NOTICE OF ACCOMMODATIONS
Interpretation, translation, and disability accommodation services are available to you at no cost in English | Español | Kreyòl ayisyen | 繁體中文 | Tiếng Việt | 简体中文 | Kriolu | العربية | Русский | Português | Français | Af Soomaali here.
If you have any questions or concerns please contact the Galleries and Exhibitions Manager via email at mariana.rodriguezrey@boston.gov
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OVERVIEW
The City of Boston invites artists, collectives and art organizations residing, working, or creating in the Greater Boston area to submit exhibition proposals for 2D and 3D installations in the Mezzanine Gallery at Boston City Hall. This prominent space, visible to all who enter the building through the main entrance, offers a unique opportunity for artists to engage with a diverse audience.
Four proposals will be selected for exhibitions lasting 8-12 weeks each, scheduled during the following periods: August - October 2025, November 2025 - January 2026, February - April 2026, and April - July 2026. Selected applicants will receive one stipend of $700 per exhibition to support production and transportation costs. Selected applicants will get assigned an exhibition slot.
SUBMISSION DEADLINE: May 18, 2025, at 11:59 PM EST
ABOUT THE MEZZANINE GALLERY
The Mezzanine Gallery at Boston City Hall is a highly visible space, serving as the first encounter with art for many visitors entering the building. This unique location offers selected artists the opportunity to engage with a broad and diverse audience. Furthermore, the selected exhibitions will be in dialogue with Yu-Wen Wu's powerful long-term installation, “We Belong”. Artists are encouraged to consider how their proposed work might interact with and complement the themes and visual language of this piece, creating a cohesive and thought-provoking experience for visitors.
ABOUT THE BOSTON CITY HALL GALLERIES
The Boston City Hall Galleries showcase contemporary emerging and mid-career local artists and art organizations. The galleries aim to nurture Boston’s local art scene by displaying a variety of mediums and perspectives that reflect the city’s diversity. Our mission is to provide spaces that present memorable, groundbreaking, concept-driven exhibitions that engage local communities, spark conversations on social issues, and inspire a sense of belonging within Boston City Hall.
We acknowledge that our galleries are built on the traditional homeland of the Massachusett people and the home of the neighboring Wampanoag and Nipmuc peoples. Along with the Mayor’s Office of Arts and Culture, we believe the arts play a crucial role in driving social change and creating a thriving, healthy community for all.
ELIGIBILITY
- Applications are open to individual artists, collectives, art organizations and groups of artists.
- Applicants whose work explores themes such as social issues, civil rights, climate change, housing accessibility, equity, or identity are encouraged to apply.
- Only one submission per applicant will be accepted.
- Applicants must reside, work, or create in the Greater Boston area (Essex, Middlesex, Norfolk, Plymouth, or Suffolk County).
- All applicants must be at least 18 years old.
EXHIBITION DETAILS
- Selected applicants will receive a $700 stipend to assist with production and transportation costs.
- All media are welcome, subject to installation requirements and space limitations. We recommend reviewing the examples of previously exhibited works, which can be found here: Mezzanine Gallery - Examples.
- Submitted artwork may be in progress or finalized.
- Selected proposals will be on view on exhibitions lasting 8-12 weeks each, scheduled during the following periods: August - October 2025, November 2025 - January 2026, February - April 2026, and April - July 2026.
- Selected proposals will be assigned an exhibition slot.
ARTWORK SPECIFICATIONS
- 2D artwork cannot exceed 100 in. in height and 35 lbs in weight.
- 3D artwork cannot exceed 100 in. in height and 50 lbs in weight.
- Please take into consideration that the artworks will be seen from a distance, ideal dimensions should be between 50 to 100 in. on each side.
- Video works must be silent and have high contrast to be projected during the day.
- Please note the concrete walls cannot be drilled into. Artworks must adhere to the weight limits and be hung from wires. While all mediums are welcome, the space is best suited for lightweight works such as works on paper or fibers. Please refer to the installation guide available here: Mezzanine Gallery Installation Guide.
COMMITMENTS
- Selected applicants are responsible for transporting their artwork to and from the gallery and assisting with installation.
- Selected applicants are responsible for providing all necessary installation hardware unless otherwise agreed upon in writing.
- All participating artists must sign a waiver, available in the submission form. The City of Boston and Boston City Hall Galleries are not responsible for any damage to artwork while on display.
- All artwork must remain installed during the exhibition period agreed on.
- Selected applicants will be required to establish a Vendor ID with the City of Boston before payment is processed.
SELECTION PROCESS
Proposals will be reviewed and selected by a committee of the Mayor’s Office of Arts and Culture staff. They will be scored based on the criteria found on this rubric. Decisions will be notified by June 13th.
