1. MAAM is Not a Traditional Museum

Unlike traditional museums, MAAM is a kunsthalle—a space with no permanent collection, where exhibitions are always changing. Over the past five years, MAAM has featured world-renowned artists and countless other creative visionaries.

You saw it here first — world premieres

• Joana Vasconcelos’ Valkyrie Mumbet — A breathtaking inflated one ton textile sculpture honoring Elizabeth “Mumbet” Freeman suspended entirely from MAAM’s 37-foot ceiling.

• Jace Clayton: They Are Part — A multisensory installation exploring the unexpected connections and conversations embedded in global music.

• Sandra M. Sawatzky’s Black Gold Tapestry — A 220-foot embroidered narrative chronicling humanity’s relationship with oil over the past 5,000 years.

2. MAAM Provides Hands-On Museum Experience for MassArt Students

As a teaching museum, MAAM immerses MassArt students in real-world museum work, from art handling to program planning, social media to exhibition graphic design. Students have played a key role in shaping recent exhibitions—creating signage, promotional materials, as well as designing museum uniforms, socks, and merchandise. In FY24, a quarter of MAAM’s budget directly supported student employment. Many former student employees have gone on to careers in major museums in Boston, New York, and beyond.

3. MAAM Offers Free Creative Programming

MAAM is more than a museum—it is a cultural laboratory where visitors experience the transformative power of art. You’re invited to participate in MAAM’s free educational programs. 

Join us!

• The Barkan Family Big Ideas Studio — A hands-on space where visitors can experiment with materials, explore big ideas, and challenge the status quo.

• Twilight at MAAM  — A monthly evening series featuring creative conversations, seasonal beverages, and interactive art-making experiences.

• Art on the Plaza — A summer series featuring live music, artist collaborations, and hands-on artmaking on the Arne Glimcher Plaza. A highlight of the series is the Veronica Robles All Women Mariachi Band, a consistent audience favorite.

4. MAAM Prioritizes Sustainability—For Both People and Places

MAAM is committed to ethical and sustainable practices that support both artists and the environment.

• Fair Pay for Artists: MAAM is one of only a few institutions in Massachusetts to be certified by Working Artists and the Greater Economy (W.A.G.E.), ensuring artists receive fair compensation for their work.

• Eco-Friendly Exhibitions: The museum has phased out vinyl wall text, replacing it with 100 percent recyclable materials for exhibition signage.

• Investing in Future Museum Leaders: In Spring 2023, MAAM launched the Catalyst Fellows program, supporting first-generation, low-income MassArt students as they explore careers in museums and the arts. Fellows work closely with MAAM staff in education, exhibitions, or outreach while receiving both an hourly wage and a scholarship award.

5. MAAM is Recognized as One of Boston’s Top Art Destinations

MAAM was named one of Smithsonian Magazine’s “most anticipated museum openings of 2020,” alongside museums in Egypt, Dubai, and beyond.

More Accolades

• Boston Globe Magazine named MAAM a 2024 “Best of the Best” destination.

• Art in America reviewed the Fall 2024 exhibition, Displacement.

• Condé Nast Traveler named MAAM one of Boston’s 17 Best Museums.

What’s Next?

MAAM’s mission is to open eyes, expand minds, and create opportunity through contemporary art. Currently on view at the museum through April 13, 2025 is Future Fossils, a snapshot of how we live today, revealing aspects of our lives left behind for later generations to decode. The artworks—imagined relics—come from artists based in North America, Latin America, and Europe.

The museum is also preparing for a major milestone: in May 2025, MAAM will serve as the only museum partner commissioning a project by a Boston Public Art Triennial artist. 

Happy Birthday, MAAM!

To learn more, visit maam.massart.edu.