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David Lloyd Brown and SoWa Artists Guild Gallery Reception

We are bringing SoWa Open Studios into Boston City Hall! Familiarize yourself with the local art scene and discover new artists at this gallery reception.

May 8, 2025
  • 5:00pm - 7:00pm
  • 1 City Hall Square
    Boston, MA 02201-2006
  • Contact:
    Arts and Culture
  • Price:
    FREE
  • Neighborhood:
    Citywide
    Downtown
  • Event Type:
  • Posted:
2025-05-08T17:00:05 - 2025-05-08T19:00:05

Please join us for a joint reception to celebrate David Lloyd Brown’s solo exhibition and the SoWa artists from 450 Harrison Avenue group show at the Boston City Hall Galleries. The event will start at 5 p.m. at the Scollay Square Gallery located on the 3rd floor, and will transition to the Mayor’s Office Gallery located on the 5th floor at 6 p.m. Don’t miss your chance to connect with the artists and enjoy some light refreshments!

SoWa Reception Flyer

Please note the exhibitions will be on view through July 18th, 2025.

Directions: Please use the entrance located on Congress St, across from Faneuil Hall. Pass security and take the elevators to the 3rd floor. The Scollay Square Gallery will be past the information desk.

May 8, 2025
  • 5:00pm - 7:00pm
  • 1 City Hall Square
    Boston, MA 02201-2006
  • Contact:
    Arts and Culture
  • Price:
    FREE
  • Neighborhood:
    Citywide
    Downtown
  • Event Type:
  • Posted:
2025-05-08T17:00:05 - 2025-05-08T19:00:05
Last updated:

Freedom Dreams in America

The Mayor's Office of Arts and Culture and The Hutchins Center for African and African American Research at Harvard University welcome you back to The Embrace for another season of public conversations on democracy, justice, memory, and values.

May 14, 2025
2025-05-14T18:00:20 - 2025-05-14T20:00:20

Join us for a free public conversation.

The Mayor's Office of Arts and Culture and The Hutchins Center for African and African American Research at Harvard University welcome you back to The Embrace for another season of public conversations on democracy, justice, memory, and values.

The series kicks off on Wednesday, May 14, 2025, at 6:00 p.m. and will be followed by a free public dinner and reception. This event will be co-hosted by the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum.

V4 Freedom Dreams in America

Professor Peniel E. Joseph and Professor Danielle S. Allen will explore the meaning of “Freedom Dreams in America” and discuss the importance of using our imagination as a tool for individual and collective liberation. Brandon M. Terry, the John Loeb Associate Professor of the Social Sciences at Harvard University will introduce the event. Seating will be provided. Stay for a book signing with the speakers!

What does it mean to dream of freedom in a time of deep division—and how can we turn those dreams into a new reality? At this special conversation at The Embrace, Danielle Allen, a leading political theorist, classicist, and former Massachusetts gubernatorial candidate, and Peniel Joseph, a prominent historian of the Black freedom struggle, will invite us to think boldly and critically with them about the past, present, and future of American democracy. What would it mean to create a democracy built not on fear and exclusion, but on real power-sharing and mutual recognition? How can freedom be reimagined—not just as the absence of oppression, but as the hard, collective work of building a society where dignity and opportunity are widely shared? And at a time of rising cynicism, how should we think about democracy itself—its promises, its failures, and its possibilities? This conversation will be a space for hope, doubt, imagination, and serious reckoning with the question of how we might still rethink the traditions we have inherited in order to shape the future together.

Peniel E. Joseph holds a joint professorship appointment at the LBJ School of Public Affairs and the History Department in the College of Liberal Arts at The University of Texas at Austin. In addition, he is the founding director of the LBJ School's Center for the Study of Race and Democracy (CSRD). His career focus has been on "Black Power Studies," which encompasses interdisciplinary fields such as Africana studies, law and society, women's and ethnic studies, and political science. His work encourages us to explore the power of collective imagination in the pursuit of justice, reminding us that dreams for freedom and equality planted from our past generations will continue to lead us towards a more equitable country. His most recent book, Freedom Season: How 1963 Transformed America’s Civil Rights Revolution, brings to life the dramatic year when James Baldwin, Martin Luther King Jr., and a generation of activists reshaped the fight for freedom, influenced President John F. Kennedy and his approach on civil rights, and changed the nation’s destiny.

Danielle S. Allen is one of Harvard’s esteemed “University Professors,” and a prolific political theorist and classicist who has devoted her career in academia and beyond to exploring the foundations of democracy and the question of justice. Her work, including Justice By Means of Democracy and Our Declaration, reimagines key democratic texts and ideals in ways meant to confront our contemporary struggles. A former gubernatorial candidate in Massachusetts, Allen is a tireless advocate for civic engagement and participation. Her work reminds us of our individual and collective responsibilities in creating and protecting and strengthening a more democratic future. In her most recent book, Justice by Means of Democracy, she offers a bold, inspiring vision for rebuilding democracy through real equality, power-sharing, and a commitment to embracing difference without domination.

