Photo: Kim Tunnicliffe (WBZ NewsRadio)
BOSTON (WBZ NewsRadio) — A new pilot program from the City of Boston will let Boston Public Schools students and their families get in for free at six major cultural attractions around the city.
The partnership between Mayor Michelle Wu's office and the six institutions is called BPS Sundays. It is the latest effort from the Wu Administration to make Boston the most family-friendly city.
On the first and second Sunday of every month—starting Sunday, Feb. 4 through August 2024—public school students and family members will get free admission to the Boston Children’s Museum, the Franklin Park Zoo, the Institute of Contemporary Art, the Museum of Fine Arts, the Museum of Science, and the New England Aquarium.
Mayor Michelle Wu joined the heads of the six institutions at the Boston Children's Museum Friday to formally launch the program.
"We are here today to reaffirm our belief that our world-leading arts and culture institutions are public infrastructure, in the same way that our roads and bridges and schools are," Wu said. "We’re here to affirm the institutions belong to all of our residents, especially our young people."
"There is so much these cultural institutions offer—educational, experiential, [or] just time with their families," New England Aquarium Vice President Suzanne Liola Matus told WBZ NewsRadio.
John Linehan, Zoo New England President and CEO, hopes this new partnership will open up kids’ worlds and broaden their horizons.
"We see a lot of young people that don’t see what’s out there," Linehan said. "They see walls around themselves. We give them a step ladder to see over the horizon and I think that’s what this program is."
According to officials, students and families must show a school ID or their personalized BPS email to gain free admission. Because of capacity, people are encouraged to pre-register and reserve tickets online.
WBZ's Kim Tunnicliffe (@KimWBZ) reports.
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