Between Friday, September 5, though Sunday, September 7, the Museum of Fine Arts added an additional $2.3 million to its funds. The surge of cash was likely due in most part to the museum’s programming surrounding the 20th anniversary of director Malcolm Rogers.
The museum put on a number of events and activities to commemorate the two decades worth of service provided by Rogers, including free admission to the public on Sunday, September 7, as well as a gala dubbed MFA By Moonlight on Saturday night at $200 per ticket.
September 7th was designated ‘Malcolm Rogers Day’ by Mayor of Boston Marty Walsh. The money raised throughout the entire weekend is to be put towards “education, access and community programs at the MFA––highlighting Rogers’ commitment to these areas” as well as “he role of the MFA’s Manager of Accessibility, free open houses and community days, and the expansion of the MFA Guide––an iPod Touch device that features multimedia tours in 10 languages, including American Sign Language,” according to the museum.
“Like so many new Americans from around the world—Amish, Spanish, French, German, and English among them—Malcolm will leave behind a lasting aesthetic and architectural legacy,” said honorary trustee Barbara Alfond in a statement. “These two painted chests are examples of ordinary objects that have been elevated, through a combination of Old World traditions, New World materials, and individual creativity, into distinctively American art forms … much, we dare say, like Malcolm Rogers himself.”
The MFA By Moonlight event was helmed by WCVB-TV Chronicle host J.C. Monahan who ran MC duties for the MFA’s courtyard party.
Some 4,012 visitors crossed the MFA’s threshold on Sunday, helping to bring attention to the MFA’s “20 Reasons to Visit” campaign which showcases a variety of exhibitions, activities and programs happening at the event during the month of September.
As noted further by the MFA, “Other weekend moments included The Prudential Tower illuminated with “MR 20” and local public broadcaster WGBH’s landmark digital mural overlooking the Massachusetts Turnpike––which displayed images of Rogers on Saturday.”
