On June 19, the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston (MFA), is hosting a day of outdoor programs to celebrate Juneteenth, screening "Summer of Soul" outdoors

 Typeface by Tré Seals of Vocal Type Co., who was inspired by the historic imagery of protest signs from the 1963 March on Washington to create the letterforms. Seals named the typeface “Bayard,” after civil rights leader Bayard Rustin.

On June 19, the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston (MFA), is hosting a day of outdoor programs to celebrate Juneteenth—the oldest nationally recognized commemoration of the ending of slavery in the U.S.—and honor the contributions of Black artists, scholars and creative voices to the City of Boston. Drop-in activities will include art making, Spotlight Talks focused on artwork by the MFA’s artist-in-residence Rob Stull and musical performances curated by BAMS Fest, hosted by D.Ruff and featuring The Mike Christmas Collective, Jordan Carter Band, SeeFour and DJ Baby Indiglo. In the evening, the MFA will host a free outdoor screening of Summer of Soul, presented in partnership with the Roxbury International Film Festival, before the film’s wide release in theaters and on Hulu on July 2.

“Our first in-person celebration in over a year will offer an incredible opportunity for Bostonians to gather together as a community," said Makeeba McCreary, Patti and Jonathan Kraft Chief of Learning and Community Engagement. "We’re grateful to be able to mark Juneteenth with BAMS Fest and the Roxbury International Film Festival, and look forward to working toward a brighter future for our city.”

Additionally, on June 16 at 6 pm, the MFA will host a virtual panel discussion titled "Disruption by Design: A New Path to Liberation."

The free outdoor screening of Summer of Soul—a stunning documentary from director Questlove featuring unearthed footage from the 1969 Harlem Cultural Festival—is part of the 23rd annual Roxbury International Film Festival (June 17–26) which takes place virtually on mfa.org and in person this year. RIFF is the largest festival in New England dedicated to celebrating films by, for and about people of color. 

On June 19, the Museum will also provide transportation between the MFA, the National Center for Afro-American Artists and the Slave Narrative of Willie Mae live show at the Blair Lot in Nubian Square.