GBH offers a wide variety of in-person and virtual events. From live music recordings, lectures and screenings to our virtual Book Club, tasting events and more, stay connected to our community. Whatever you’re interested in—news, history, the arts or music, we’ve got you covered. Fill your calendar with this rich diversity of events and be inspired, informed and entertained.
If you have questions about any of our events please reach out to Audience Member Services by phone 617-300-3300 or email info@wgbh.org
Featured Events
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In PersonStories from the Stage: Pride
Over the last few decades, LGBTQ+ people have made tremendous political and social gains. But threats persist, and the fight for equity is still ongoing. People are standing up, and their stories of living their true lives loud and proud give us all hope. Hear amazing and true stories from some of these inspirational people.
At Stories from the Stage, produced by GBH WORLD, ordinary people share extraordinary experiences that you will not soon forget. You’ll hear stories of love and loss, amazing adventures, incredible surprises and unexpected triumphs. In each taping, we get up-close and personal with storytellers about what inspires them and the craft of storytelling. Join us!
Monumental Market, a nut-free bakery in Jamaica Plain, will be onsite selling sweet and savory bites starting at just $2.50!
6:30pm Doors open to GBH's Atrium where food and drink are available for purchase
7:00pm Doors open to GBH's Calderwood Studio for seating
Note all onsite purchases will be credit card only.
Event registration is required. Seating is general admission. The maximum capacity of this event is 150.
By RSVPing for this event, you agree to receive timely news and updates on events, films, and special offers from GBH.
Thank you to our sponsor, UMass Amherst.This event is also presented with support from Liberty Mutual Insurance.
Stellar Story Company identifies and coaches storytellers for Stories from the Stage.
Reese, Joshua
Photo credit: Stories from the Stage -
In Person
History Happy Hour
Immerse yourself in New England's history! Join GBH at The Massachusetts Historical Society for an exclusive curated just-for-you exhibit of objects that changed New England’s history. Sip a glass of wine or beer as you chat with the historians behind the collection.
Did you know that Paul Revere never actually said “the British are coming” during his midnight ride to warn John Hancock and Samuel Adams about the British troop movements? In his letter to Jeremy Belknap, he expressed discretion about alerting his fellow Patriots by placing a signal lantern in the steeple of Old North Church to warn them of the British movements. The MHS will have the original Letter from Paul Revere to Jeremy Belknap, circa 1798 on display during this event. Come see it for yourself!
This open house style event invites you to wander among the artifacts as you savor a glass a wine (or local brew) and chat with MHS’s curators about objects on display.
We are excited to be partnering with The Massachusetts Historical Society (MHS) to bring you this unique experience. The Massachusetts Historical Society is a major historical archive specializing in early American, Massachusetts, and New England history.
Guests will be welcomed in the main entrance of MHS in Boston’s Kenmore Square neighborhood and guided up the marbled staircase to the second floor (elevators available as needed) where this unique collection is on display. Guests are invited to enjoy a complimentary beverage and a light bite while walking through the exhibit and chatting with MSH historians.
This event is hosted by GBH News' Craig LeMoult.
Tickets include:
- Access to an exclusive exhibit put together by MHS for specially for this event
- Complimentary beer, wine, and bites
- Access to MHS curators to answer questions about the items on display
All ticket sales support GBH.
Parking/Directions:
Conveniently located where the Back Bay meets the Fenway in the heart of Boston, the Massachusetts Historical Society is accessible from the city's major highways and by public transportation via train, subway, or bus.
Visitors in need of handicapped-accessible parking are advised that the wheelchair ramp for the building is located on the right side of the building (when facing the front door), adjacent to the HP-placard designated street spaces on the Fenway access road at the corner of the building. Find out more here: www.mbta.com
If you are driving, please keep in mind that street parking is limited but there are a few public parking garages surrounding the area.
The maximum capacity of this event is 100
This is an age 21+ event
This event is presented in partnership with The Massachusetts Historical Society.
More GBH Events
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In PersonVirtualU.S. Supreme Court Crystal Ball
New England Legal Foundation is excited to present the SCOTUS Crystal Ball. Each year at this point in May, many of the cases before The Supreme Court have been decided. There are few that remain, and those that do often have the most intricacies. Join us and for a discussion about the details of the remaining cases, the arguments given and what a decision on either side of the case may mean.
We are excited to welcome back Sterling Professor of Law and Political Science at Yale, Professor Akhil Amar to moderate the discussion between constitutional law scholars.Partner:New England Legal Foundation -
In Person
Stories from the Stage: Pride
Over the last few decades, LGBTQ+ people have made tremendous political and social gains. But threats persist, and the fight for equity is still ongoing. People are standing up, and their stories of living their true lives loud and proud give us all hope. Hear amazing and true stories from some of these inspirational people.