BACKGROUND
The City of Boston recognizes the critical importance of Downtown Boston to the entire City. It has long been the heart of the city’s history and identity—a place where revolution and innovation shaped the nation. In the 21st century, Downtown can once again lead as a beacon of creativity and innovation by bringing a resurgence of the creative economy to the neighborhood . This effort can foster a thriving cultural and economic hub in Downtown that celebrates Boston’s creative talent, entrepreneurial spirit, and technological advancement. By reimagining underutilized spaces, fostering arts-tech innovation, and providing accessible venues for artists, we will cultivate a vibrant, inclusive, and forward-looking Downtown. Downtown can act as a testing ground for other Boston neighborhoods to follow this model in the future.
The long-term vision for Creative Enterprise in Downtown Boston will attract diverse creators, residents, and businesses, fostering a community that both preserves Boston’s heritage and pushes the boundaries of what the city can become. Through collaborative partnerships, public programming, and incentives, new creative enterprises in Downtown Boston can redefine urban creativity, drawing in locals and visitors alike while reinforcing Boston’s role as a leader in the global creative economy.
Downtown Boston, with its central location, walkability, and proximity to cultural and innovation hubs, is ideally suited for a hub of creative enterprises. By uniting landowners, creatives, and city planners under a shared vision, we hope this can catalyze a long-term transformation, making Downtown a dynamic space for the cultural economy, commerce, and community and culture to reaffirm Boston’s identity as a city of creativity and progress.
Downtown Boston has long been a space of convergence—a meeting point of history, commerce, and culture. Now, it’s time to reimagine its potential as the heart of Boston’s creative future. Making Space for Culture is an invitation for visionary ideas to shape Downtown into a vibrant home for Creative Enterprise where arts, culture, and innovation thrive together.
We are seeking bold, transformative concepts from operators, cultural organizations, creative enterprises, and landowners to unlock Downtown Boston’s potential. Whether you’re an artist collective, an arts-tech innovator, or a property owner looking to breathe new life into your space, this is your opportunity to collaborate in revitalizing one of Boston’s most dynamic neighborhoods.
OBJECTIVES
- Economic Revitalization: Increased foot traffic, business opportunities, and new job creation in the creative industries.
- Community Gathering Spaces: Enhanced public spaces and community pride through active, accessible cultural programming.
- Innovation Ecosystem: Attraction of talent and investment from tech and creative sectors, solidifying Downtown as a cultural and economic leader.
Accessibility and Accommodations
Interpretation and translation services are available to you at no cost in English | Español | Kreyòl ayisyen | 繁體中文 | Tiếng Việt | 简体中文 | Kriolu | العربية | Русский | Português | Français | Af Soomaali here. You can view our Notice of Language Interpretation (available in multiple languages) for more information.
If you need accommodations or assistance with your application, please contact the grants team at artsgrants@boston.gov with subject line “NDAG, round 5,” or leave a message at 617-910-0048, and someone from the grants team will be in touch with you.
BACKGROUND
The Mayor’s Office of Arts and Culture’s (MOAC) believes artists have a crucial role in creating a thriving, healthy community for all. Furthermore, MOAC is committed to ensuring that everyone has access to creative expression through lifelong arts programming across all Boston neighborhoods. To support this vision, the Neighborhood Activation Grant program was established to fund community-focused arts, cultural, and creative activations in public spaces that foster joy, strengthen community wellbeing across, and advance placemaking across Boston neighborhoods.
Who can apply?
This round of the Neighborhood Activation Grant program is open to individuals and nonprofit organizations working alongside community partners to implement small to mid-sized creative activations in Boston, with a priority for projects that center communities who have been impacted by long-standing systemic inequities. If an organization or community group does not have 501(c)(3) nonprofit status, they can apply with a nonprofit fiscal sponsor.
What is a creative activation?
Specific to this grant, a creative activation is an arts, cultural, and/or creative experience in a publicly accessible space that imagines and explores new possible uses for that space, contributing to placemaking efforts. This includes experiences that:
- Transform the Space: Result in permanent or temporary changes to the physical, social, or atmospheric components of the space.
- Highlight Community: Center the social fabric, traditions, norms, and conversations within the community, showcasing its existing strengths and history.
- Incorporate Multiple Creative Elements: Demonstrate a variety of creative elements, cultural traditions, artistic disciplines, and community engagement processes.
- Engage and Benefit Residents: Are designed, planned, and executed in partnership with residents, local organizations, business owners, and workers, aiming to benefit those within and surrounding the space.
This grant is open to both existing creative activations that are ongoing and new activations that are being launched for the first time. General examples of creative activations include (but are not limited to): site-specific performance art, immersive arts installations, community celebrations, interactive theater productions, film screenings with conversation, cultural festivals, arts and cultural markets, community dialogues that center the arts, a digital arts festival, and more. For examples of selected grantees in previous rounds, please see here.
Please read through the full grant description prior to applying. A strong application will fit the full criteria outlined in this description.
THE BASICS
Contact: For questions regarding the Neighborhood and Downtown Activation Grant, please email artsgrants@boston.gov with subject line “NDAG, round 5”. If phone is preferred, please leave a message at 617-910-0048, and someone from the grants team will be in touch with you.
