Arts & culture
Arts programming, artist support, cultural spaces and neighborhood history and heritage.
Residents want paid, supported local artists, free affordable places to create and perform, and more public art, free cultural events and youth arts across neighborhoods.
Theme grouped and summary written with AI from this theme's resident ideas.
160 ideas across three cycles
| Cycle | Ideas | Share of all ideas | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024–25 | 56 | 4.6% | 11 of 20 |
| 2025–26 | 45 | 3.7% | 13 of 20 |
| 2026–27 | 59 | 4.5% | 10 of 20 |
Needs that keep coming back
Pay and support for local artists
Residents ask for micro-grants, fair pay, mentorship and business training so artists and musicians can sustain their work in Boston.
Raised in 2024–25, 2025–26, 2026–27
Free or low-cost spaces to create, rehearse and show art
Residents want studios, galleries, co-working and performance spaces in vacant storefronts, unused city buildings and neighborhood hubs, especially in Roxbury, Dorchester and Mattapan.
Raised in 2024–25, 2025–26, 2026–27
Free cultural events and performances in neighborhoods
Residents ask for free concerts, festivals and performances in parks and public spaces that reflect Boston's many cultures and reach beyond downtown.
Raised in 2024–25, 2025–26, 2026–27
Murals and public art by local artists
Residents suggest paying local and BIPOC artists to paint murals and install public art that beautifies blank walls and underused spaces.
Raised in 2024–25, 2025–26, 2026–27
Arts and music programs for children and youth
Residents want free or low-cost art, music and dance programs and spaces for young people, including instruments, studios and healing-centered arts.
Raised in 2024–25, 2025–26, 2026–27
2024–25
Ideas centered on murals, performance spaces in parks, new arts hubs and centers, and recognizing neighborhood and First Nations history, with many Dorchester, East Boston and Charlestown ideas.
2025–26
Ideas leaned toward artist-support systems such as micro-grants, a mentor network, a city arts platform and free use of unused city buildings, plus healing-centered art and heritage exhibits.
2026–27
Ideas stressed direct pay for artists, including basic income and fair pay for musicians, and a cluster of Allston-Brighton asks, including a Western Avenue arts district, alongside many music and cultural performance requests.
New in 2026–27
New or growing in 2026-27 are an arts district on Western Avenue in Allston-Brighton, basic income and fair-pay funds for artists, and music in transit stations and senior centers.
Funding so far
No resident-voted winning projects relate to this theme, so none of the recurring asks, including artist funding, affordable creative spaces, free events, murals and youth arts, has been funded through resident vote yet.
Projects are linked to themes by matching each project's description to the themes; this is not an official City classification.
No winning project has addressed this theme yet.
Departments that often lead this work
- Mayor's Office of Arts & Culture
- Boston Public Library
Suggested with AI; not an official assignment of responsibility.
Ideas in Arts & culture
160 ideas
2024–25: 56 · 2025–26: 45 · 2026–27: 59
- Murals on old USPS mailboxes by local artistsThe resident asks for murals on old USPS mailboxes painted by BIPOC artists selected in each community, with artist profiles available online.2024–25City-wide
- Buy an art gallery in Roxbury or MattapanThe resident asks the City to set money aside to buy Boston's first art gallery in Roxbury or Mattapan, bringing BIPOC artists closer to where people live.2024–25City-wide
- Art hubs in every neighborhoodThe resident asks for an art hub in each neighborhood.2024–25City-wide
- Rotating local artist space at Copley libraryThe resident asks for a rotating exhibit space for local artists in the Central Boston Public Library at Copley, with short artist biographies.2024–25South End
- Diverse ethnic entertainment in neighborhoods and parksResident asks for diverse ethnic entertainment in neighborhoods and parks to foster greater appreciation of diversity.2024–25City-wide
- Multi-arts learning centers with mentorshipCreate centers where people can learn many art skills, with mentorship programs, building community and a sense of belonging.2024–25City-wide
- City-funded Roxbury art activations and cultural festivalFund local art activations in Roxbury, including a cultural festival celebrating the neighborhood's history with local food and artists.2024–25Roxbury
- Performance spaces in parksBuild amphitheaters, raised stages and power outlets into parks, especially in Mattapan, Dorchester and Roxbury, to support live performance, arts and music.2024–25City-wide
- Open Streets events on Charles StreetProposes closing Charles Street between the Common and Public Garden for regular Open Streets-style events with local vendors, food trucks and live music.2024–25Beacon Hill
- Discounted arts event tickets for community center childrenResident suggests buying discounted tickets to Opera House and Symphony events for city community centers to take children on weekends, exposing them to professional arts.2024–25Charlestown
- Free musical instruments for children at city centersResident suggests buying entry-level musical instruments in bulk, at a discount, for children at city community centers to keep.2024–25City-wide
- More music studios like old Mattapan libraryResident suggests more music studios like the one at the old Mattapan library, since music supports wellbeing and gives youth a creative and entrepreneurial outlet.2024–25City-wide
- Healing art studio for youth hurt by violenceCreate a nonprofit art studio for ages 14-24, especially those affected by gun violence, to heal through art and teach skills to younger peers.2024–25Dorchester
- Boston history artifacts for roving library exhibitPurchase Boston history artifacts for a roving exhibit at BPL branches, then store them in the library's special collections for future use.2024–25Charlestown
- Mobile creativity vansOperate mobile vans that help residents of all backgrounds and skill levels take part in creative projects.2024–25City-wide
- More city-sponsored events in public spacesIncrease city-sponsored arts, entertainment and education events in public spaces so residents visit other neighborhoods.2024–25City-wide
- Nighttime half marathon with lighting effectsClose part of the city at night for a half marathon featuring artistic temporary lighting effects.2024–25Charlestown
- Imported art exhibit at Copley libraryBring an international art exhibit to the Boston Public Library at Copley Square for two days with 48-hour opening and night rave lighting and music.2024–25Charlestown
- Murals and green walls on blank building wallsIdentify blank exterior walls facing public spaces and cover them with murals or living green walls to improve the urban landscape, sustainability and biodiversity.2024–25City-wide
- Museum dedicated to the City of BostonResident proposes a city history museum to educate newer Bostonians about Boston's diverse history, including the Massachusett and Wampanoag Nations, and boost tourism.2024–25South Boston Waterfront