At Stories from the Stage, produced by GBH WORLD, ordinary people share extraordinary experiences that you will not soon forget. You’ll hear stories of love and loss, amazing adventures, incredible surprises and unexpected triumphs. In each taping, we get up-close and personal with storytellers about what inspires them and the craft of storytelling. Join us!
Monumental Market, a nut-free bakery in Jamaica Plain, will be onsite selling sweet and savory bites starting at just $2.50!
6:30pm Doors open to GBH's Atrium where food and drink are available for purchase
7:00pm Doors open to GBH's Calderwood Studio for seating
Note all onsite purchases will be credit card only.
Event registration is required. Seating is general admission. The maximum capacity of this event is 150.
By RSVPing for this event, you agree to receive timely news and updates on events, films, and special offers from GBH.
Thank you to our sponsor, UMass Amherst.This event is also presented with support from Liberty Mutual Insurance.
Stellar Story Company identifies and coaches storytellers for Stories from the Stage.
Reese, Joshua
Photo credit: Stories from the Stage -
In PersonVirtual
Moving DEI from Intention to Impact with Malia Lazu
This event was initially scheduled on April 4th and has been postponed due to inclement weather.
In the aftermath of George Floyd's murder, corporate America doubled down on its public intentions to be more inclusive and equitable. Yet despite the pledges it has been difficult to see which system changes have made a real difference. Then came the Supreme Court’s decision to end affirmative action—and its potential implications for corporations and their Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion practices. With DEI programs seemingly under attack and their efficacy in question, are businesses still willing to make the case for diversity—and what can we do to encourage them?
Malia C. Lazu is an award-winning, tenured strategist in diversity and inclusion and a lecturer in the Technological Innovation, Entrepreneurship, and Strategic Management group at the MIT Sloan School of Management. She is former EVP and Regional President of Berkshire Bank and the creator of several accelerators designed to support minority-owned businesses in the Boston area, as well as the consultancy the Lazu Group. She's the author of From Intention to Impact: A Practical Guide to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (MIT Press, February 2024).
Malia Lazu will be in conversation with GBH Chief Inclusion and Equity Officer, Yemisi Oloruntola-Coates.
Her book will be available to purchase, thanks to Frugal Bookstore, with a 15% discount.Partner:Frugal Bookstore -
Virtual
Our Expanding Universe: The DESI Project's First Results
Understanding the accelerating expansion of our universe is one of the most important goals of modern astronomy. And it is a huge technical challenge. Paul Martini, with an international team of almost 500 researchers, built the unique telescope, the Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument (DESI), that captures (via spectrographs) light from galaxies and supermassive black holes (quasars) 11 billion light-years away. The first results are amazing, and provide the best explanation of dark energy and cosmic expansion that is currently possible. Dr. Martini describes the DESI project, its scientific significance, and the very exciting results so far.Partner:Science for the Public -
In PersonVirtual
How Duke Ellington, Louis Armstrong, and Count Basie Transformed America
As part of our "Revolutionary Music: Music for Social Change" programmatic theme, join the Boston Public Library and American Ancestors in-person or online for talk about a sweeping and spellbinding portrait of the longtime kings of jazz—Duke Ellington, Louis Armstrong, and Count Basie—who, born within a few years of one another, burst through racial barriers to become the most popular entertainers on the planet.
About the book
The Jazzmen is the story of three revolutionary American musicians, the maestro jazzmen who orchestrated the chords that throb at the soul of twentieth-century America. Larry Tye paints a vivid and immersive portrait of the birth of jazz, highlighting the resilience of its trailblazers as they opened America’s ears and souls to the magnificence of their melodies. Each insisted he was a music maker first and last, when in reality all three were cultural and racial insurgents.
There will be time for Q&A from both in-person and online audiences. After the main program ends at approximately 7 PM, there will be an author signing facilitated by local independent bookstore partner Trident Booksellers and Cafe.
Online attendees will have a chance to order copies from another local independent bookstore partner (Porter Square Books) during the main program (6 - 7 PM).Partner:American AncestorsBoston Public Library -
Virtual
House of Carcinogens: What's in the things we buy?
American Experience presents a virtual PAST FORWARD conversation exploring the harmful chemicals in the food, clothes, and other goods that Americans buy and use every day. This conversation is inspired in part by our new streaming film Poisoned Ground: The Tragedy at Love Canal.
Panelists will examine how American consumer culture acts in conjunction with corporate negligence and government laxity to expose the public to chemical hazards. They will also explore how wealth can determine one's level of exposure, and the government’s regulatory approach to consumer protection over time. They will look forward by asking what actions consumers can take to protect themselves.
Panelists:
Dr. Jennifer Thomson is an associate professor of history at Bucknell University. Her current book project examines the effect of the Environmental Protection Agency's sewer grant construction program on racial residential segregation. Her first book, The Wild and the Toxic: American Environmentalism and the Politics of Health, explored the various discourses of health that environmentalists deployed in the late twentieth century.
