Inclusion at the MFA

Four visitors looking at contemporary ceramic vessels seemingly made from broken ceramic fragments
Four visitors looking at contemporary ceramic vessels seemingly made from broken ceramic fragments

At the MFA, we take a 360-degree view of inclusion, from our visitors and audiences to our staff, leaders, and volunteers. To cultivate an inclusive organizational culture that fosters belonging, and acknowledges that the work is ongoing, the MFA convened a staff IDEA (inclusion, diversity, equity, access) task force as a starting point for programs and exploration at all levels of the Museum. Their vision statement is below:

“Leading with art, we envision moving forward as a museum that models an ecosystem and culture of empathy, kindness, curiosity, creativity, and respect. The MFA values our community of employees, volunteers, leaders, and audience, bringing a collective responsibility to embrace and leverage the beauty and strength that grows from our differences. We pledge to remain in a mode of inquiry and open and transparent dialogue about our challenges and successes.”

Department of Inclusion and Belonging

The department promotes a sense of belonging for all visitors by incorporating inclusion practice across departments as well as the MFA's commitment to a diverse, inclusive, equitable and accessible environment for staff, visitors, artists, and volunteers.

By offering training, sharing research, facilitating dialogue, and engaging outside expertise, the department aspires to develop a culturally competent, accessible, and inclusive MFA that reflects the city of Boston, and uplifts a diversity of perspectives and lived experiences.

Here are some recent Museum-wide programs implemented for staff.

Employee Resource Groups

The MFA currently has four Employee Resource Groups (ERG), with more in development:

  • BIPOC
  • LGBTQIA+
  • Parents and Caregivers
  • Disability

Employee Resource groups foster belonging in the workplace by providing employees opportunities to connect with each other around shared vision, values, identity and culture. Through ERGs, MFA staff create a network of support for each other, while making opportunities for professional development, connecting with neighboring communities through service, and helping to cultivate an inclusive organizational culture.

Audio Tours on MFA Mobile

Visitor holding up smartphone with audio stop on screen, standing in front of silver Liberty Bowl in case

Hear the multilanguage labels for “Translating American Stories” read aloud; listen to local musicians respond to artwork in “Art and Jazz”; and much more at MFA Mobile on Bloomberg Connects, the free arts and culture app. The app is fully accessible and includes text transcripts and audio descriptions of the art for visitors who are blind or have low vision.

Land Acknowledgment

“The Museum of Fine Arts, Boston (the MFA) is in Boston, Massachusetts. Founded in 1870, the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, stands on the historic homelands of the Massachusett people, a site which has long served as a place of meeting and exchange among different nations. ​As a museum, we acknowledge the long history of the land we occupy today and seek ways to make Indigenous narratives more prominent in our galleries and programming. We can all learn more about the Massachusett people, who continue to be the stewards of this land, by visiting massachusetttribe.org.”

Conclusion of Memorandum of Understanding with the Attorney General’s Office

Following allegations of discrimination after a 2019 student visit from the Helen Y. Davis Leadership Academy (DLA), the MFA developed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office in 2020. This MOU committed the Museum to revising internal policies, engaging in reconciliation efforts, developing community initiatives, and establishing a $500,000 implementation fund to facilitate those efforts. In partnership with the DLA, and with the approval of the Attorney General, the fund was transformed into the Helen Y. Davis Leadership Endowment, supporting MFA programs for DLA alumni and professional development for Massachusetts teachers. This marked the completion of the Museum's commitments under the MOU. The Museum’s initiatives during the period of the MOU can be found in the Reports listed below.