Funding Source: City of Boston Operating Budget
Total Funds Available: $200,000
Size of grants:
- Cultural Festival: $5,000
- Small-Scale Activation: up to $10,000
- Mid-Scale Activation I: up to $15,000
- Mid-Scale Activation II: up to $20,000
Application Deadline
May 8, 2025
Additional Information
- Events and programs of small and mid-sized scales will be considered. Applicants are strongly encouraged to submit a budget that is commensurate with their proposed activation.
- MOAC will make every effort to fully fund approved proposals within the selected tier of the total requested grant amount.
- Please note: There is a limit of five grants total available at the $20,000 tier. This tier will be more competitive, and while up to five projects may be selected at this level, the selection committee may award fewer based on the quality and alignment of submissions.
- If you are applying as a Cultural Festival, your application will also be considered for the Cultural Affairs Grant Program. To be considered for the Neighborhood Activation Grant, you must submit your application through this program. By doing so, you will automatically be entered into the Cultural Affairs Grant pool as well. Applicants who apply only to the Cultural Affairs Grant Program will not be considered for the Neighborhood Activation Grant. Cultural Festivals will only receive funding from one of these programs, with a maximum grant award of $5,000.
ELIGIBILITY, CRITERIA, AND PRIORITIES
Applicant Eligibility
Applicants need to meet all of the following criteria to be eligible:
- Be an individual artist, cultural worker, non profit arts organization, or community group with a non-profit fiscal sponsor
- Have a direct relationship to the community or area in which the activation or program is taking place. This can include being from that community, having spent a significant amount of time working and building relationships in that place, etc.
- Have not received more than $20,000 in total from previous rounds of the Neighborhood and Downtown Activation Grant (former name)
Project Requirements
- All projects and related programming are located in the City of Boston and are free and open to the public.
- Have a concrete location(s) in which the activation(s) will take place, even if the place(s) is not yet confirmed. Project ideas that list entire neighborhoods will not be considered.
- Demonstrate strong alignment with MOAC’s definition of creative activation.
- All events and programs funded by the Neighborhood Activation Grant are required to be accessible for persons with disabilities under Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), including additional accommodations to be made available upon request of any person who requires alternately formatted materials, auxiliary aids, or other accommodations.
- An evaluation plan to document and communicate the impact of the program to the public.
- Permitting: All activations supported through this grant must secure any required permits independently, as permitting is a separate process from this grant program. Receiving a grant does not guarantee permit approval. Grantees are responsible for applying for and obtaining the appropriate permits for their project. For more information about permit requirements and how to apply, please go here.
Considerations and Priorities
Projects that include some or all of the these elements will be prioritized:
Location:
- Priority will be given to activations that occur or include the following neighborhoods: Mattapan, Roxbury, Dorchester, Hyde Park, East Boston, and Chinatown.
Public participation / co-creation:
- Going beyond the public as an audience and strategically building opportunities for the public to contribute to the vision, creation, and enjoyment of the activation.
Youth participation and training:
- Integrating outcomes for young people (ages 14 to 24) into the activation, facilitating opportunities for young people to inform and lead work, including opportunities to learn specific skills or gain career exposure.
Partnerships and Collaborations:
- Authentic partnerships and collaboration that bring communities into conversation and cross-neighborhood collaboration with each other.
What this does not fund:
- Due to limited funding and the goal to partner with a diverse range of arts stakeholders, the following are ineligible for this grant:
- Previous Neighborhood and Downtown Activation Grantees who received over $20,000 in total (former name)
- Recipients of the FY25 Opportunity Fund – individual artists and cultural workers may apply for both the Opportunity Fund and NAG, but if selected, they can only receive funding from one.
- Fundraising events, advertising, or any activity that is primarily for the commercial benefit of one entity
- Inherently religious programming
- Ticketed events that have an entry fee (ticketed free events are eligible)
- Other foundations or grant-giving organizations
- Events that have taken place prior to July 7, 2025
- Employees of the City of Boston
Evaluation and Reporting Requirements
Once the activation(s) proposed is complete, grantee partners will be asked to complete a brief final report form, as well as a survey about the grant process. This will allow MOAC to improve our grantmaking processes in the future to better support community work. Grantees may be required to meet with the Grants + Programs team periodically.
APPLICATION PROCESS AND TIMELINE
The application is available on Submittable here. Funds will support activations starting after July 7, 2025 and take place before July 1, 2026. Grants over $10,000 will be disbursed in at least 2 installments with the full amount distributed no later than August 2025.
A condensed application process is as follows:
- Submit application via Submittable
- Review of application by the Grant Review Committee
- Final approval based on Grant Review Committee review process
Application Support
The Mayor’s Office of Arts and Culture will host two virtual office hours for applicants to discuss the NAG and its application. Office hours will be held on the following dates and times (dates include links to the office hour):
Due Dates
The deadline to apply for this grant is May 8, 2025 by 5:00 p.m. Applications submitted after 5:00 p.m. on May 8, 2025 will not be accepted. A member of MOAC will inform all applicants on the status of their application within 8 weeks of the due date. If approved, payment can take up to 30 days to process.
