In an innovative move to revitalize downtown Boston, Mayor Michelle Wu, in collaboration with the Downtown Business Alliance (DBA) and the Mayor's Office of Arts and Culture (MOAC), has launched an initiative aimed at transforming vacant office and retail spaces into art hubs. This push towards creating affordable, vibrant spaces for art production and cultural engagement looks to address the increased vacancy rates that Downtown Boston has faced since the onslaught of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Moving forward with this plan, a Request for Information (RFI) has been issued, targeting a broad audience including artists, creative professionals, cultural space operators, property owners, and developers. With a view of bolstering the creative economy, these spaces could potentially morph into art studios, galleries, or performance venues—Mayor Wu and the MOAC are betting big on the arts to inject new energy and business opportunities in the area, a strategy that has seen international success in cities like London and Austin, Texas.
As reported by the City of Boston, Mayor Wu said, "Boston has long been a city that leads with innovation and creativity," and further emphasized the city's commitment to growing accessible cultural spaces throughout Boston. The initiative isn't just about the arts for art's sake; it's envisioned as a catalyst for economic revitalization, expected to boost foot traffic downtown and create new jobs in the creative industries.
This initiative is part of a broader effort toward reinvigorating the neighborhoods with programs like the Office to Residential Conversion Program and the SPACE grant program which has seen the city direct funds towards small and diverse businesses—a strategy that aims to open the city’s core to a wider demographic and make downtown a dynamic hub of activity where the tech and creative sectors flourish. The MOAC Cultural Planning Team, building on these efforts, intends to invest $200,000 in pilot initiatives supporting the growth of Downtown's creative economy. According to Kenny Mascary, Interim Chief of MOAC, who told the Boston official website, Boston's creatives need affordable spaces to thrive and offer "new solutions and create an equitable and exciting Downtown space."
Boston's own artist and entrepreneur Ashton Lites—also known as Stiggity Stackz—added a personal perspective on the importance of affordable space in Boston for the arts community. Lites shared the challenges faced in pursuing creative endeavors in the city and how this initiative could propel mentoring and collaboration opportunities that contribute significantly to the fabric of Boston's cultural scene. Interested parties can submit their proposals through the provided link until April 18, 2025, and reach out to the MOAC with any queries ahead of the deadline.