Dr. Bhavna Shamasunder is an associate professor and Chair of the Department of Urban & Environmental Policy at Occidental College. She teaches and conducts research at the intersection of environmental health & justice, with a focus on inequalities in chemical exposures faced by low-income communities and communities of color who live and work in urban and/or industrial environments.
This conversation will be moderated by Tim Bartley. Tim teaches in the Department of Sociology and the Earth Commons Institute at Georgetown University. His work focuses on sustainability standards, environmental justice movements, and the regulation of global industries. More broadly, he is interested in political, organizational, and economic processes that shape environments, workplaces, and the expression of rights around the world.
This event will be livestreamed on our YouTube and Facebook pages. -
In PersonVirtual
Coercion, Conflict, and Consensus: Revolution is Brewing (Anew!) in Boston
In the wake of the Boston Tea Party, the British government in 1774 sought to rein in Massachusetts colonists with a series of harsh laws that closed Boston’s port and severely limited the right to representative government and due process of law. The fallout from these so-called Coercive Acts, including the attempted dissolution of the colony’s legislative branch, sparked intense debates within the community and became a critical factor on the road to the American Revolution.
To mark the 250th anniversary, Revolutionary Spaces is hosting a special night of Revolution is Brewing, our award-winning immersive experience that allows audiences to take on the role of British subjects from across the political spectrum as they debate how to respond to the Coercive Acts.
The best part? You will be playing alongside both historians and current Massachusetts elected officials who will also take part in a post-game panel discussion and Q&A to reflect on the meaning of the Coercive Acts today, with a particular focus on the role of the Massachusetts Legislature in our constitutional scheme of state government. The topics heatedly debated at the time—competing interpretations of representative government, the relative powers of the executive and legislative branches, the role of the individual and community in relation to government proper , and the consequences of resisting arbitrary power—still resonate strongly today.
Old South Meeting House doors will open at 5:30 pm, the game will begin at 6:00 pm, and the panel discussion will start at 7:30 pm. Both the game and discussion are free and open to the public, and drinks and refreshments will be served. There are a limited number of players for the game, so please register for a slot in advance. All are welcomed to watch the game unfold— it’s just as much fun to watch as to play!Partner:Revolutionary Spaces -
In PersonVirtual
GBH Music Presents: The Boston Symphony Chamber Players
Experience a live performance by one of the world's most distinguished chamber music ensembles. The Boston Symphony Chamber Players, the BSO's first-chair string and wind players, visit GBH's Fraser Performance Studio this May 16 at 7:30 pm to perform for a limited in-person audience. The performance will also stream at Classical.org and be available on-demand. In celebration of Serge Koussevitzky's 150th birthday, the concert salutes the former BSO Music Director's profound impact on the music of his time.
Brian McCreath, producer and host of CRB Classical 99.5's Boston Symphony Orchestra broadcasts from Symphony Hall and Tanglewood, hosts the event. Tickets for both the in-person and virtual experiences are available for free.
Boston Symphony Chamber Players Program
Serge KOUSSEVITZKY Second movement (Andante) from Double Bass Concerto, and Valse miniature, for double bass and piano
Walter PISTON Quintet for flute and strings
Olivier MESSIAEN Abîme des oiseaux from Quartet for the End of Time, for solo clarinet
Jean FRANÇAIX Dixtuor, for winds and strings
Featured Musicians
Alexander Velinzon, violin
Lucia Lin, violin
Cathy Basrak, viola
Blaise Dejardin, cello
Edwin Barker, bass
Elizabeth Rowe, flute
John Ferrillo, oboe
Bill Hudgins, clarinet
Richard Ranti, bassoon
Richard Sebring, horn
Randall Hodgkinson, piano
Tickets for both the in-person and virtual experience are available for free.
You have two ticket options:
* In-person experience from 7:30-10pm, includes dessert post-reception or
* Virtual ticket from 7:30-9pm. The performance can be streamed for free with an advanced RSVP
Please note by registering for this event your name and email will be shared with GBH.
Photo Credit: Robert Torres
This event is presented with support from Comcast Xfinity Internet.
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In Person
History Happy Hour
Immerse yourself in New England's history! Join GBH at The Massachusetts Historical Society for an exclusive curated just-for-you exhibit of objects that changed New England’s history. Sip a glass of wine or beer as you chat with the historians behind the collection.
Did you know that Paul Revere never actually said “the British are coming” during his midnight ride to warn John Hancock and Samuel Adams about the British troop movements? In his letter to Jeremy Belknap, he expressed discretion about alerting his fellow Patriots by placing a signal lantern in the steeple of Old North Church to warn them of the British movements. The MHS will have the original Letter from Paul Revere to Jeremy Belknap, circa 1798 on display during this event. Come see it for yourself!
