Boston’s world-class arts and cultural institutions are the hub of a thriving network of artists and audiences. Our neighborhoods are home to ethnically diverse festivals and to groups that offer dance, theatre, music, and visual arts.

Increasingly, larger cultural institutions are linking with these neighborhood-based resources. These connections benefit all residents. We are working to nurture and develop these linkages to enhance the cultural vitality of our city.

Toward this end, we have identified four areas of focus:

Synergies with our Educational and Environmental Goals Arts that Enliven Education Exposure to the arts in school has been shown to enhance overall academic performance and contribute to healthy youth development. We support arts education programs that promote artistic mastery, provide opportunities for experiential learning, and enhance the educational attainment of Boston's youth. Elementary and middle school music instructions by Berklee City Music is one example of this type of activity. Arts that Enhance Environmental Engagement Participation in outdoor cultural programs—such as concerts held in urban parks—can build an appreciation of the environment and be the first step toward environmental citizenship. Arts can also be an effective tool for civic engagement. We support arts and culture programs that encourage appreciation of open space such as Franklin Park Playhouse. We also support programs and organizations, such as New England Foundation for the Arts, that use the arts to help residents understand, engage, and advocate for environmental justice in their communities. Civic Engagement and Community Cohesion Because they make neighborhoods more vital, encourage civic engagement, build cohesion, increase public safety, and enhance individual well-being, we support neighborhood cultural events. Live weekly performances by Teens on Stage, a program involving artist residencies taking place in "hot spot" neighborhoods; and free concerts in neighborhoods across Boston by Boston Landmarks Orchestra both exemplify this strategy.

Major and Mid-sized Institutions Boston is fortunate to be home to many excellent major and mid-sized institutions that serve as anchors for the arts and are increasingly reaching out to diverse audiences. Many of our large cultural institutions are over 100 years old and in need of physical repair and updating. Since the quality and capabilities of exhibiting institutions and performance spaces has a substantial impact on their ability to attract a critical mass of practitioners, patrons, and participants, we support their efforts. Support to help restore the Museum of African American History's African Meeting House is characteristic of our capital funding. Diverse Ethnicities and Traditions Cross-ethnic performance and expression advances appreciation and understanding. We support initiatives that—by expressing the universal humanity at the core of common culture—foster the capacity of varied cultures to value and learn from one another. An example is the World Music/CRASHarts program. It not only presents a world-class performing arts series, but also holds neighborhood forums in which young people get to interact with well-known international artists. AileyCamp Boston, a free summer dance camp for urban middle school students, is another example.

Our Arts and Culture strategy supports the rich ethnic diversity of our city. To do this effectively, we also employ intermediaries that re-grant to small community-based organizations that are aligned with our strategy. We are currently partnering with the following organizations:

• The Boston Foundation
• EdVestors
• New England Foundation for the Arts