Grant Review Committee
MOAC is committed to implementing transparent, equitable and inclusive grantmaking practices, including the way we determine and distribute funding. The Grant Review Committee (GRC) is a diverse cohort across age, race, cultural backgrounds, professional and lived experiences, artists and community members, ability, gender identity, and more. It is comprised of MOAC staff members and community members, positioning community members as decision makers on systems and structures that ultimately have the power to shape their lives and the well-being of their communities.
Review Application Questions
Applications will be accepted through the application below. If you would like to review application questions, you can see a PDF version of them below. Please be sure to read through the grant description in its entirety before applying, including criteria and project priorities, to assess if your activation proposal is a good fit for this grant program.
APPLICATION QUESTIONS
- Application Questions for Individual Artist(s)
- Application Questions for Nonprofits or Fiscally Sponsored Groups
Interested in creating public art in Boston?
Why am I completing this form?
The Mayor’s Office of Arts and Culture and the Boston Art Commission believe that public art is any artwork installed in publicly accessible spaces where they can be experienced by everyone for free. In order to install art on public property, you will need approval from the Boston Art Commission and the department that owns the site.
Complete this form to start the approval process! Once you submit your application, the public art team will be in touch but you can reach out to us with questions at anytime! Please email us at BAC@boston.gov.
Please check out our website to see calls to artists and other opportunities! This form is not an application for funding but there are a couple of different options for finding funding through the city. You can also apply for the Opportunity Fund.
Artist Housing Certification Guidelines
What is an Artist Certificate?
An Artist Housing Certificate is a letter from Mayor’s Office of Arts and Culture. The letter confirms that the artist has been active in their artistic practice in the past three years. An Artist Housing Certificate qualifies an artist as eligible for artist live/work housing and some work space in Boston. The Artist Housing Certification is valid for a period of eight years. Upon expiration, the artist will need to reapply to receive a new Artist Housing Certification. The Mayor's Office of Arts and Culture keeps a list of all spaces for artists in the City of Boston, whether they require the Artist Certification or not. Review those spaces here. The Mayor's Office of Arts and Culture does not maintain a waitlist for these spaces and is not able to confirm when these spaces will become available.
Who is eligible for an Artist Housing Certification?
Applicants must able to demonstrate that they have a recent body (last three years) of artwork and must be at least 18 years of age. Artists in the following disciplines are considered:
- Visual Arts: including painting, printmaking, sculpture, photography, conceptual art, craft arts (ceramics, woodworking, jewelry, etc.), architecture/design (not including engineering and home staging), media arts, film, and new media.
- Performing Arts: including dance, theater, and music.
- Literary Arts: including fiction, non-fiction, poetry, and spoken word.
- Multidisciplinary Art
If you are a commercial artist who has an office space to do your work, and/or works for a company instead of for yourself (sole proprietor) we require examples of your personal fine art to ensure that you need an artist space for your artistic work. This is also the case for artists who are employed full-time in other industries.
Who reviews the applications?
The Artist Resource Manager in the Mayor's Office of Arts and Culture reviews applications.
The decision of the Artist Resource Manager is final. If an applicant is not certified during this round, it is because they were not able to convey that they have been actively making art in the past three years through their application.
Applications will be reviewed based on the following criteria.
- Evidence of a recent body of work (last three years), demonstrated by an artistic resume or CV that lists dates and locations of exhibitions, publications, performances, press, awards, artist residencies, jobs held in arts discipline field, and formal training if you have it.
- Documentation of artwork (or "work samples) including image files, video clips, and writing samples. Files must be dated or they will not be considered.
- One reference letter of support from peers and professionals in the arts who can confirm you have been active in your artistic practice over the past three years.
When are applications accepted?
Applications for the Artist Certification are reviewed every other month. Please check out website to see when we will be reviewing applications.
When will I hear back about the status of my application?
Use the link above to check when we will be reviewing applications.
What is Automatic Certification?
Automatic certification is granted to artists who have received any of the following awards in the last 3 years: the Massachusetts Cultural Council Artist Fellowship, The Boston Foundation Brother Thomas Fellowship, the Boston Cultural Council Artist Fellowship, or the City of Boston Emerging Artist Award.
To receive automatic certification, please fill out your name and contact information in the Artist Housing Certification application and upload your fellowship letter in the Work Samples section. Letter must prove reception of award in the past three years.
The Strand Theatre serves as a cultural and educational resource to artists and audiences, regardless of race or cultural background, age, ability, gender, economic level, or sexual orientation. Please complete the application below based on your rental needs.
Please note: The first quote for your event is an estimate only. A final quote cannot be completed until all technical information and production schedule are complete and reviewed by the Strand Technical Director and General Manager. All forms and schedules must be reviewed no later than 60 days prior to your event.
Things to know before you apply:
- Any show running 90 minutes or longer must have an intermission
- All performances must have a stage manager, and this person cannot be the MC.
