFA, is hosting its 23rd annual MLK Day Open House from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tickets will be offered in person on a first-come, first-served basis with a valid membership or proof of Massachusetts residency. In addition to free access and scheduled tours of over 500,000 works of art and special exhibits, including the “Georgia O’Keeffe and Henry Moore” exhibit, the MFA will also host art-making activities.
From 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the Druker Family Pavilion, visitors can create stained glass doves — window-hanging art that symbolizes peace. A job fair will be offered in the Shapiro Family Courtyard from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., where attendees can learn about career opportunities and participate in open interviews. Spoken-word and visual performances by ArtSpark, a local community-organized art events collective, will also be held in Gallery 168 at 11 a.m., 1 p.m. and 2:15 p.m.
A spotlight talk delivered at 11:30 a.m. and 12:45 p.m. in Gallery 158 will connect the legacy of female civil rights activists and leaders through artist Faith Ringgold’s story quilt “Dream 2: King & The Sisterhood.” Talks and films by the MFA’s Teen Arts Council and Boston-based racial justice group Wee the People will present immersive art-making that celebrates Black culture and community across several galleries throughout the day.
The Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum
Just around the corner from the MFA, the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, or ISG, has its free open house from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. The ISG will feature the immersive soundscape “Riot: A Sermon of Anger, Dreams and Love” by Boston-based designer and musical artist Dzidzor located among the museum’s always-blooming seasonal courtyard.
A performance and discussion organized by spoken-word artist Amanda Shea at 3 p.m. will feature the works of musician Wylsner Bastien in an exploration of the resilience of dreams. A public art-making studio activity led by artist Crystal Bi from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. will allow visitors to create and take home multimedia creations drawn from archives.
Tickets to visit the ISG are available in person on a first-come, first-served basis.
The Institute of Contemporary Art
The Institute of Contemporary Art, or ICA, located in the Seaport District, will also open its doors from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The open house will also host Wee The People from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. with the art-making workshop “Who Gets to Make History?” Martin Luther King Jr. Day also marks the final day for viewing the “Tau Lewis: Spirit Level” and “Gun Violence Memorial Project” exhibits.
Tickets to the ICA’s free admission require advanced reservation on the ICA website beginning Jan. 19. On-site ticket offerings will be available, but not guaranteed.