This open house style event invites you to wander among the artifacts as you savor a glass a wine (or local brew) and chat with MHS’s curators about objects on display.
We are excited to be partnering with The Massachusetts Historical Society (MHS) to bring you this unique experience. The Massachusetts Historical Society is a major historical archive specializing in early American, Massachusetts, and New England history.
Guests will be welcomed in the main entrance of MHS in Boston’s Kenmore Square neighborhood and guided up the marbled staircase to the second floor (elevators available as needed) where this unique collection is on display. Guests are invited to enjoy a complimentary beverage and a light bite while walking through the exhibit and chatting with MSH historians.
This event is hosted by GBH News' Craig LeMoult.
Tickets include:
- Access to an exclusive exhibit put together by MHS for specially for this event
- Complimentary beer, wine, and bites
- Access to MHS curators to answer questions about the items on display
All ticket sales support GBH.
Parking/Directions:
Conveniently located where the Back Bay meets the Fenway in the heart of Boston, the Massachusetts Historical Society is accessible from the city's major highways and by public transportation via train, subway, or bus.
Visitors in need of handicapped-accessible parking are advised that the wheelchair ramp for the building is located on the right side of the building (when facing the front door), adjacent to the HP-placard designated street spaces on the Fenway access road at the corner of the building. Find out more here: www.mbta.com
If you are driving, please keep in mind that street parking is limited but there are a few public parking garages surrounding the area.
The maximum capacity of this event is 100
This is an age 21+ event
This event is presented in partnership with The Massachusetts Historical Society.
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In Person
Birthing Justice: Finding a New Way Forward
With the development of technology and advances in pre-natal care, the childbirth experience should be safer than ever. Yet, in Massachusetts, life-threatening and fatal complications associated with labor and delivery have increased at alarming rates for all birthing people, with Black women experiencing the highest rates of death.
In this forum, legislators, healthcare experts and advocates discuss the state of maternal health in the Commonwealth, and how better access to care can ensure that giving birth is safe, nurturing and survivable.
The speakers are:
Ndidiamaka Amutah-Onukagha, Ph.D.
Emily Anesta
Nashira Baril, MPH
Representative Brandy Fluker Oakley
Representative Kay Khan, RN/MSN
Senator Liz Miranda
Lucy Lomas, M.D.
Jo-Anna Rorie, Ph.D.
GBH News Saraya Wintersmith is moderating the discussion
This event will be followed by a reception.
This talk is a partnership between the Commonwealth Beacon and GBH Forum Network supported by
Bay State Birth Coalition
Boston Children’s Hospital
Boston’s Higher Ground
Boston Public Health Commission
Center for Women in Politics and Public Policy
University of Massachusetts, Boston
Children’s HealthWatch
MassNOW
Massachusetts Women of Color Coalition (MAWOCC)
NAACP, Boston Chapter
Neighborhood Birth Center
New England Medical Association (NEMA)
The Wagner Foundation
Boston Public Health CommissionPartner:CommonWealth Beacon -
Virtual
Why Do We Need Art Museums?
In 2014, Jeffrey K Smith wrote "The Museum Effect" in which he put forth the case that museums, libraries and cultural institutions educate and civilize us as individuals and as societies. He suggested that visitors who spend time with their thoughts elevated, leave the institution as better people in some meaningful fashion than when they entered.
We will discuss this idea with Natalie Dykstra, the acclaimed biographer, of CHASING BEAUTY, about the life and legacy of Isabella Stewart Gardner, one of the first female art collectors in America. "Isabella Stewart Gardner is best known today for the Boston museum that bears her name, but as Dykstra makes clear in her luminous new biography, the Gilded Age doyenne was herself a figure to be reckoned with. A daughter of wealth who married into more, the flamboyant Gardner quickly became the queen of haute bohemia — and in the process, one of America’s most serious collectors. A lively portrait of a moment, a woman and the power of art". - NYT
Was Gardner doing essential work in the cultural education of her fellow Americans or just satisfying her own wanderlust by spending money on expensive indulgences. Join the conversation to express your views and discover more.Partner:Cambridge Forum -
In Person
Changemakers in Action - Progress in Times of Crisis
Join MIT Solve for its flagship event, Solve at MIT and this opening plenary.
What does an equitable and sustainable future look like? How can we continue making progress amidst conflict, pandemics, and climate disasters? We’ve invited global leaders to our opening plenary, to address these universal questions, and share how they’re wielding technology through global crises.
Speakers will include MIT President Sally Kornbluth, WHO Director-General Special Envoy for Climate Change and Health, Dr. Vanessa Kerry, and Grammy-nominated artist, Simón Mejía of Bomba Estéreo. More speakers will be announced in the next few weeks!Partner:Solve MIT