- View the Strand Theatre rate card here, and the technical information packet here.
Ticketing
Tickets may be produced through the Strand Theatre's box office (fees apply). Renters may print their own tickets and have the right to sell tickets at a third party location, however tickets cannot be sold until the following are completed:
- Lease application
- Signed contract
- Insurance certificate
- Copy of headliner signed contract with the organization (if applicable)
Insurance
Lessee must provide their own liability insurance. They must obtain either a one day entertainment policy (coverage of one million of liability minimum) or a rider from their existing policy. Insurance must list additional insured as the Strand Theatre - location and venue Strand Theatre, 543 Columbia Rd, Dorchester, MA. 02125
Hip Hop, hard rock performances, and sporting events are not covered under standard liability. A copy of secured insurance must be provided at least 30 days in advance. Failure to provide an accurate genre description of your event or artist roster will result in an automatic termination of your event.
If service of liquor is approved for your event, you must apply for a one day liquor license from the City of Boston and apply for liability coverage at least 60 days prior to your event. Service must be by a licensed bartender. This coverage is only applicable provided the venue has not obtained coverage and is not operating a house bar. Lessee will provide 2 copies of all permits and licenses. Lessee may obtain liquor services from a catering company that has a traveling liquor liability license and tip certified bartender for service (this is the best option).
Event Security
Security guards are booked based on the number of patrons expected and the type of performance. Changes to booking must be completed at least two weeks prior to the event. Boston Police details are booked on the same criteria and are at the discretion of management (and in some instances, the Boston Police Department). Management reserves the right to add additional security staff during an event at the Lessees' expense. Laminates or optional pre-approved staff recognition badges are required for Lessees' event staff. In addition, a list of all approved backstage staff employed by Lessee and Artist/Performers must be provided.
Advertisement and Website
Events will be linked on the Strand Theatre website at no cost to Lessee. All clients advertising a ticketed event must also create an event listing on the ArtsBoston calendar and send it to us prior to the event. Events will be listed on a revolving marquee with all other scheduled events. Please provide a description of your event and send a flier, photo or image for the website. Other than the above mentioned advertisement and listing, The Strand is not responsible for any additional advertisement, media, print or video marketing of the Lessee’s event.
Video/Photos/Audio
It is at the discretion of the Lessee to allow video/audio or photos. All photography stations must not obstruct patron aisles or handicap seating. All cables and wiring running on or through walkways, stairs or entrances, must be secured and taped down properly. Please discuss set up area requirements with the Technical Director. Bring extra gaffing tape and/or walkway covers to prevent cancellation of use.
Event Merchandise Sales
The Strand has 10 2x6 folding tables and 50 folding chairs for use during events. The rental of additional tables and chairs are the Lessee’s responsibility. You must supply all table cloths.
Merchandise sales may include CDs, DVDs, clothing, photos, and books. If approved, any edible items require a one day vendor’s license and health permit, obtained from City Hall. All food vendors must be pre-approved by the Strand General Manager. Two copies of all paperwork must be submitted one week prior to the event. Food items must be wrapped individually and gloves and head nets must be worn at all times. Vendor food items allowed - cupcakes, specialty cookies and other pre-approved baked goods associated with the event. There is a power source to assist with the selling of merchandise and all extension cords must be supplied by vendors.
There is a $25.00 fee, per station required for the sale of any and all merchandise, by Lessee and/or Lessee’s vendors. It must be in the form of a bank check or money order, made out to the Strand Theatre. All fees apply unless waived by the Strand General Manager.
Decorations
Allowed decorations include: balloons, free standing displays, posters, photographs, informational displays, literature tables, approved banners, and flowers. Drapery/fabric is permitted only if they meet safety/fire codes for the venue. You must provide a copy of all current fire retardant certificates for these items.
The gallery space has hanging lips for artwork and 12 picture hanging rods. Lessee/ its vendors must get pre-approval before any items are affixed to the walls. Due to the age of the plaster on walls you cannot nail or tape items to the walls. Please discuss all decoration ideas for pre-approval.
Event Catering
Organizations can provide catering for the event, which can include full meals. Lessee may use any licensed catering company of their choice. Caterers must provide a copy of all current licenses, fire permits and insurance if applicable and follow all safe serve and food handling requirements for transporting, service and staffing. The Strand does not have a working kitchen space for catering, therefore catering companies providing food service must be completely mobile.
Event Sound
Please refer to the Strand Technical Specifications for house sound equipment.
All wires and cables running throughout walkways, stair and public traffic must be taped down with gaffing tape and/or portable cable walkways. A charge of $35.00 per roll for gaffing tape will apply, if supplied by the Strand. (No exception) This amount will be collected from Lessee prior to the show.
All optional microphones such as body and head microphones must be rented by Lessee. The Strand can supply a vendor contact if needed, but will not be responsible for pick-up and return. The Strand is not responsible for poor sound quality or damages to rented microphones. Lessee is responsible for providing AAA batteries for each wireless mic required. Fresh batteries for each mic will be required for each performance.
