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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
Neighborhood and Downtown Activation Fund

This grant program supports community-focused arts and cultural activations in public spaces.

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Public Art and Design Application

This application begins the approval process for installing public art in the city.

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Artist Housing Certification

An Artist Housing Certificate qualifies an artist as eligible for artist live/work housing and some work space in Boston. 

What are you looking for?

City Hall Plaza Events and Programs
The Mayor's Office of Arts and Culture collaborates with other City departments and agencies to program the Plaza.
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.
Current open calls and applications
View our Submittable page to find applications and calls that you can apply for today.
Finding space as an artist in Boston
We want to help artists of all disciplines find space in Boston.
Public Art
We commission artists for both long-term and short-term public art projects in the City.
Resources for artists
Find out about resources and services available for artists in Boston, including how to find artist space and how to share your work.
Strand Theatre
The theater in Dorchester serves as a cultural and educational resource to artists and audiences.

Latest news

News

Heloiza Barbosa and Alvaro Lima graphic

Boston AIR Spotlight: Heloiza Barbosa and Boston Planning & Development Agency

Arts and Culture

Image for pride week flag raising at city hall

Pride Programming and Other Summer Events Happening on City Hall Plaza

Arts and Culture

Photo of 290 N Beacon St building

Update On Proposed Long-term Studio and Rehearsal Space for Allston-Brighton Artist Community

Arts and Culture

Headshots of Lily Xie (Boston Artist-in-Residence) and Kristina Ricco of the Boston Planning and Development Agency with text that reads "Boston AIR Spotlight - Lily Xie and Boston Planning and Development Agency"

Boston AIR Spotlight: Lily Xie and Boston Planning and Development Agency

Arts and Culture
More Arts news

Upcoming Events

Events
City Hall Plaza Public Crawl
On Jun 7

Jun 7
Boston AIR 2023 Showcase
On Jun 8

Jun 8
Donna Summer Disco Party
On Jun 16

Jun 16
Open Your Heart: Immigrant Stories and Music from Boston and Beyond
On Jun 30

Jun 30
Boston Urban Pride's Music and Arts Festival
On Jul 2

Jul 2
5 Days of Chess
On Jul 2

Jul 2

Arts Community Events and Programs

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

Sign Up for Updates

If you're looking for ways to stay updated on the Mayor's Office of Arts and Culture, we encourage you to sign up for our email newsletters and text messages. You can also view an archive of past newsletters.

Newsletter sign up form

Equity in Arts and Culture

We're committed to promoting equity and accessibility through the arts in Boston.

Learn more

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.
Cultural Investment Grants
The Cultural Investment Grant aims to grow and sustain arts and cultural organizations that have a clear vision of a creative, equitable, and more just city.
Cultural Space Fund
The Cultural Space Fund provides funding to seed, stabilize, and expand cultural spaces in the City.
Neighborhood and Downtown Activation Grants
This grant program supports community-focused arts and cultural activations in public spaces.
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

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.
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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