Mayor Wu Extends Free BPS Sundays Museum Program
Mayor Michelle Wu announced that “BPS Sundays,” the program offering free admission to local museums and zoos for Boston Public Schools students and their families, has been extended through the end of the year.
The program, which was first announced during Mayor Wu’s 2024 State of the City address, kicked off in February and was originally going to run through August. Mayor Wu said via Instagram, “Since February, more than 36,000 students and families have joined us to experience the joy and wonder our cultural institutions have to offer. We’re so grateful to all our partners for giving our young people and their families a window to the world.”
Boston Public Schools Superintendent Mary Skipper said in a statement, “Access to these places gives our students the chance to explore their passions and be inspired, while connecting those experiences to what they are learning every day inside BPS classrooms.”
“BPS Sundays” take place on the first and second Sunday of each month. It allows BPS students and up to three of their family members free admission to the following local museums and zoos:
-The Boston Children’s Museum
-The Institute of Contemporary Art
-The Museum of Fine Arts
-Museum of Science
-The New England Aquarium
-The Franklin Park Zoo
For entry, BPS students must present their student transportation card and the weekly email sent to each student either printed out or on a mobile device. A student’s entry pass cannot be transferred to another person. At this time, students who live in Boston but aren’t enrolled in one of the city’s public schools are not included in the program.
Boston.gov notes, “Institutions frequently reach capacity, so families are encouraged to pre-register and reserve tickets online, and ensure that their email address is updated in the BPS system.”
The “BPS Sundays” program provides significant cost savings. General admission tickets at The Boston Children’s Museum cost $22. At the Institute of Contemporary Art, minors and 18-year-olds get in for free, but full price tickets for adults are $15. General admission tickets at The Museum of Fine Arts are $27 for adults, $10 for youths 7-17 and free for youths 0-6. Over at the New England Aquarium, general admission tickets are $34 for adults, $25 for youths 3-17 and free for youths under three. Meanwhile, the Franklin Park Zoo charges $20.95 for adults, $14.65 for children 2-12 and is free for children under two.
