Boston's classrooms are slated for some aesthetic uplifts as Mayor Michelle Wu, in league with the Mayor's Office of Arts & Culture, beckons artists nationwide to leave their vibrant mark on city schools. Dubbed ‘A Canvas of Culture: Boston Public Schools,’ the project is earmarked with a hefty sum of $720,000 to splash art across thirteen locations in nine Boston Public Schools, promising to turn dingy walls into dynamic statements reflective of Boston's diverse communities. A collaboration with Boston Public Schools (BPS) and Street Theory, a mural consulting firm, the initiative aims to infuse learning spaces with creativity and cultural pride, as reported by City of Boston official website.
Announcing the initiative, Mayor Wu stood firm on the premise that the environments where students learn should mirror the city's rich cultural mix, broadcasting itself as locales of empowerment. "The spaces where our children learn deserve to reflect the vibrancy and culture of our city as empowering places for them to learn and thrive," Wu said, according to the City of Boston announcement. The Call to Artists seeks professionals with all levels of acclaim and pedigree, having a strong preference for those who can claim a connection to Boston or its multifarious neighborhood themes.
Locations chosen for this year’s beautification span neighborhoods including Charlestown, Dorchester, East Boston, and several others. With the ribbon-cutting for the artwork set to take place in summer and fall of 2024 and some projects stretching into 2025, this program is not a mere touch-up but an ambitious multi-year gambit. Additionally, this artistic call includes initiatives targeting the Carter School, seeking to create visually accessible art for students of varied sensory and communicative needs.
“Art has the power to transform spaces, inspire minds, and unite communities,” BPS Superintendent Mary Skipper told Boston’s official news outlet, highlighting the transformative potential of this cultural enterprise. The extensive project resembles more of a campaign than a one-off affair, looking to invest around $3 million in public art over the forthcoming three years. Its funding streams from the municipal Percent for Art program coupled with the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds and the Mayor's Office of Arts & Culture revolving fund.
Street artists, muralists, and canvas veterans alike are beckoned to submit their proposals by the deadline on February 28. With sights set on weaving a tapestry of visual narratives across Boston’s educational institutions, the initiative stands as a testament to the belief in art's capacity to shape environments, contribute to the city's ethos, and the holistic development of its youngest denizens.
