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.
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.

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).

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.

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.

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.

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.
