ODA helps peers connect through the arts and shared meals.
Attending is a privilege. When you go, you represent ODA and must follow ODA's and the theater's rules.
Before You Go
Tickets & Arrival
Guests
At the Event
Respect Others
Meals (If Included)
IMPORTANT
Please follow these guidelines when you attend. Breaking them may mean losing ODA privileges.
Contact
Questions or cancellations: Info@OpeningDoorsToTheArts.org
Opening Doors to the Arts (ODA) is a program that obtains free and reduced price tickets to concerts, live Theater, films, sporting events, and more to people with lived experience of mental health conditions.
Director Howard Trachtman orients all new people to the program. He will explain the guidelines of the program and confirm your email address.
His email address is Howard@OpeningDoorsToTheArts.org and his phone is 781-642-0368.
To ensure we keep our venues for all, we ask members to follow the guidelines listed in the Guidelines section. Howard Trachtman will go over them with all new members.
Most people prefer to dress up for concerts and theater, but it is not required. We hope people will wear clean and not torn clothing. Jeans are OK.
It depends on the venue how many complimentary tickets we get. Actual attendance varies based on how many people sign up.
We do plan a meal before or after most shows; we have a budget that allows us to pay for 1-2 meals a month.
We encourage people to join the National Alliance on Mental Illness Greater Boston Peer Support and Advocacy Network (PSAN).
NAMI sets dues at $40 but people can join at the low Open Doors rate of $5. Most tickets will be free, but some venues have a nominal charge like $5 for Arts Emerson or $10 for Celebrity Series.
If you are a member of one of the Metro Boston Recovery Learning Community recovery centers, there will be a posting at your center. See www.mbrlc.org.
Yes, we frequently have meals. We do plan a meal before or after most shows; we have a budget that allows us to pay for 1-2 meals a month, with a limit of $18 before tax and tip. Other times, you are on your own to pay.
Yes, we love learning of new venues!
Contact Liz D'Uva at liz@openingdoorstothearts.org or 508-455-3280 to make your suggestions.
Ticket confirmations are typically made shortly after the request. Some venues give us more tickets we can use, sometimes not enough.
We request as much notice as possible. We are sympathetic if people are sick, but people can be suspended from ODA for not showing up without notice.
Most events are concerts or live theater. We get some films and sporting events as well. We get Boston Harbor Cruises to Georges and Spectacle Islands. The MBRLC also takes day trips to Salem and other places.