Event Lighting & Scene Requirements
Please refer to Strand Technical Specifications for house lighting equipment provided in the Technical packet.
Basic color washes are available through our technical team. Any color not in the house supply may be supplied with advance notification. Please allow adequate time to restore all house equipment back to its original place after removing it for special lighting and/or sound equipment. Soft Goods: The Strand has a main curtain and valance, three (3) panels of black borders, three (3) sets of black legs, one (1) scrim, one (2) panels Upstage travelers(1) one Cyc and (1) one movie screen for front throw movie projection or color wash . The Strand does not provide rigging /flying hardware other than the line sets available. (See Strand Technical Specifications) We do not provide general construction hardware to organizations nor do we have an area or maintain supplies to build sets in house. It is the Lessee’s responsibility to ensure safe hardware usage and maintenance and to maintain all scenic pieces including fire retardant certificates. Fire certificates must be provided for all upholstered furniture and set design fabrics being used on stage. *** Please allow at least 60 days to complete the Fire Certificate process. Applications are available online through Fire Dept. or at 1010 Massachusetts Ave.
The use of hazing requires fire details and auto-system shut off monitor. The number of marshals is based on the number of patrons and the rate is based on the detail marshal's position rank. Additional fees include fire system monitor turn off/on ($640), truck fee ($50), 7am – 3 pm $130 per hr. after 3 pm $190 per hr.., Sat $190 per hr., Sun $220 per hr. The use of hazing is a lengthy process and must be scheduled 90 days in advance. The Strand’s Fire System will need to be turned off one hour before show begins and remains off until all vapors have dissipated from the theater. A monitor remains at the system for the duration and is billed to Lessee directly. Average cost for hazing use on a weekend is $2500 up per day.
All application forms and permits can be found here: www.boston.gov/departments/fire-prevention/fire-forms-permits-application-and-fees
You must know what kind of machine and chemicals you will be using and it cannot be changed once approved
Restoration Fee
It is the responsibility of the Lessee to allocate enough time in their schedule for load-out and to restore all Strand lighting & sound equipment, staging, and general building areas to the condition in which you received it or back to the Strand working condition if you requested anything removed for your event. Staff hours will be been scheduled and billed into your invoice. However, if additional time is needed due to your organization's failure to comply with restoral requirements, you will be charged a $300.00 restoral fee plus any staff hours required. A walkthrough must be done at the end of Load-out and restoral time, to assess completion and/or damages.
OVERVIEW
The Mayor’s Office of Arts and Culture (MOAC) believes artists and cultural workers play a vital role in shaping a healthy, vibrant, and just society. To support this belief, Opportunity Fund 7.0 provides project-based support to Boston-based artists and cultural workers to create and present community-centered arts experiences that expand access to creative expression across all neighborhoods.
By investing in the creative labor of individual artists and cultural workers through a structure that prioritizes our communities’ access to the arts, the Opportunity Fund helps strengthen Boston’s civic fabric and supports more equitable participation in the arts for all Bostonians. It affirms MOAC’s belief that every neighborhood should be home to meaningful cultural expression—and that local artists are essential civic partners in that work.
Funds may support an entire project or a portion of a confirmed project, as long as the work is publicly accessible and aligns with MOAC’s commitment to lifelong arts access, neighborhood vitality, and cultural equity. Funded projects will offer a clear public benefit and must be entirely free to participants or audience members. Applicants are encouraged to share how their work promotes inclusion, representation, and shared cultural experience.
Recipients will be selected through a weighted lottery process, with priority given to performing artists; individuals from low-income backgrounds or experiencing financial insecurity; and artists living in Chinatown, Dorchester, East Boston, Hyde Park, Mattapan, Mission Hill, and Roxbury. Priority will also be given to applicants looking to fund projects in the neighborhoods where they reside and applicants who were not awarded the Opportunity Fund in last year’s application cycle. This approach ensures timely processing of applications while prioritizing equity in the distribution of funds.
BACKGROUND
In the Boston Creates Cultural Planning Process, Boston’s residents called for more community-based activities; recognition and valuing of neighborhood cultural assets; and greater exposure to artwork representative of diverse cultures. They also identified a need for greater investment in Boston’s arts and culture sector through increased public funding as well as private, corporate, and foundation support. Goal 2 of the plan was: "Keep artists in Boston and attract new ones here, recognizing and supporting artists’ essential contribution to creating and maintaining a thriving, healthy, and innovative city.”
Goal 2 reinforces the importance of artists in Boston. Given that resources for individual artists in Boston historically have been limited, this goal was intended to help artists do their best work by providing essential means of support. The first strategy for meeting Goal 2 was to invest City of Boston funding into grant programs for individual artists. This Opportunity Fund was designed to directly address Goal 2, and was established in 2016 to provide grants for working artists, creative workers, teaching artists, and cultural practitioners of all artistic backgrounds and disciplines living in the city of Boston to increase their impact within their communities. The grant was initially designed to help artists take advantage of immediate opportunities to showcase their work.
