Programs

Since 1985, the List Center has presented notable and renowned guest artists, curators, and scholars in a broad range of special public forums that engage in contemporary art and ideas. The List Center is committed to artist-centered and boundary-pushing programs.

Artist-Led Programs

Engagement with contemporary art is offered through artist-led experiences created to push creative thought. Artist-led programs allow the List Center to offer experiences that highlight a variety of artistic practices.

Overhead shot of someone's hands working at a wooden table with art supplies

Partner Programs

The List Center engages in partnerships with departments at MIT and area universities as well as local community partners and other national art institutions to create intentional relationship building and shared impact-focused programs. Recent partners include MIT’s Women and Gender Studies Department, Catalyst Conversations, and Boston Design Week. If you have suggestions for future partnerships, please contact eagarner [at] mit.edu (Emily Garner).

Students gather near the corner of a table and look at printed photos on the table.

Max Wasserman Forum

The Max Wasserman Forum on Contemporary Art was established through the generosity of the late Jeanne Wasserman in memory of Max Wasserman (MIT Class of 1935), a founding member of the Council for the Arts at MIT. This biennial public forum addresses critical issues in contemporary art and culture through the participation of renowned scholars, artists, and arts professionals.

2018 Wasserman Forum panelists are seated on stage with the MIT List logo behind.

Lavine Lecture Series

The Leroy and Dorothy Lavine Lecture Series was established to honor the Lavines, two prominent Boston art patrons and longtime supporters of the MIT List Visual Arts Center. This lecture series, featuring distinguished art world speakers and presenters, serves the Boston arts community through its focus on modern and contemporary art.

Woman stands at the front of a circular chapel with a projector screen and speaks to an audience who sits in wooden chairs.

Graduate Student Gallery Talks

Graduate Student Gallery Talks at the List Center present focused explorations of our current exhibitions and are led by an MIT graduate student. These interdisciplinary talks examine art through the lens of students’ research, backgrounds, and interests.

Person stands facing an audience of two giving a lecture.

Public Lectures and Talks

Public programs such as artist and gallery talks, panel discussions, lectures, film screenings, and tours encourage thoughtful and provocative exchanges that address the most current topics in contemporary culture and complement our current exhibitions. Since 2010, many talks have been recorded and can be viewed in our video gallery.

A group of people are seated in an auditorium during an event looking toward the stage.