RSVP is encouraged and will be required to attend reception. This event is free and open to the public, so we hope to see you there!

May 14, 2025
2025-05-14T18:00:20 - 2025-05-14T20:00:20
Last updated:

Arts Lessons for Older Adults

Check out Age Strong Programming happening in BCYF Holland!

July 9, 2025
  • 10:00am - 1:00pm
    Repeats weekly on Wednesday and Friday, starting from April 16, 2025, until July 16, 2025
  • Boston Center for Youth and Families
    Holland Community Center
    Dorchester, MA 02121
  • Contact:
    Tomeka Hall
  • Price:
    FREE
  • Neighborhood:
    Dorchester
  • Event Type:
  • Posted:
2025-07-09T10:00:00 - 2025-07-09T13:00:00

Arts Lessons for Older Adults is a FREE 16-week arts series for Boston’s older adults offering 15 FIRST-COME FIRST-SERVE spots to learn new skills like canvas painting & candle making.

For more information and to RSVP, contact Tomeka Hall at 617-821-2357 or tomeka.hall@boston.gov

July 9, 2025
  • 10:00am - 1:00pm
    Repeats weekly on Wednesday and Friday, starting from April 16, 2025, until July 16, 2025
  • Boston Center for Youth and Families
    Holland Community Center
    Dorchester, MA 02121
  • Contact:
    Tomeka Hall
  • Price:
    FREE
  • Neighborhood:
    Dorchester
  • Event Type:
  • Posted:
2025-07-09T10:00:00 - 2025-07-09T13:00:00
Last updated:

The Painter's Fire: A Forgotten History of the Artists Who Championed the American Revolution

July 23, 2025
2025-07-23T18:00:17 - 2025-07-23T19:00:17

The war that we now call the American Revolution was not only fought in the colonies with muskets and bayonets. On both sides of the Atlantic, artists armed with paint, canvas, and wax played an integral role in forging revolutionary ideals. Join us, as Zara Anishanslin charts the intertwined lives of three such figures who dared to defy the British monarchy: Robert Edge Pine, Prince Demah, and Patience Wright. From London to Boston, from Jamaica to Paris, from Bath to Philadelphia, these largely forgotten patriots boldly risked their reputations and their lives to declare independence.

This program is part of the annual Jack Grinold Lecture in American Art and Architecture.

This is a hybrid event. FREE for MHS Members. $10 per person fee (in person). No charge for virtual attendees or Card to Culture participants (EBT, WIC, and ConnectorCare).

Learn More

 

July 23, 2025
2025-07-23T18:00:17 - 2025-07-23T19:00:17
Last updated:

Exploring the Poetics: A Reading with Porsha Olayiwola

Join us at the Civic Pavilion for an evening celebrating National Poetry Month.

April 26, 2025
  • 7:00pm - 9:00pm
  • Civic Pavilion
    5 Congress Street
    Boston, MA 02201-2006
  • Contact:
    Tom Johnston
  • Price:
    FREE
  • Neighborhood:
    Citywide
    Downtown
  • Posted:
2025-04-26T19:00:19 - 2025-04-26T21:00:19

Celebrate National Poetry Month at "Exploring the Poetics" with readings from:

  • Porsha Olayiwola
  • Emmanuel Oppong-Yeboah 
  • Joshua Nguyen
  • and more!

Refreshments will be provided.

April 26, 2025
  • 7:00pm - 9:00pm
  • Civic Pavilion
    5 Congress Street
    Boston, MA 02201-2006
  • Contact:
    Tom Johnston
  • Price:
    FREE
  • Neighborhood:
    Citywide
    Downtown
  • Posted:
2025-04-26T19:00:19 - 2025-04-26T21:00:19
Last updated:

Arts Action Consortium Launch Party

The official launch party for the Arts Action Consortium, a transformative collaboration for Boston artists offering free consultations, workshops, cohort opportunities, performance space, and more for Boston artists.

April 29, 2025
  • 6:00pm - 8:00pm
  • CROMA @ ASC
    Public Alley 438
    Boston, MA 02116
  • Contact:
    Arts and Culture
  • Price:
    FREE
  • Neighborhood:
    Back Bay
    Citywide
  • Posted:
2025-04-29T18:00:54 - 2025-04-29T20:00:54

Join us at the official launch party for the Arts Action Consortium, a transformative collaboration for Boston artists supported by the City of Boston in partnership with six leading cultural organizations to offer free consultations, workshops, cohort opportunities, performance space, and more for Boston artists!

This event will include:
  • Live performances

  • Dinner and non-alcoholic drinks

  • Cash bar serving wine and beer

  • Speakers from the Mayor’s Office of Arts and Culture and AAC

  • Networking with artists and arts leaders

  • Opportunities to learn more about the Artist Pathways Project

This event is your chance to connect, learn, and celebrate the vibrant artistic community that makes Boston thrive. Whether you're an emerging artist, and established artist, or a passionate supporter of the arts, this is a night you won't want to miss.

