Boston families denied access to free museum and zoo days
- Boston Family Days allows all K-12 students and their families to visit cultural institutions for free.
- The initiative has already attracted over 44,000 participants since its inception.
- Opening up access to more families underscores Boston’s commitment to inclusive cultural engagement.
In a significant cultural initiative, Mayor Michelle Wu of Boston recently announced an expansion of a program designed to provide families with free access to the city’s prominent museums, zoo, and aquarium. This program, previously known as BPS Sundays, will be rebranded as Boston Family Days. It originated earlier this year and was aimed at Boston Public School students and their families, allowing them free admission on the first and second Sundays of each month. The program has been well-received, with over 44,000 students and their families benefiting from it thus far. Starting in January, Boston Family Days will extend eligibility to all students in grades K-12 who reside in the city, including Boston Pre-K students. Each eligible student will be permitted to bring two guests for free to participating museums and cultural sites. This marks a notable broadening of the program’s accessibility and inclusivity. The participating institutions include revered attractions such as the Boston Children's Museum, the Museum of Fine Arts, and the New England Aquarium, among others. The development of this initiative was not without its challenges. There have been discussions regarding the inclusion of students from charter, parochial, or METCO schools, with some city councilors calling for the extension of free access to these students. Mayor Wu, however, had previously stated her intent to maintain the existing structure of the program without making immediate changes during its initial pilot phase, which has sparked some debate in the community regarding equality in educational opportunities. Moreover, the financial backing for Boston Family Days comes from various sources, including Amazon and other philanthropists. The program is set to run through December 2026, indicating a long-term commitment to enhancing cultural accessibility for Boston’s families. The move reflects both a commitment to educational equity and a recognition of the value of cultural experiences in the development of children and their families. As such, this ambitious program positions Boston as a model for other cities aiming to forge similar paths in promoting cultural literacy and engagement among their residents.