Art In Bloom 2023 Museum of Fine Arts, Boston

National Docents Symposium Council Dedicated to providing an ongoing forum for docent education and the exchange of ideas since 1981

Art In Bloom 2023 Museum of Fine Arts, Boston

Art In Bloom 2023 and The Associates of the Museum of Fine Arts Boston

In April, Boston saw Art in Bloom (AIB) return in full force to the Museum of Fine Arts Boston (MFA). This joyful, three-day salute to spring showcases selections from the MFA’s collection paired with custom-made floral arrangements. In collaboration with museum staff, the Associates produced the first AIB event in 1976. The Associates, who are volunteer docents and floral designers, have carried on this tradition for more than 40 years. They worked closely with museum staff to organize this event and all volunteers were encouraged to participate in the implementation.

In 2020, the museum was closed. In 2021, pandemic-related restrictions continued but docents and floral designers responded with a virtual AIB. In 2022, volunteers presented a combination of newly created videos and a live, on-site event.

This year the museum engaged, delighted, and educated visitors in the galleries. More than 125 Associates provided gallery loop tours of the pairings, sold teacup-sized bouquets, staffed the information desk, and supported two floral design master classes plus a floral lecture with demonstration by a world-renowned event planner.

The museum was filled with curious first-time tourists and enthusiastic regulars. Visitors wandered throughout the museum to admire 45 selected art objects which were beautifully accompanied by floral arrangements made by local garden clubs and community-based designers. Several creative designs by professional florists were special, stand-alone surprises.

Planning for Art in Bloom ‘24 begins this summer. AIB supports the overall mission of the museum and is the primary fundraiser for the MFA Associates organization.