Please read through the full grant description prior to applying.
The application starts below the guidelines - please read the full guidelines and scroll all the way down to find the application! If you don't see the application, you may need to sign in to your Submittable account or make a Submittable account and refresh the page.
THE BASICS
Contact: For questions regarding the Opportunity Fund grant please email artsgrants@boston.gov and use the subject line, “Opportunity Fund Grant Questions.”
Funding Source: Mayor’s Office of Arts and Culture Operating Funds
Total Funds Available: $300,000
Size of grants: $3,000
Number of grants awarded: 100
Important Dates: The application opens on Tuesday, April 22, 2025. The deadline for submitting an application is Tuesday, May 20, 2025 at 11:59PM. Grants will be awarded and disbursed by the end of July 2025.
FUNDING ELIGIBILITY AND PRIORITIES
Where can community-centered arts experiences happen?
Experiences must be in a location that is publicly accessible and ADA accessible in the city of Boston.
Examples include but are not limited to: public buildings such as libraries, schools, or less traditional arts-learning spaces such as community-based organizations, businesses, and parks.
Applicants must ensure that they have or will receive permission to use the location that they propose hosting their experience or the appropriate permits. Learn more about common permits for special events in Boston.
Who is eligible to apply?
Individual applicants should meet all of the following criteria to be eligible.
- You are 18+ years of age
- You are an active working individual artists, creative/cultural workers, teaching artists, and cultural practitioners of all artistic backgrounds and disciplines (subsequently referred to as “creative workers” throughout these guidelines)
- You are currently a resident of the city of Boston, and have lived in the city of Boston for at least one full year at the time of this application
- You are not currently enrolled as a full-time undergraduate student or graduate student
- Due to limited funding and the goal to partner with a diverse range of arts stakeholders, the following are ineligible for this grant:
- Previous Neighborhood and Downtown Activation Grantees who received over $20,000 in total.
- Creative workers may apply for both the Opportunity Fund and Neighborhood Activation Grant, but if selected, they can only receive funding from one of these programs.
City of Boston employees and non-individuals cannot apply to this grant program. This funding cannot support inherently religious programming.
What expenses are eligible?
Experiences must be entirely free to the public. Eligible expenses include:
- Materials and supplies for the proposed experience (This can include refreshments that are free to the public. Alcohol is not an eligible expense.)
- Costs associated with marketing the experience
- Costs associated with renting a space for the experience
- Compensation for applicant creative workers facilitating the experience, and/or artists hired as part of the experience.
What are the funding priorities?
Please note that the funding priorities are different from the eligibility requirements. We encourage you to apply if you meet the eligibility requirements, but do not meet all, some, or any of the funding priorities below.
- Creative workers with an individual annual income under 80% of the median household income in Boston ($91,200)
- Creative workers with an individual annual income under 30% of the median household income in Boston ($34,300)
- Performing artists
- Applicants who did not receive the Opportunity Fund in last year’s application cycle.
- Residents in neighborhoods who live in the following neighborhoods: Chinatown, Dorchester, East Boston, Hyde Park, Mattapan, Mission Hill, and Roxbury.
- Community-centered Arts Experiences planned in the neighborhoods listed above.
Additional information to consider
- You must provide a physical address where you reside in Boston.
- MOAC reserves the right to request additional documentation to verify Boston residency.
- You may need to pay taxes on grants you’ve received.
- Payment will be made to you as an individual
- If you receive public benefits that are income-limited and/or include asset limitations, this grant may impact those benefits.
GLOSSARY AND FAQ
What is the definition of a creative worker in this context?
According to Springboard for the Arts, “An artist is anyone who thinks creatively about the world and their dynamic place in it. Our definition of artist is broad and includes visual artists, performers, writers, music creators, culture bearers, makers, artisans, storytellers, social conveners, idea purveyors, imaginaries, visionaries, students, teachers, organizers and nurturers. Artists are a powerful natural resource and they exist in every place and community.” We will be using this definition of an artist for the Opportunity Fund.
What is the definition of an “active creative worker” in this context?
Active creative workers are individuals who are currently engaged in creative work intended to function as a profession instead of as a hobby. Active creative workers may earn income by selling their creative work, receive funding to support the development of their creative work (such as grants, awards, fellowships, and residencies), or work in non-creative industries to fund their professional creative work, with the intention of focusing their careers on their creative work. While students may be considered active creative workers, the Opportunity Fund does not invest in full-time students at this time. If you are not currently enrolled as a full-time undergraduate student or graduate student you are welcome to apply as long as you are 18+ years of age.
What does it mean to reside in the city of Boston?
Eligible applicants must reside in the city of Boston for at least one year at the time of application. To live in the city of Boston you must live in one of the neighborhoods mentioned on this City of Boston website.
What is a “Community-centered Arts Experience”?
