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Arts and Culture

COVID-19 update: For more information, learn about how we've been responding to COVID-19. If you have questions, email arts@boston.gov.

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Our office enhances the quality of life, the economy, and the design of the City through the arts. 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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Contact
arts@boston.gov
1 City Hall Square
Room 802
Boston, MA 02201-2029
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Office hours
Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.
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Current Opportunities

Current Opportunities
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Call for Artists: Mural to Celebrate Rita Hester

We're looking for an artist or artist team to create a mural in Allston to celebrate the life and legacy of Rita Hester.

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Request for Proposals: Upham's Corner Arts and Innovation District

The City is seeking a developer to deliver affordable housing and commercial space, a new library, and an operator for the Strand Theatre in Upham's Corner.

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Call for Indigenous Public Art and Cultural Spaces Consultant

We're looking for a consultant to inform the City of Boston's public art commissioning program. Apply through the City of Boston supplier portal. The event ID is EV00009749.

Latest news

News
Mayor Wu looking at art

Local arts markets and craft fairs to check out this year

Arts and Culture
Jamaica Plain public art ribbon cutting photo

Installation of new public artwork celebrated in Jamaica Plain

Arts and Culture

Upham’s Corner Arts and Innovation District moves forward with release of first RFP

Planning & Development Agency
Lily and Crystal mural

A tour of the new murals in City Hall

Arts and Culture
More Arts news

Upcoming Events

Events
Upham's Corner Working Advisory Group meeting
On Dec 13

Dec 13
Boston Art Commission meeting
On Dec 14

Dec 14
Boston Art Commission meeting
On Jan 11

Jan 11
Boston Art Commission meeting
On Mar 8

Mar 8

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.

Other 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.
One Boston Resilience Project
We're beginning a citywide community engagement process to envision our collective strength after violence, as illuminated by the Boston Marathon Bombing.
PaintBox
Local artists can paint a City of Boston-owned utility box with their original designs.
Percent for Art
The City sets aside one percent of its annual capital borrowing budget for the commissioning of public art.
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.
Raining Poetry
The Mayor's Mural Crew works with the Poet Laureate and Mass Poetry to create invisible poems on the streets of Boston.
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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