Our Boston Cultural Council organizational grants offer general operating support to organizations with arts programming in Boston. We'll be holding office hours via Zoom every Wednesday from 11 a.m. - noon through October 12 for anyone who has questions about the grant or the application process.

The deadline to apply for a grant is October 17 at 11:59 p.m. 

Join the Office Hours

Following the screening, there will be a panel discussion with the filmmakers and some featured cast members. This program highlighting community organizations working to change the trajectory of the addiction crisis in Boston is presented in partnership with Young People in Recovery, the Mayor's Office of Recovery Services, and the Mayor's Office of Arts and Culture.

Register for the event

"Tipping the Pain Scale" follows individuals grappling with the current systemic failures of how we have dealt with addiction in communities and their journey to develop and employ new, innovative, and often controversial solutions to the problem. It is a quasi-anthology, weaving characters through their own stories as they connect to the issues plaguing all communities and the country in an urgent fight to save lives. 



"Tipping the Pain Scale" is a Vivifi Films production from award-winning producers of "The Anonymous People" and "Generation Found", Greg Williams and two-time Emmy award-winner Jeff Reilly, featuring Secretary of Labor, Marty Walsh; NFL Pro Bowl Player, Darren Waller; Spoken Word Artist and Educator, Joseph Green; WA State Representative, Lauren Davis; Community Outreach Volunteer, Roz Pichardo; Boston Police Officer, Josh De La Rosa; and founding Policy Director of the Mayor’s Office of Recovery Services, Brendan Little; with music from nine-time Grammy nominated Sia. 

For more information, visit the documentary's website.

Allston is turning it out for a free summer arts festival!

Don't miss out on attending the Rat City Arts Fest! Allston-Brighton artists and vendors will be celebrated during this event to highlight the amazing artistry of the neighborhood. Beverages and food will be available, hosted by Zone 3 and Aeronaut Brewery. Admission is free of charge. Come support Allston-Brighton artists and enjoy food, community, and music!

The City of Boston has several opportunities for artists to create public artworks including poetry, light projections, ground plane interventions, and a small sculpture series that honor community solidarity, empathy, and acknowledgment of loss. Supporting communal gathering and envisioning public interactions will be a crucial component of each design. This Call is related to the City of Boston’s One Boston Resilience Project, and the artworks will be sited at the soon-to-be renovated Copley Square Park.

There will be two virtual information sessions where interested artists can learn more about each opportunity and how to apply. The sessions will be held on Thursday, July 14, at noon and 6 p.m. (EST), and will be held via Zoom webinar.

The deadline to apply to the Call to Artists is Friday, August 5, 2022, at 5 p.m. 

Join the information sessions

Submit a question

English: Interpretation and translation services are available to you at no cost. If you need them, please contact us at arts@boston.gov, LCA@boston.gov or 617-635-4445, by: 07/11                                 

Spanish - Español: Hay servicios de interpretación y traducción a su disposición sin costo alguno. Si los necesita, póngase en contacto con nosotros mandando un correo electrónico arts@boston.gov, LCA@boston.gov  o llamando a 617-635-4445, hasta esta fecha: 11/07

Haitian Creole -Kreyòl ayisyen:  Sèvis entèpretation ak tradiksyon disponib pou ou san sa pa koute w anyen. Si w bezwen yo, tanpri kontakte nou nan arts@boston.gov LCA@boston.gov  oswa 617-635-4445, ant:  11/07

Traditional Chinese - 繁體中文: 我們可以向您提供口頭翻譯和書面翻譯服務，並不向您收取費用。如您需要，請在07 月 11 日 前與我們連絡，發電子郵件至  arts@boston.gov, LCA@boston.gov 或致電 617-635-4445。

Vietnamese - Tiếng Việt: Các dịch vụ thông dịch và biên dịch được cung cấp cho quý vị hoàn toàn miễn phí. Nếu quý vị cần những dịch vụ này, vui lòng liên lạc với chúng tôi theo địa chỉ arts@boston.gov, LCA@boston.gov  hoặc số điện thoại 617-635-4445. ngày cuối: 11/07

Simplified Chinese - 简体中文:  我们可以向您提供口头翻译和书面翻译服务，并不向您收取费用。如您需要，请在07 月 11 日 前与我们联系, 发电子邮件至 arts@boston.gov,  LCA@boston.gov  或致电 617-635-4445。

