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!
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 event is presented in partnership with The Massachusetts Historical Society.
More GBH Events
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In PersonUlysses Quartet at the BPL (5/22)
Join GBH Music in welcoming the Ulysses Quartet as its first-ever quartet in residence with a free performance at the GBH Studio at the Boston Public Library on Wednesday, May 22, at noon.
The Ulysses Quartet's season-long partnership as quartet in residence furthers GBH Music's ongoing effort to connect with listeners of all backgrounds and ages. The partnership will span over fifty performances and events throughout the year, including with the Boston Public and Massachusetts schools. The Ulysses Quartet’s residency at GBH is made possible by a generous contribution from the Mattina R. Proctor Foundation.
Registration is encouraged for this free event.
Photo credit: Lara St. John
This event is presented with support from CRB and the Ulysses Quartet.
The Ulysses Quartet’s residency at GBH is made possible by a generous contribution from the Mattina R. Proctor Foundation. -
In PersonVirtual
The Music of Civil Rights, from Strange Fruit to The Roots
Music has always been central to the African American quest for freedom. The Civil Rights struggle and its music provided some of America’s most powerful calls of hope, moral clarity, and equity.
During the 19th century, spirituals such as Steal Away carried coded protest. In the 20th century, protest became explicit. In the 1930s Ethel Waters sang an anti-lynching song that shocked Broadway and Billie Holiday bravely recorded the stinging song Strange Fruit. Duke Ellington’s long career spoke for racial respect and civil rights in such pieces as Black Beauty and [Martin Luther] King Fit the Battle of Alabam’.
As political action picked up and in the 1950s and 1960s, We Shall Overcome became the clarion anthem of the Civil Rights movement and central to America’s moral quest for “a more perfect Union.” Old songs like This Little Light of Mine took on new meaning and fresh songs appeared such as If You Miss Me from the Back of the Bus. Black and white activists alike sang Bob Dylan’s Blowin’ in the Wind. And great artists—such as Sam Cooke (A Change is Gonna Come), The Impressions (People Get Ready), James Brown (Say It Loud), Nina Simone, Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder, on up to The Roots—all sang to advance respect and equality.
Dr. John Edward Hasse, long-time music curator at the Smithsonian and Duke Ellington’s biographer, plays stirring video clips of these songs that inspired, motivated, and advocated for what Martin Luther King called for in his “I have a dream” speech: that we all be judged not by the color of our skin, “but by the content of our character.” He will also play works by W.C. Handy and Duke Ellington that helped lay the musical foundation for the Civil Rights movement.
Bookselling information
For in-person attendees, Trident Booksellers & Cafe, one of our community bookstore partners, will provide copies of Hesse's book Beyond Category: The Life and Genius of Duke Ellington for purchase and facilitate an author signing from 7 - 7:30 PM following the the audience Q&A. Zoom webinar attendees and any patrons wishing to order copies online may do so from Bookshop dot org by visiting this link.Partner:Boston Public Library -
In Person
Secrets in Your Data: NOVA screening and panel discussion
Whether you’re on social media or surfing the web, you’re probably sharing more personal data than you realize. That can pose a risk to your privacy – even your safety. At the same time, big datasets could lead to huge advances in fields like medicine. In NOVA's Secrets in Your Data, host Alok Patel explores these issues on a quest to understand what happens to all the data we’re shedding and explores the latest efforts to maximize benefits – without compromising personal privacy.
Join NOVA at GBH on May 29 for a screening of selected clips from Secrets in Your Data paired with a panel discussion featuring experts from the film. Following the program, we will host a catered reception in the atrium.
NOVA's Secrets in Your Data premieres Wednesday, May 15, at 9/8c on PBS. Check local listings for details. It will also be available for streaming online and via the PBS video app. -
Event
Making It in America: The past, present and future of New England manufacturing
New England has a rich apparel and textile manufacturing history. The United States' industrial revolution started here, and many of the region's famous families made their first fortunes in textile, shoe, and apparel production. Over the past 40 years, much of that industry has vanished as companies have been forced to deal with ever cheaper imports from abroad.
Now, a new group of entrepreneurs is reviving every aspect of this legacy. Why are they doing it? What does it take to breathe life into a dying industry? And will they succeed?
This far-reaching conversation with journalist Rachel Slade, author of Making It in America, and Michelle Finamore, fashion historian, author, and curator, will explore New England's manufacturing legacy while exploring the ways new companies are revitalizing centuries-old industries.Partner:Charles River Museum of Industry & Innovation -
In Person
June Outspoken Saturdays
The GBH BPL studio will host Outspoken Saturdays, a spoken word poetry event for emerging artists. Every first Saturday of the month, the series will be created in collaboration with spoken word artist Amanda Shea.
Registration is encouraged for this free event. -
In PersonVirtual
June Millington & Emm Gryner: Music & Activism
Join rock pioneer June Millington and acclaimed indie artist Emm Gryner for an enlightening discussion and performance.