In the context of this grant program, a “community-centered arts experience” is a small event led by a creative worker that allows that creative worker to share their work with the public in a way that is free, that allows the public to benefit from a high-quality arts experience. The spirit of this grant program is to support local artists and teaching artists in doing what they do best, while sharing that practice with the community in Boston. Community-centered arts experiences are meant to enrich the everyday lives of Bostonians through access to high quality, free creative arts, and cultural experiences that have been designed with the audience in mind. Some examples of community arts experiences include but are not limited to:
- Arts educational workshops or classes across artistic disciplines
- Publicly accessible art exhibitions with one planned artist talk
- Concerts
- Dance or theatrical performances
- Film screenings by filmmakers showing their own work and discussing the work the audience
How does this grant differ from the Neighborhood and Downtown Activation Grant/Neighborhood Activation Grant?
The Opportunity Fund is similar to NDAG and NAG in that it supports arts activations and experiences across Boston’s neighborhoods. However, this grant is distinct in that it is focused exclusively on supporting individual artists in sharing their work with the public. Applicants can request funds to support a new presentation of their work, or an ongoing or already planned presentation.
While NDAG and NAG are larger grants that require a longer and more detailed application process, the Opportunity Fund is designed to support smaller-scale projects. It is intended for either a single community-based presentation of work or a very modest series of presentations. The application is brief—designed to take no more than 20 minutes to complete—and is a great fit for creative workers who are newer to grantmaking or to publicly sharing their work.
Who is prioritized and why?
The Opportunity Fund will prioritize individuals who may have not had fair access to artists grant programs, including creative workers who are:
- Performing artists
- Applicants who did not receive a grant from the Opportunity Fund in last year’s application cycle.
- From low income backgrounds and/or individuals who are currently experiencing financial insecurity
- Creative workers who live in neighborhoods listed above
- Creative workers proposing experiences in the neighborhoods listed above.
Applicants who self-identify into these priority categories will receive additional entries into the lottery.
Why does the Opportunity Fund prioritize performing artists?
All artistic disciplines are eligible for the Opportunity Fund. In our most recent round of the Opportunity Fund, a third of applicants identified their artistic discipline as music. More broadly, the performing arts sector locally, and globally, was hit particularly hard by COVID-19. This industry has continued to face barriers toward recovering from COVID-19 because of the way the pandemic changed audience engagement, and the increased closure of performing arts spaces. For these reasons, the Opportunity Fund continues to prioritize investing in artists in the performing arts.
How does MOAC define financial insecurity and why does MOAC prioritize low/moderate income applicants and extremely low income applicants?
The City of Boston has defined low/moderate income as households making less than 80% of the area median income and extremely low income as households making less than 30% of area median income. By these standards, more than half of the Opportunity Fund’s most recent applicants could be defined as extremely low income, while living in a city with a higher cost of living than the broader metropolitan area. This discrepancy indicates a higher financial need for extremely low income applicants, which is why MOAC prioritizes these applicants.
Why does the Opportunity Fund prioritize artists living in certain neighborhoods?
The Opportunity Fund welcomes applications from creative workers who live in all neighborhoods of Boston. The Opportunity Fund prioritizes applications from creative workers who reside in communities impacted by long-standing inequities, including Chinatown, Dorchester, East Boston, Hyde Park, Mattapan, Mission Hill, and Roxbury. Data on the impact of risks posed by climate change and COVID-19 are used to determine these communities. Click here to explore data we use to determine these communities.
APPLICATION PROCESS AND TIMELINE
The application is available on Submittable (starting below these guidelines). The application will open on April 22, and the deadline is Tuesday, May 20 by 11:59 pm. The application should take approximately 20 minutes to complete. Applicants will be notified of the status of their application no later than June 3, 2025.
A condensed application process is as follows:
- Submit application via Submittable
- Review of applications to ensure applicants meet eligibility criteria
- Weight each application: eligible applicants who self-identify as members of priority areas will receive additional entries into the lottery
- Eligible applicants will be entered into a lottery
- Awardees will be chosen using Random Picker
- Applicants will be notified of the status of their application no later than June 3, 2025.
- Funding will be disbursed to awardees by the end of July 2025.
Award Requirements
- To receive funding, grantees must register with the City of Boston as vendors with the address used for this application.
- All grantees will be asked to submit a brief final report describing how their project contributed to their community.
Review Application Questions
Applications will be accepted through Submittable (continue scrolling and log in to Submittable to access the application). If you would like to review application questions before applying, you can review them here.
Accessibility and Accommodations
Interpretation and translation services are available to you at no cost in English | Español | Kreyòl ayisyen | 繁體中文 | Tiếng Việt | 简体中文 | Kriolu | العربية | Русский | Português | Français | Af Soomaali here. You can view our Notice of Language Interpretation (available in multiple languages) for more information.
If you need accommodations or assistance with your application, please contact the grants team at artsgrants@boston.gov with subject line “Opportunity Fund,” or leave a message at 617-635-2787, and someone from the grants team will be in touch with you.