The Council for the Arts at MIT underwrites MIT’s memberships at many Boston area cultural organizations, including the Museum of Fine Arts (MFA), Institute of Contemporary Art, Boston (ICA), and the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum. Free tickets are available to students, faculty, and staff for timed entry to these museums. Please see below for more detailed information on our partnerships with specific institutions.

The Council also helps underwrite discounted student tickets to the Boston Ballet, and provides students with information about discounted tickets to performances by several area ensembles. The Bobko BSO Ticket Fund, created by Philip and Barbara Bobko, provides discounted tickets to BSO performances, and is administered by CAMIT.

CAMIT is unable to make any representations that these arts organizations are safe to visit. Please ensure you understand each arts organization’s access procedures, as well as MIT’s community expectations for graduate and undergraduate students. 

 

Please contact council-arts@mit.edu with questions.

 

Request MIT codes to reserve tickets to the ICA and Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum

 

Join our Arts Access Student Email List to receive alerts about arts opportunities, including free and discounted ticket offers
A geometric, modern building with "ICA" logo on a waterfront.
ICA Boston. Courtesy of the ICA.

Institute of Contemporary Art, Boston (ICA)

The Council for the Arts supports free general admission to the ICA for MIT students, faculty, and staff. 

 

As of August 2021, a promo code is required to reserve timed entry tickets through our University Membership. Please click here for information about reserving a free timed-entry ticket.

 

Visit the ICA website to take part in their virtual programs, including artist talks, at home art-making, virtual gallery tours, and more.

More information about the ICA

 

 

Eligibility: Current MIT students (with valid Student ID) and current MIT faculty and staff (with valid Employee ID)

Yellow flowers with Italianate arches and a classical statue in the background.
Gardner Museum Courtyard.

Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum

The Council for the Arts at MIT provides free general admission to the Gardner Museum for MIT students, faculty, and staff. 

 

The Gardner Museum is open. Please click here for information about reserving a free timed-entry ticket.  Discounted $8 tickets for non-MIT guests are available through MITAC. 

 

Explore the Gardner’s collection on the museum’s website.

More information about the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum

 

Eligibility: Current MIT students, faculty, and staff; temporary free admission for all MIT affiliates (with valid ID)

A geometric metal sculpture on a lawn outside a grey building and a white building.
MFA Boston.

Museum of Fine Arts, Boston (MFA)

The Council for the Arts at MIT provides free general admission to the Museum of Fine Arts for MIT students, faculty, and staff.

 

As of July 2021, the MFA is no longer requiring that University Members reserve tickets in advance. MIT students, faculty, and staff should present their MIT ID at the MFA ticketing desk to pick up their free general admission ticket and to purchase discounted tickets to special exhibitions. University Member tickets (general admission and special exhibitions) cannot be reserved/purchased online or in advance. 

More information about the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston 

 

Eligibility: Current MIT students (with valid Student ID) and current MIT faculty and staff (with valid Employee ID)

An orchestra conductor conducts a concert.
Andris Nelsons, Boston Symphony Orchestra, 2017.

Boston Symphony Orchestra (BSO)

The Bobko BSO Ticket Fund underwrites student access to the BSO through the College Card program. $5-10 cards for MIT students were available for the 2021-22 BSO season, which wrapped up at the end of April 2022. Discounted BSO College Cards will be available for MIT students for the 2022-23 BSO season; check back here for more information this summer.

 

The BSO also offers $25 tickets for patrons under 40 to select performances.

More information about the Boston Symphony Orchestra

 

 

Eligibility: Current MIT students and postdocs (with valid ID)

Three dancers perform a contemporary ballet.
Parts in Suite, Boston Ballet, 2018.

Boston Ballet

The Council for the Arts at MIT supports discounted tickets for students to Boston Ballet performances each year. For the 2021-22 season, a limited number of discounted ($20) tickets were available for the Boston Ballet’s performances in the spring — choreograpHER (March 4), DREAMstate (March 18), MINDscape (May 6), and Swan Lake (May 26 & 27). Sign up for the arts access email list to receive updates about tickets. Proof of COVID-19 vaccination or negative test required.

 

More information about the Boston Ballet

 

 

Eligibility: Current MIT students (with valid Student ID)