As the epicenter of the City of Boston, City Hall Plaza is a place where all Boston residents, visitors and newcomers have access to participate in arts and cultural events. To honor the communal grief that the arts and culture sector is facing and respond to those most impacted by space inequity, the Mayor's Office of Arts & Culture (MOAC) will provide grants for programs and events to be held at City Hall Plaza. Through the City Hall Plaza Engagement Grant, MOAC aims to highlight programming that uplifts Boston’s diverse communities, responds to the current arts and culture climate, and restores the use of City Hall Plaza as a core space for people within the arts and culture sector. 

SELECTION CRITERIA The selection process for the City Hall Plaza Engagement Grant is guided by the following core values: 

● Vision: Programming that elevates arts, culture, and/or creative expression

● Commitment to Equity: City Hall Plaza is a space for everyone and our goal is to provide funding for programs on the plaza to support communities that were disproportionately affected and impacted by COVID 19. 

● Need for Space: All programs will demonstrate the need for additional cultural spaces in Boston due to the loss of space or inability to afford space. 

● Cultural Relevance: All programs should engage with the current social, cultural, or civic climate that uplifts Boston's arts and cultural sector. 

● Community Partnerships: All programs should center partnerships with community members, artists and key stakeholders toward a shared vision of uplifting Boston’s arts and culture sector. 

● PMD Permit Requirement: All programs must first obtain approval of their event date from the City of Boston Property Management Department prior to applying for this Grant. Submit your date for approval here. 

● Location: City Hall Plaza will highlight organizations and artists who are located in the Greater Boston Area, communities residing east I-495 in Massachusetts, and/or national partners who have had a longstanding relationship with Boston communities (reference map). 

FUNDING STRUCTURE 

The funding is divided into four tiers to include a range of arts and cultural programs or events. The amount of funding allocated to each tier is informed by the budget and scale of the proposed idea. In some cases MOAC will make suggestions and offer a recommended amount based on our capacity to fund, produce or sponsor programs.  All programs and events funded by the CHP Engagement Grant will be sponsored by MOAC and will be free and open to the public. 

To learn more or see the complete grant guidelines click here! If you have any questions, comments or concerns please reach out to the Director of City Hall Plaza Engagement via email at billydean.thomas@boston.gov