April 29, 2025
  • 6:00pm - 8:00pm
  • CROMA @ ASC
    Public Alley 438
    Boston, MA 02116
  • Contact:
    Arts and Culture
  • Price:
    FREE
  • Neighborhood:
    Back Bay
    Citywide
  • Posted:
2025-04-29T18:00:54 - 2025-04-29T20:00:54
Last updated:

Danielle Legros Georges Memorial Reading

A memorial poetry reading honoring the life and work of Danielle Legros Georges. This event will feature readings of her poetry by over twenty writers, poets, and publishers.

May 4, 2025
  • 1:00pm - 5:00pm
  • Institute of Contemporary Art/Boston
    25 Harbor Shore Drive
    Boston, MA 02210
  • Contact:
    Tom Johnston
  • Price:
    FREE
  • Neighborhood:
    Citywide
    South Boston
  • Posted:
2025-05-04T13:00:44 - 2025-05-04T17:00:44

A memorial poetry reading honoring the life and work of Danielle Legros Georges will be held at the Institute of Contemporary Art/Boston on Sunday, May 4, from 1-5 p.m. in the Barbara Lee Family Foundation Theater. The event will feature readings of her poetry by over twenty writers, poets, and publishers.

Legros Georges was an award-winning poet, author, translator, editor, scholar, and educator who served as the second Boston Poet Laureate (2015-2019). In that role, she was a strong advocate for poetry and the arts, collaborating with Boston schools, libraries, museums, artists, and students on a wide variety of public projects, readings, and civic events. A member of the influential Dark Room Collective of Black poets and artists, Legros Georges helped found the Haitian Artists Assembly of Massachusetts, served on the ICA / Boston’s Artists Advisory Council, and was a board member of the New England Poetry Club, where she helped establish grant opportunities for BIPOC poets.  Professor emerita of creative writing in the MFA program at Lesley University, she also taught for the William Joiner Institute at UMass Boston. The memorial reading is sponsored by the Mayor’s Office of the City of Boston, in partnership with the ICA and the New England Poetry Club.

To attend this special reading and reception, please RSVP at daniellememorial.splashthat.com (registration is required for free ICA admission). To watch the program virtually, visit the Mayor's Office of Arts and Culture's YouTube channel when the event begins to tune into the livestream: youtube.com/@artsinbos.

May 4, 2025
  • 1:00pm - 5:00pm
  • Institute of Contemporary Art/Boston
    25 Harbor Shore Drive
    Boston, MA 02210
  • Contact:
    Tom Johnston
  • Price:
    FREE
  • Neighborhood:
    Citywide
    South Boston
  • Posted:
2025-05-04T13:00:44 - 2025-05-04T17:00:44
Last updated:

Special Collections Open House: The American Revolution in Boston

Happy Patriots’ Day and Marathon Weekend! Did you know that April 19, 2025 is the 250th anniversary of the Battles of Lexington and Concord—and the start of the American Revolutionary War? In honor of this anniversary, Special Collections and the Leventhal Map and Education Center are collaborating on an open house to highlight items for their collections relating to this event, as well as other major events of the American Revolution in Boston.

April 22, 2025
2025-04-22T11:00:13 - 2025-04-22T16:00:13

Stop by the Leventhal Map and Education Center to see their new exhibit, Terrains of Independence, which uses maps to highlight the geography of Boston and Massachusetts in the Revolutionary War. Then, head into their classroom to see related items from Special Collections across a variety of formats.

This open house will take place on both Saturday, April 19, and Tuesday, April 22, from 11 a.m. - 4 p.m. The same items will be on display at both open houses. No reservation is required to attend.

April 22, 2025
2025-04-22T11:00:13 - 2025-04-22T16:00:13
Last updated:

Special Collections Open House: The American Revolution in Boston

Happy Patriots’ Day and Marathon Weekend! Did you know that April 19, 2025 is the 250th anniversary of the Battles of Lexington and Concord—and the start of the American Revolutionary War? In honor of this anniversary, Special Collections and the Leventhal Map and Education Center are collaborating on an open house to highlight items for their collections relating to this event, as well as other major events of the American Revolution in Boston.

April 19, 2025
2025-04-19T11:00:13 - 2025-04-19T16:00:13

Stop by the Leventhal Map and Education Center to see their new exhibit, Terrains of Independence, which uses maps to highlight the geography of Boston and Massachusetts in the Revolutionary War. Then, head into their classroom to see related items from Special Collections across a variety of formats.

This open house will take place on both Saturday, April 19, and Tuesday, April 22, from 11 a.m. - 4 p.m. The same items will be on display at both open houses. No reservation is required to attend.

April 19, 2025
2025-04-19T11:00:13 - 2025-04-19T16:00:13
Last updated:

Parker-Vincent Alva: National Poetry Month

Come meet, write, read, and listen to poetry with the current Boston Youth Poet Laureate, Parker Vincent-Alva. For teens ages 13 to 19 years old.

April 29, 2025
2025-04-29T16:00:16 - 2025-04-29T17:00:16
April 29, 2025
2025-04-29T16:00:16 - 2025-04-29T17:00:16
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