June Millington—guitarist and founding member of all-female rock band Fanny—will converse with Emm Gryner—independent singer/songwriter, bassist, and pianist—about Fanny, music, and activism. The main content will conclude with a musical performance.
This program is part of our Lowell Lecture Series and our “Revolutionary Music: Music for Social Change” programmatic theme.Partner:Boston Public Library -
In PersonVirtual
GBH Music Presents: JazzNOW: A Salute to Duke Ellington, featuring Aardvark Jazz Orchestra
GBH Music, JazzBoston, and the Aardvark Jazz Orchestra present a special tribute to Duke Ellington to celebrate the 125th anniversary of the iconic jazz pianist, composer, and bandleader's birth.
The Aardvark Jazz Orchestra, one of the longest-running large jazz ensembles in the world, will showcase Ellington's works, such as Caravan, by Duke and Juan Tizol, Come Sunday, and I’m Beginning to See the Light featuring Aardvark vocalist Grace Hughes, for live audiences in Fraser Performance Studio and streaming for audiences at home.
The performance will explore the music of Ellington and his long-time artistic collaborator, jazz composer, pianist, lyricist, and arranger Billy Strayhorn. Guests will hear Blues to Be There from the Ellington/Strayhorn Newport Jazz Festival Suite, Chinoiserie from The Afro-Eurasian Eclipse Suite, and It’s Freedom, from the Second Sacred Concert.
Mark Harvey, the music director of the Aardvark Orchestra, will lead the Aardvark Jazz Orchestra and acclaimed pianist Tim Ray.
This event will be hosted by James Bennett II, a co-host of GBH’s The Culture Show and an arts and culture reporter for GBH News.
This magical night is bound to sell out. Get your tickets today! You have two ticket options:
* $50 in-person event experience from 7:15-9pm, includes wine and cheese pre-reception or
* Virtual Tickets (Free) from 8-9pm. 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 and JazzBoston.
About Jazz Boston JazzBoston connects, promotes and advocates for the musicians, audiences and venues of Greater Boston’s dynamic and diverse jazz community. The nonprofit organization spreads the music and message of jazz and celebrates Boston as one of the world’s great jazz cities. Find more information at jazzboston.org.
By RSVPing for this event, you agree to receive timely news and updates on events, films, and special offers from GBH.
Photo credit: Kate Matson
This event is presented with support from our sponsor The Goldstein Family Fund.
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Virtual
Ask the Expert: The Story of Auschwitz
Delve into one of the darkest chapters in human history as Holocaust scholar Michael Berenbaum provides historical facts and answers your questions about Auschwitz, the largest and most lethal Nazi concentration and death camp. More than 1,100,000 people were killed behind its barbed wire fences.
Michael Berenbaum is the Director of the Sigi Ziering Institute: Exploring the Ethical and Religious Implications of the Holocaust, and a Distinguished Professor of Jewish Studies at the American Jewish University. The author and editor of 24 books, he was also the Executive Editor of the Second Edition of the Encyclopaedia Judaica. He was Project Director overseeing the creation of the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum and the first Director of its Research Institute, and later served as President and CEO of the Survivors of the Shoah Visual History Foundation, which took the testimony of 52,000 Holocaust survivors in 32 languages and 57 countries. His work in film has won Emmy Awards and Academy Awards. He has developed and curated museum exhibits in the United States, Mexico, North Macedonia, and Poland; and his award-winning exhibition Auschwitz. Not Long Ago. Not Far Away. has been seen in Madrid, Spain, Malmo, Sweden, New York, Kansas City, the Ronald Regan Library in California, and is now on view in Boston.
GBH’s Ask the Expert is your chance to interact with specialists across various fields, offering opportunities to learn and explore new subjects. Hosted by GBH, this event encourages audience participation, allowing you to drive the conversation by posing questions directly to our expert. Best of all, it's free to attend!
This event offers three ticket options:
1) Attend the event: $0
2) Attend the event + receive a copy of Auschwitz. Not long ago. Not far away. book + GBH membership: $75
3) Attend the event + receive a copy of the book (above) + a pair of tickets to view Auschwitz. Not long ago. Not far away in Boston (until 9/3) + GBH membership: $90
Please note that books will be shipped out following the event. Tickets will also be distributed following the event.
This event is presented in partnership with the Auschwitz. Not long ago. Not far away. exhibit on view now at The Castle at Park Plaza in Boston.
Photos: (from top left clockwise to bottom left)
-A transport of Jews from Hungary arrives at Auschwitz-Birkenau. Poland, May 1944
-Main entrance to the Auschwitz-Birkenau killing center. This photograph was taken some time after the liberation of the camp in January 1945. Poland, date uncertain.
-View of a section of the barbed-wire fence and barracks at Auschwitz at the time of the liberation of the camp. Auschwitz, Poland, January 1945.
-A transport of Hungarian Jews lines up on the ramp for selection at the Auschwitz-Birkenau killing center in German-occupied Poland. May 1944.
Images provided by the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum
