Past Events

What if your dog could actually tell you what they’re thinking?

Join NOVA for a one-night-only event inspired by the upcoming documentary Can Dogs Talk? a fascinating (and fun!) exploration into the science of canine communication. This special evening brings dog lovers, pet parents, and curious humans together to dive into the viral world of “talking dogs,” those pups using word buttons to seemingly express wants, feelings, and ideas.

We’ll share extended clips from the film, then dig deeper with the people closest to the research. Expect surprising insights, delightful dog moments, and plenty of “wait… my dog does that!” reactions.

Whether your pup is already pushing buttons — or you’re just obsessed with dogs and science — this is a playful, thought-provoking night you won’t want to miss.

Tail-Wagging Highlights

• Exclusive extended clips from Can Dogs Talk?
• Live panel discussion with:
  -Julia Cort, Co-Executive Producer, NOVA
  -Chris Schmidt, Co-Executive Producer, NOVA
  -Dr. Federico Rossano, Associate Professor of Cognitive Science, UC San Diego and scientific lead of the world’s largest button-pressing pet study
• Audience Q&A
  

Have questions about dogs, adoption, or animal welfare? MSPCA-Angell will be onsite to chat with attendees about their adoption centers, their approach to animal welfare, and the many ways they support animals and communities across Massachusetts. Stop by to learn more about their life-saving work, meet the people behind the mission, and discover how you can get involved.


Before You Fetch Your Tickets

This event is designed for humans only — but your dog will definitely want the recap when you get home. Send us a photo of your dog to be featured at the event! Email events@wgbh.org with your photo.

Tickets are limited. Fetch yours now ($10 each) and join us for a night of science, storytelling, and seriously smart dogs (on screen). With the loss of federal funding, and the future of science and public media under threat, philanthropic support is more important than ever to sustain GBH. Your ticket purchase supports GBH, helping shape a future where facts matter, stories unite us, and everyone has access to quality media.

GBH Music welcomes the Rasa String Quartet to the Boston Public Library for a free show, hosted by CRB Classical 99.5 midday host Edyn-Mae Stevenson. Enjoy a “mixtape” of the greatest hits from the 1980s… and the 1780s! The Rasa String Quartet plays the music of Whitney Houston, Prince, and Hayao Miyazaki alongside that of Mozart and Haydn in an evening of classical rock and soul.

Formed in 2019, the Rasa String Quartet brings together violinists Emma Powell and Maura Shawn Scanlin, violist Kiyoshi Hayashi, and cellist Mina Kim. The Rasa String Quartet is dedicated to exploring the musical space where classical and folk traditions intersect and influence one another. In Sanskrit, the term ‘rasa’ refers to the indescribable power of art to move, inspire, and connect us—a quality Rasa String Quartet strives to embody in every performance. The Rasa String Quartet will perform four free concerts at the BPL throughout the 2025-2026 GBH Music Season.

Why are so many Latinos raving about it and why are others so upset? Join Alberto Vasallo of El Mundo Boston as he moderates a panel to discuss the good, the “bad” and the ugly that has come about the controversial performance on America’s largest stage.

Guests:

Kelly Garcia
Chelsea City Councilor at Large

Antuan Castro del Rio
Artist and community leader

Gabriela Salas
Host & Executive Producer of iHeartRadio's Qué Pasa Boston

Christian De Jesus Franco
Director of Community Affairs, ALPFA Boston

GBH Amplifies is a community conversation series focused on expanding the reach of local voices from Greater Boston and beyond. The series features community leaders hosting public conversations in the GBH Studio at the Boston Public Library in Copley Square, providing a platform for inclusive perspectives on the issues that matter most to New England communities. GBH Amplifies happens weekly on Thursdays from 12:30-1:30pm at the GBH BPL Studio. This event is free and open to the public.

GBH Amplifies is also being supported by the Barr Foundation.

Registration is encouraged for this free event.

Limited seating is available on a first come, first serve basis. If you require a seat, we encourage you to arrive before the start time of this event.

Celebrate Kate Quinn’s spellbinding new novel, The Astral Library, on its release day at this special in-person Beyond the Page event.

In this fantastical tale, Alix Watson, takes nightly refuge at Boston Public Library, escaping into her favorite fantasy novels. She discovers a hidden library that lets readers live inside beloved stories, sparking a thrilling chase through literary worlds as a shadowy enemy closes in.

Enjoy an engaging conversation with the New York Times bestselling author moderated by fellow bestselling author, G.R. Macallister. Hear what inspired Kate to leap into magical realism and be among the first to step into the imaginative world she’s created.

Each ticket includes:

• Admission to the live program in-person at GBH Studios
• A SIGNED copy of The Astral Library
• A photo opportunity with Kate Quinn

Join us for an enchanting evening of storytelling, discovery, and literary magic.

Chief Curator and Director of Collections at MAAH, Dr. Nedra Lee, will discuss the process of assembling and curating the Black Voices of the Revolution exhibit currently running at the museum.

After selling out the last two years, we're back. This time for two unforgettable nights.

Join GBH for our annual Valentine’s Day Soirée featuring craft cocktails, local treats, and LIVE storytelling on the set of Stories from the Stage. Whether you come with a date, a group of friends, or on your own, this is a night designed to celebrate love in all its forms: tender, complicated, funny, and unforgettable.

