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Arts and Culture

Our office enhances the quality of life, the economy, and the design of the City through the arts.

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The role of the arts in all aspects of life in Boston is reinforced via equitable access to arts and culture in every community, its public institutions, and public places.

Key areas of work include support to the cultural sector through grants and programs, as well as the production and permitting of art in public places.

Below you can find some current opportunities through our office. You can also view open Requests for Proposals (RFPs) and Arts and Culture bids. Additional opportunities can be found on our Submittable page.

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Current Opportunities

Current Opportunities
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City Hall Galleries application

Artists and collectives that live or work in Boston can propose an exhibit for one of City Hall's four galleries. 

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Call to Artists: PaintBox 2022

We're looking for artists to paint utility boxes in neighborhoods across Boston with their original designs.

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Public Art and Design Application

The Boston Art Commission accepts proposals for artist-driven and community-driven public art projects.

Latest news

News

Opportunity Fund grantee Sheila de Bosque Fuentes conducting an orchestra

More Than $800,000 Awarded to 120 Local Artists and Creative Workers Through the Opportunity Fund

Arts and Culture

Artist Erica Imosi looking on at her Blue, wave designed PaintBox

Call to Artists for 2022 PaintBox Program Announced

Arts and Culture

Images: Graphic highlighting new cohort of Artists-in-Residence with six artist's headshots and alternating blue and red backgrounds. Text: Boston AIR, A civic partnership between socially-engaged artists and City departments, 2022 Artists-in-Residence, Ashton Lites, Lily Xie, Ellice Patterson, Jaronzie Harris, Melissa Teng, Heloiza Barbosa

New Cohort of Boston Artists-in-Residence and Funding for Continued Projects Announced

Arts and Culture

National Poetry Month flyer

How to Celebrate National Poetry Month in Boston

Arts and Culture
More Arts news

Upcoming Events

Events
Boston Art Commission Meeting
On May 31

May 31
Upham's Corner Arts and Innovation District: 16 Hamlet Street Developer's Presentation
On Jun 1

Jun 1
Boston Art Commission Meeting
On Jun 28

Jun 28
Boston Art Commission Meeting
On Aug 9

Aug 9

Events and programs happening in Boston's arts community

Many of the artists and arts organizations that we've supported through our grants have exciting events and programs planned for this year. Take a look at some of the things they're planning below, and submit your own!

Submit an arts event or program

Artist Resource Desk

Find out about resources and services available for artists in the City of Boston.

Artist Resource Desk

Public Art

We commission artists for both permanent and temporary public art projects in the City.

Photo Credit:
Photo of Don Rimx's "Powerful Knowledge" mural courtesy of Chris Gaines.
Learn more about public art in Boston

Strand Theatre

The theater in Dorchester serves as a cultural and educational resource to artists and audiences.

Strand information

Cultural Planning

Cultural planning works with City planning and development processes to create more opportunities for the local arts and creative community to live, work, and create in Boston.

Learn more about cultural planning

Our Grant Opportunities

Contact: Arts and Culture
Boston Cultural Council Organizational Grants
The BCC organizational grants provide awards of up to $5,000 to local arts organizations.
Fay Chandler Emerging Artist Awards
Every fall, the City recognizes fresh, original, and contemporary work made by Boston artists.
Opportunity Fund
Apply for a grant to help continue your development, build skills, share your artistic work, and teach others.
Radical Imagination for Racial Justice
This regranting program distributes funds to artists seeking to advance racial justice through collaborative projects in their communities.

Key Programs

Alternative Space Pilot Project for Artists
We partner with local businesses and institutions to make underused private spaces available to artists.
Artist Resource Desk
Find out more about services for artists in the City of Boston.
Arts and Culture Response Forum
We hold meetings with the cultural sector to connect and share information on COVID-19 and equitable recovery.
Boston AIR
In the program, artists, community members, and City employees work on projects that help reframe social conversations. These artists explore the ways they can use art and media to improve and bolster City initiatives.
Boston Cultural Council
The council awards grants that help artists and arts organizations thrive.
City Hall Galleries
Boston City Hall is home to several galleries that promote and exhibit the work of Boston artists.
Creative Commercial Space Connector
We created a form to help match those seeking spaces and spaces looking for long-term tenants.
Current open calls and applications
See what public art projects the City has planned and submit your proposals.
Finding space as an artist in Boston
We want to help artists of all disciplines find spaces in Boston.
PaintBox
Local artists can paint a City of Boston-owned utility box with their original designs.
Poet Laureate
The Poet Laureate works to raise the status of poetry in the everyday lives of residents.
Public Art Projects
We commission permanent and temporary public art projects in the City that engage communities and enrich the urban environment. We also support projects led by artists and community members.
Transformative Public Art Program
We commission several murals and temporary projects every year as part of the Transformative Public Art Program.

Meet the Staff

Our staff
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