Arts and Culture
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.
Contact
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1 City Hall Square
Room 802Boston, MA 02201-2029 -
Office hoursMonday through Friday, 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Current Opportunities
Current Opportunities
Neighborhood and Downtown Activation Fund
This grant program supports community-focused arts and cultural activations in public spaces.
Public Art and Design Application
This application begins the approval process for installing public art in the city.
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.
Upcoming Events
EventsArts 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!
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.
Equity in Arts and Culture
We're committed to promoting equity and accessibility through the arts in Boston.
Our Grant Opportunities
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
Contact
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1 City Hall Square
Room 802Boston, MA 02201-2029 -
Office hoursMonday through Friday, 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.
