Three Things You Didn't Know about the Boston Center for the Arts

You might have stepped inside the Boston Center for the Arts on Tremont Street once before for an art show, or even a beer fest. But there's a lot more going on at the BCA than meets the eye even on a regular weekday.

Here's three things you may not know about the Boston Center for the Arts in the South End: 

1. The BCA hosts artist studios at below-market rate prices to support the arts.  

"Rent is high in the South End, but we feel at the BCA that it’s important for artists to be working in the communities where they live and want to present their work," said BCA spokesperson Michael Duncan Smith. 

Funds raised by events held at the Cyclorama go towards supporting those resident artists. 

2. The Mills Gallery is almost always open. 

The gallery, located at 551 Tremont St., is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays, but open every other day of the week. Six exhibitions make their way through the gallery each year.

"There’s always art and you can always stop by here and just walk through our gallery," said Smith. 

3. Free programming is associated with all BCA programs.

Along with paid events, the BCA hosts many free events related to their current programs. Visitors were invited at a recent show to try their hand at quilting, and in an upcoming show, visitors will get to build a model boat along with a model boat artist. 

 "The public programs here are often free and they are open to the public - you just have to register," said Smith. "We have something going on almost all the time."

 Do you visit the BCA often? What type of programming is your favorite? Tell us in the comments.