Choose the night that fits your vibe—or make it a full weekend V-Day celebration.


🩷 INCLUDED WITH YOUR EVENING...

• Complimentary artisan cocktails.
• Sweet and savory treats from local vendors.
• A seat on the set of Stories from the Stage.
• LIVE, intimate storytelling in GBH’s Calderwood Studio.
• Complimentary parking (with validated parking ticket).

🩷 FROM FIRST SIP TO FINAL STORY...
Event schedule (both nights):

• 6:15 PM – Doors open to GBH’s Atrium for a complimentary reception.
• 7 PM – Seating begins in GBH’s Calderwood Studio.
• 7–9:15 PM – Studio production of Stories from the Stage.

🩷 BRING YOUR VALENTINE...OR DON'T
This soirée is for everyone (21+ years of age):

• A date night with your partner
• A Galentine’s night out with friends
• A fun evening with your favorite people
• Singles who love a great story
• Anyone who’s ever loved (or tried)

* Programming subject to change based on production’s needs and requirements. Each night will feature a select variety of our vendors above. Love may be ageless, but this soirée isn’t—guests must be 21+ with valid ID.

What it means to be a Jew today feels more urgent than ever. For some, Jewish identity has become a source of connection and belonging; for others, it prompts searching questions about who we are and how we show up in the world. In this timely and thought-provoking conversation, Harvard Law Professor Noah Feldman sits down with Rabbi Charlie Schwartz, Director of Lehrhaus, to explore this enduring and pressing question. Drawing on a lifetime of deep engagement with Judaism, Feldman offers a wide-ranging and nuanced reflection on Jewish identity, examining how Jews navigate their relationships to God, to Israel, and to one another in an era of profound change and challenge.

One Voice, Many Frequencies brings together boundary-pushing artists, educators, and cultural leaders to explore how contemporary solo work is breaking down the walls between music, theater, and storytelling, and what that means for artists and audiences right now.

At the center of the conversation is Ahamefule J. Oluo, whose acclaimed solo performance The Things Around Us blends live trumpet, looping, humor, and storytelling to explore identity, memory, and connection. Their work is known for its emotional range, musical sophistication, and ability to transform deeply personal material into shared experience.

Oluo is joined by artists who represent a creative core of Boston’s music and performance scene as performers, builders of platforms, communities, and futures: Amanda Shea, Tim Hall, and Cliff Notez.

Rooted in lived artistic practice and real-world experimentation, One Voice, Many Frequencies offers a rare look at how solo performance is being reimagined right now by artists who are making the work shaping scenes, building communities, and inspiring the next generation of performers.

GBH Jazz Nights welcomes Tree Greetings, the acoustic duo of bassist/vocalist Devon Gates and guitarist Ria Modak. Blending jazz, Hindustani, folk, and other traditions, their ruminative compositions strike a balance between melancholy and romance. Their debut single, Shisha (April 2025), is streaming now. They’ve performed across Boston, New York, and most recently toured Mumbai, India. A debut album arrives in 2026. Named one of The New York City Jazz Record’s “Up and Comers of the Year” in 2024, Devon Gates is an Atlanta-born bassist, vocalist, and award-winning composer now based in Brooklyn. Gates is a graduate of Harvard and Berklee. Ria Modak, a guitarist, composer, and historian from New York, is pursuing a PhD at Brown on music and nationalism in India, after completing the Harvard/NEC dual degree program.

GBH Jazz Nights showcase the incredible range of jazz talent in the Greater Boston area. The series is co-hosted by JazzBoston and GBH Music, taking place on the second Thursday of every month from September through May. Tickets are free, but registration is encouraged. Seating is limited and available on a first-come, first-served basis, so arrive early! By registering, you agree to receive email communications from GBH Music.

GBH Jazz Nights are made possible by the Goldstein Family Fund.

Join us for an engaging live taping of GBH Amplifies as we host a vital conversation on the evolution of civil rights and the enduring quest for equity in our nation. Hosted by Ron Mitchell as part of The Bay State Banner’s 60th Anniversary "State of Black America Forum Series," this panel explores the intersection of historical milestones and the modern-day pursuit of justice.

Guests:

Dr. Noelle Trent
President & CEO of the Museum of African American History, Boston and Nantucket

Byron Rushing
Former Massachusetts State Representative and former President of the Museum of African American History

L'Merchie Frazier
Visual activist, public historian, educator, artist who currently serves as Executive Director of Creative / Strategic Planning for SPOKE Arts

JerriAnne Boggis 
Executive Director, Black Heritage Trail New Hampshire


GBH Amplifies is a community conversation series focused on expanding the reach of local voices from Greater Boston and beyond. The series features community leaders hosting public conversations in the GBH Studio at the Boston Public Library in Copley Square, providing a platform for inclusive perspectives on the issues that matter most to New England communities. GBH Amplifies happens weekly on Thursdays from 12:30-1:30pm at the GBH BPL Studio. This event is free and open to the public.

GBH Amplifies is also being supported by the Barr Foundation.

Registration is encouraged for this free event.

Limited seating is available on a first come, first serve basis. If you require a seat, we encourage you to arrive before the start time of this event.