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# In Wake of Tragedy, Boston's Art Museums Free Today
- URL: https://hyperallergic.com/in-wake-of-tragedy-bostons-art-museums-free-today/
- Published: 2013-04-16T16:19:40.000Z
- Updated: 2025-11-24T16:35:27.000Z
- Description: This morning, as Boston mourned yesterday’s tragedy, its major art institutions announced free admission to the public, “a place of respite for our community” in the words of the Museum of Fine Arts.
- Author: Mostafa Heddaya
- Tags: News, ICA Boston, MFA Boston, #wp, #wp-post, #image-position-hidden, #Import 2025-11-24 06:51 (2012, 2013, part 1)

![goyasuenos](https://storage.ghost.io/c/51/f8/51f871d8-b6be-4a73-b958-0ca4fff0110a/content/images/hyperallergic-newspack-s3-amazonaws-com/uploads/2013/04/goyasuenos.jpg)

Francisco Goya y Lucientes. “El Sueño de la Razon Produce Monstruos” (1799) (via Museum of Fine Arts, Boston)

This morning, as Boston mourned yesterday’s tragedy, its major art institutions announced free admission to the public, “a place of respite for our community” in the [words](https://twitter.com/mfaboston/status/324162691851755522?ref=hyperallergic.com) of the Museum of Fine Arts.

> The MFA will be free today. We hope the Museum will be a place of respite for our community.  
>  
> — Museum of Fine Arts, Boston (@mfaboston) [April 16, 2013](https://twitter.com/mfaboston/status/324162691851755522?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=hyperallergic.com)

The Institute of Contemporary Art [joined](https://twitter.com/ICAinBOSTON/status/324169465237483520?ref=hyperallergic.com) the MFA in opening its doors, also announcing on Twitter their wish to provide a space for “community & reflection.”

> ICA admission is free for all visitors today. We hope the museum will offer a place of community & reflection. [#WeAreBoston](https://twitter.com/hashtag/WeAreBoston?src=hash&ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=hyperallergic.com)  
>  
> — ICA/Boston (@ICAinBOSTON) [April 16, 2013](https://twitter.com/ICAinBOSTON/status/324169465237483520?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=hyperallergic.com)

With these gestures, both museums have manifested their purpose not just as stewards of art history, but as institutions in the service of the public. The relationship between art and suffering, or art as a response to suffering, is a complex one, but the therapeutic power of museums as places of quiet contemplation is undeniable.

**Museum of Fine Arts, Boston**  
Tuesday hours: 10am–4:30pm  
465 Huntington Ave, Boston  
[www.mfa.org](http://www.mfa.org/?ref=hyperallergic.com)

**Institute of Contemporary Art, Boston**  
Tuesday hours: 10am–5pm  
100 Northern Ave, Boston  
[www.icaboston.org](http://www.icaboston.org/?ref=hyperallergic.com)

The Isabella Stewart Gardner museum, which is closed on Tuesdays, posted a [tweet](https://twitter.com/gardnermuseum/status/323896452822728704?ref=hyperallergic.com) offering its thoughts to everyone at the finish line of the Boston Marathon, as did the [Harvard Art Museums](https://twitter.com/harvartmuseums/status/324180182686633985?ref=hyperallergic.com) in Cambridge.

The Harvard Art Museums are open today, though the admission fee has not been suspended as of press time.

> Our thoughts are with everyone at the finish line of the Boston Marathon today. We hope your friends and loved ones are safe.  
>  
> — Gardner Museum (@gardnermuseum) [April 15, 2013](https://twitter.com/gardnermuseum/status/323896452822728704?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=hyperallergic.com)

> Our thoughts are with our neighbors in Boston and all who were affected by yesterday's tragic events. Hope your loved ones are safe.  
>  
> — Harvard Art Museums (@harvartmuseums) [April 16, 2013](https://twitter.com/harvartmuseums/status/324180182686633985?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=hyperallergic.com)