On October 28, the Institute of Contemporary Art / Boston announced the launch of the ICA Artist Pass. An initiative helmed by the ICA’s new Ellen Matilda Poss Director, Nora Burnett Abrams, the program gives artists living in Massachusetts one free entry per day, accessible via a digital pass, which is valid for one year from the issue date. According to the ICA’s press team, since announcing the initiative last week, over 570 artists have applied for the program.
“Artists are among our most important stakeholders and, as a hub for artists, we want to ensure that the ICA is their home away from home, where they feel deeply connected and welcomed. Our hope is that many Massachusetts artists will sign up, participate in, and enjoy this program,” said Abrams via email.
The program is funded by ICA board member Leslie Riedel and her husband, Scott Friend. In an email, Riedel stated, “Supporting this initiative is a wonderful opportunity to welcome more artists into the ICA, and advance the vision that Nora and the museum have to deepen our connection with the local creative community. I am so proud to be part of it!”
According to the ICA, artists “of all disciplines” are invited to apply for the program through the ICA website. Per the museum, other than living in Massachusetts, the primary requirement is that artists share their website or social media which must demonstrate they are “actively pursuing an artistic practice” in visual, performing, or literary arts.
The high cost of tickets at US museums is just one of the barriers that keep the public from enjoying museums’ offerings. With this program, the ICA joins the ranks of Boston-area museums enriching civic life through making museum attendance more affordable by waiving entrance fees.
For families, the ticket prices can really add up. A few civic programs have tried to tackle this issue, but caveats and fine print may limit access. The Boston Public Library Museum Pass program allows cardholders of public libraries to reserve discounted entry tickets to participating area museums. This program is limited to one museum entry per library card holder per thirty-day period.
The City of Boston’s Boston Family Days program gives all children enrolled in K-12 Boston-area schools free entry for them, plus two guests. However, this program is restricted to the first and second Sunday of each month and to a list of participating museums (of which the ICA and MFA are included).
In 2020, Mass Cultural Council launched CultureRx, an umbrella initiative envisioned by then–executive director Anita Walker to connect arts and wellness through access programs. One major component, social prescribing, continues today as a partnership between Mass Cultural Council and Art Pharmacy, forming the first statewide social prescription network in the nation. Through this model, healthcare professionals can “prescribe” arts experiences, such as museum visits, to support patients’ well-being.
Meanwhile, the ongoing Card to Culture program positions access to arts and culture as a key component of healthy communities. A voluntary partnership between Mass Cultural Council, the state agencies that administer EBT, WIC, and ConnectorCare programs, and nearly 600 participating cultural organizations, Card to Culture ensures that individuals and families can access free or reduced admission to cultural experiences across Massachusetts.
Art centers and museums housed within local universities and colleges generally offer free admission. The MassArt Art Museum has billed itself as “Boston’s first free contemporary art museum”since 2021. In Cambridge, the MIT List Visual Arts Center and Carpenter Center have always offered free entry. Harvard Art Museum notably only began offering free admission in 2023, thanks to a gift from the Estate of David Rockefeller. The Rose Art Museum at Brandeis has been free since its opening in 1961. The ICA Artist Pass is novel for being the first of its kind in the Greater Boston area to specifically benefit members of the public that identify as practicing artists.
Abrams started in her new role at the ICA on May 1, 2025, following Jill Medvedow’s twenty-seven-year tenure that transformed the ICA’s reputation into that of a contemporary art hub on a global scale. On August 28, Abrams held an open house event for Boston-area artists to meet with her, signaling an intention to deepen relationships with local artists.
It’s not yet clear how many artists will take advantage of the program or for how long the program will be in effect. “This is a new initiative for the museum, so we will need to see how the program grows and develops over time,” said the museum’s press liaison over email. Artists who are holders of the digital pass are encouraged to book their entry online ahead of time, but same-day access is also available.
