Admission to the MFA—including access to “Van Gogh: The Roulin Family Portraits”—is free for all Massachusetts residents on June 19 in honor of Juneteenth, the oldest nationally observed commemoration of the ending of slavery in the United States.

Join us for performances, participate in art-making activities, catch a talk, and see “Van Gogh” as well as  “Witnessing Humanity: The Art of John Wilson,” which explores the 60-year career of the Roxbury native through work in a range of media.

Events and Activities

Drop-In Art Making: Drawing Our World

10 am–4p m (last entry 3:45pm)
Huntington Lawn (rain location: Druker Family Pavillion)

Visit “Witnessing Humanity: The Art of John Wilson” to explore paintings, sculptures, prints, and drawings by the Roxbury native. Afterward, create your own drawing that showcases shared experiences and the world around you using charcoal, pastels, and crayons.

Guided Tours

11 am, Noon, 1 pm, and 2 pm
Meet in Sharf Visitor Center

Wondering where to start your visit? Experience the Museum on a free 60-minute guided tour. Led by knowledgeable guides, look closely at artwork across the MFA’s collections. Learn more about old favorites and discover something new! Participants of all ages and experiences are welcome.

A Little History 2.0

11:30 am and 12:15 pm
Gallery 184

Presented by Castle of our Skins, a cultural organization celebrating Black artistry through music, “A Little History 2.0” is an interactive educational performance that tells the simplified stories of nine historical moments in Black history. At the center of this program is a set of original poems and pieces for solo narrating marimbaist, composed by Anthony R. Green. Each vignette contains music, text describing a historical moment, and audience participation.

Through the performance, learn about the importance of Benin City; Mansa Abubakari II and Africans in the Americas; Igbo Landing; Seneca Village; Mary Fields, the first Black delivery woman; Charles F. Page, inventor of the airship; the Tulsa race massacre; math genius Katherine Johnson; and Juneteenth.

When Spirit Speaks: Ancestral Tongues

Noon, 1, 2, 3, and 4pm
Gallery 168

Join spoken word artists Amanda Shea, Jovan McKoy, Donat De La Cruz, and Felicia Cade for a special performance that reflects on the enduring legacy of Juneteenth and celebrates freedom, resilience, and the ongoing struggle for racial justice. This powerful program honors the bold voices of liberation that continue to shape transformative change worldwide.

Presented with support from the Mayor’s Office of Arts and Culture, City of Boston.

Future Masters Chess Academy

Noon–4 pm
Calderwood Courtyard

Future Masters Chess Academy uses chess to improve focus, thinking ability, and decision making both on and off the chessboard. See how chess inspires creativity and strategic thinking among school-aged children. Visitors of all ages are invited to stop by and play chess. Try out a life-sized chess set and learn from our masters—including a state champion!

Stepping on Another Level Step Team

12:30 and 1:30 pm
Shapiro Family Courtyard

Join Stepping on Another Level (SOAL) as the group showcases step—a powerful and rhythmic form of dance deeply rooted in African traditions, where the body becomes an instrument, using foot stomps, hand claps, and spoken word to create a unique and energetic sound. Founded in 2013, SOAL proudly stands as Northeastern University’s premier and only step team. It has showcased this art form at a variety of events both on and off campus and has competed in numerous step competitions across the Northeast, earning a respected reputation for our precision, energy, and passion. Beyond performances and competitions, SOAL is committed to giving back to the community.

Teen Talk: Sons of Liberty Bowl

1 and 2 pm
Gallery 132

Teen Arts Council member Jalil Presley Rogers highlights the Sons of Liberty Bowl, crafted by Paul Revere in 1768. This iconic silver punch bowl was commissioned by the Sons of Liberty, a secret, revolutionary organization, to honor the “Glorious Ninety-Two.”

Boston Arts Academy Spirituals Ensemble

2:30 pm
Shapiro Family Courtyard

Celebrate the evolution of African American sacred choral music with a performance by Boston Arts Academy’s Spirituals Ensemble. Founded in 2009 by Boston Arts Academy head of school Tyrone Sutton and led by Michael W. Bradley, the Spirituals Ensemble delivers a captivating vocal performance.

617Peak: Voices of the Future

4:15 pm
Shapiro Family Courtyard

Don’t miss this dynamic poetry and performance event led by 617Peak. Young voices stand at the center of the conversation as performers delivering spoken word and music that speaks truth to power and honors the past while building what’s next. This is a space for youth to lead, express, and ignite change.

Roxbury International Film Festival Presents ‘Paint Me a Road Out of Here’

7–8 :45 pm
Remis Auditorium

Catch a free screening of Paint Me a Road Out of Here, presented by the Roxbury International Film Festival (ROXFILM). Featuring artists Faith Ringgold and Mary Enoch Elizabeth Baxter, this documentary uncovers the whitewashed history of For the Women’s House, a masterpiece painted by Ringgold, and follows its 50-year journey from Rikers Island to the Brooklyn Museum in a heartbreaking, funny, and true parable for a world without mass incarceration.

Free tickets for Paint Me a Road Out of Here are available in person on a first-come, first-served basis. Pick up tickets at the Remis box office beginning at 6 pm. Limit of one ticket per person. Please note: admission to this screening is not guaranteed with the ROXFILM festival pass.

Deaf Exhibition Tour and Art Making

Visitors who are Deaf can join a tour of “Witnessing Humanity” and participate in an art-making activity inspired by the exhibition and led by a Deaf artist. Reservations are required. Please contact [email protected] for more information or to register.