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. Please see below for more detailed information.

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.

MIT Lincoln Lab employees: to take advantage of MIT’s University Memberships with the MFA, the ICA, and the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, please request an MIT Employee ID card through the Atlas Service Center.

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 regarding COVID-19. 

 

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

 

Request MIT codes to reserve museum tickets

 

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.

More information about the ICA

 

 

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

More information about the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum

 

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

 

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. Free tickets for the Obama Portraits Tour may be reserved in person on the day of your visit, pending availability.

More information about the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston 

 

Eligibility: Current MIT students (with valid MIT Student ID) and current MIT faculty and staff (with valid MIT 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. MIT students: purchase your discounted $9 College Card here (regular price: $30).

 

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

 

Read about Symphony Hall’s COVID-19 policies.

More information about the Boston Symphony Orchestra

 

 

Eligibility: Current MIT students (with valid Student ID)

Two ballet dancers perform wearing classical costumes.

Boston Ballet

The Council for the Arts at MIT supports discounted tickets for students to Boston Ballet performances each year. $25 MIT student tickets will be available for the following 2022-23 season performances: My Obsession (October 14), As Anticipated (November 4), The Nutcracker (December 3 & 9), Don Quixote (March 18), Our Journey (April 7), and The Sleeping Beauty (May 25). A link to purchase tickets will be sent out to the Arts Access email list approximately one month before each performance.

 

Read about the Boston Ballet’s COVID-19 policies.

More information about the Boston Ballet

 

 

Eligibility: Current MIT students (with valid Student ID)

A second-floor gallery in a sun-lit atrium with classical arches.
Harvard Art Museums.

Harvard Art Museums

The Harvard Art Museums offer free admission to all students with a valid ID. Other members of the MIT community who are eligible can take advantage of the Harvard Art Museum’s local rates, which grant free admission to all Cambridge residents, free admission on Saturdays between 10am and noon to all Massachusetts residents (proof of residency required). Admission is free for all on Sundays.

More information about Harvard Art Museums

 

Eligibility: Current students with valid ID

 

Local rates are available for eligible members of the MIT community

In “Operation Epsilon,” World War II is nearing its end and 10 of Germany’s top nuclear scientists are being held as prisoners of war at a mansion in England. Credit: A.R. Sinclair Photography.
In “Operation Epsilon,” World War II is nearing its end and 10 of Germany’s top nuclear scientists are being held as prisoners of war at a mansion in England. Credit: A.R. Sinclair Photography.

Central Square Theater

Catalyst Collaborative @ MIT, a collaboration between Central Square Theater and MIT, is the nation’s only on-going partnership between a professional theater company and a world-class research institution.

Central Square Theater offers a special subscription package for MIT students, which allows students to purchase 4 tickets for $25. For more information, visit Subscriptions at Central Square Theater.

More about Central Square Theater

 

Eligibility: Current MIT students with valid MIT Student ID