Cabo Verdean Creole - kriolu:  Nu ta oferese-bu sirvisus di interpretason y traduson di grasa. Si bu meste kes sirvisu la, kontata-nu pa email arts@boston.gov, LCA@boston.gov  ó pa telefóni, pa númeru 617-635-4445. Na es data:  11/07

 Arabic - العربية

خدمات الترجمة الشفوية والترجمة التحريرية متوفرة لك دون تحملك أي تكلفة. إذا احتجت لهذه الخدمات، يرجى التواصل معنا على العنوانarts@boston.gov, أو LCA@boston.gov، أو رقم الهاتف 617-635-4445، بحلول يوم 11/07. 

Russian -Русский: Услуги устного и письменного перевода предоставляются бесплатно. Если Вам они нужны, просьба связаться с нами по адресу электронной почты arts@boston.gov,  LCA@boston.gov либо по телефону 617-635-4445. до  11/07

Portuguese - Português: Você tem à disposição serviços gratuitos de interpretação e tradução. Se precisar deles, fale conosco: arts@boston.gov, LCA@boston.gov ou 617-635-4445. Até esta data 11/07

French - Français: Les services d’interprétation et de traduction sont à votre disposition gratuitement. Si vous en avez besoin, veuillez nous contacter à arts@boston.gov, LCA@boston.gov ou au 617-635-4445, d'ici au: 11/07

Somali - Af Soomaali: Adeegyada tarjumaadda iyo fasiraada luuqadaha ayaa diyaar kuu ah adiga oo aan wax kharash ah ka bixin. Haddii aad u baahatid iyaga, fadlan nagala soo xiriir arts@boston.gov, LCA@boston.gov ama 617-635-4445, markay taariikhdu tahay:  11/07

The Artivism Student Project is an initiative that focuses on the power of youth voice and art as a tool for social inquiry. The project was birthed out of the Mayor's Office of Resilience & Racial Equity in partnership with the Mayor's Office of Arts & Culture and artist collective, The Artist Initiative for Revolution. This program granted young artists across the City of Boston from ages 13-17 to engage in meaningful art-making that was rooted in storytelling and social justice. At Artivism, students learned  how to use their art (music, dance, creating writing, & visual art) for social change. Each student was paired with a leading teaching artist who advised and mentored  them in the work of “Artivism”. 

The result was a documentary that highlights the burgeoning artistic talents of Boston youth and juxtaposes their talents with the unique challenges that faced established, seasoned artists as they sought to create and live in the City of Boston.

Watch the trailer

Register for the screening

The City of Boston worked in collaboration with the Boston Art Commission and Street Theory to commission a mural honoring the life and legacy of Rita Hester in Allston. Rita Hester was a Black trans woman and beloved Allston community member who lost her life as a result of transphobia and anti-trans violence. The mural, titled "Rita’s Spotlight", was proposed by former Boston Artists-in-Residence Golden, and the City of Boston commissioned artist Rixy to create the mural as part of the City’s Transformative Public Art Program.

Rixy will be participating in an artist talk to share more about the design and community engagement process for the mural on Wednesday, June 29. The artist talk will take place at 6 p.m. at the mural site (506 Cambridge Street).

The Watercolor Painting Workshops enable artists of all skill levels to create their own inspired masterpiece. Tips and techniques are provided by an instructor. Presented by the Boston Parks and Recreation Department.

Register Today

All Watercolor Painting Workshops dates

Created in honor of Latin music icon Tito Puente, this series celebrates 15 years of bringing live Latin music with a strong salsa influence to Boston parks.  The series is sponsored in part by:

• Berklee College of Music, and
• Inquilinos Boricuas en Accion

Free salsa lessons are led by MetaMovements.

All Tito Puente Latin Music Series dates

Created in honor of Latin music icon Tito Puente, this series celebrates 15 years of bringing live Latin music with a strong salsa influence to Boston parks. The series is sponsored in part by:

• Berklee College of Music, and
• Inquilinos Boricuas en Accion. 

Free salsa lessons are led by MetaMovements. You can also view all Tito Puente Latin Music Series dates. You can learn more about Alea in their Instagram profile.