The arts scene in Boston is undergoing a transformation. As a mayoral candidate back in 2013, Marty Walsh promised to be a champion of the arts, and now, he's following through on that promise. On Friday, he announced "Boston Creates," a 10-year, community-wide plan to strengthen arts in the city. The plan took over a year to produce, after collecting feedback from over 5,000 people. The plan’s five main goals are to:
To help finance Boston Creates, Walsh is signing an executive order this summer, which will take 1.4 million dollars of the city's Five Year Capital Plan funds, and put it toward arts investments. The Boston Redevelopment Authority is also reserving low-income housing for artists. Non-profits are already signing on to back artistic projects over the next several years.
Julie Burros said, “We had this incredibly participatory process and came up with a vision for the arts to be inclusive and to keep artists in Boston and to really have Boston be as well-known for the arts as it is for sports and history. And the plan is really well informed by the needs of the sector, and now we pivot to implementation and we work toward achieving those goals.”
WGBH News Arts Editor Jared Bowen ( @JaredWGBH ) and local director Summer L. Williams ( @SummerLWC1 ) joined Adam on Monday night to discuss the transforming arts scene. Bowen described the Boston arts scene as "thriving." He said that we have more arts than anywhere else, and more people attending arts events than anywhere else. However, he mentioned, the city hasn't put itself in a position to support these endeavors.Williams said that this is a "great, great start" but work needs to be done.
They discussed the perception of the arts scene in Boston, compared to other cities like New York or Los Angeles. Bowen said that one of the main issues Boston faces is that people don't stay here. Williams added that there are more perceived opportunities in New York and Los Angeles for those pursuing a career in the arts.
The issue of affordable housing affects not only the artist community in Boston. With increases in rents throughout the city and a lack of affordable housing, many people in the arts community are working two to three jobs. And many arts students come here for school and end up leaving because the city is unaffordable. Bowen said that we have to make it conducive for artists to stay.
Another issue raised about the arts community in Boston is that it is a siloed community. "You don’t see organizations working with each other and the city working with those organizations," said Bowen. He said that Boston Speaks is going to address that issue. Williams added that it gives us an opportunity to make the community resource rich, and to use the arts community as a model for other areas of the city that need improvement.
Bowen addressed the issue of money in rolling out such a large program. While Walsh does have 1.4 million from Boston's Five Year Capital Plan funds, there is sustainable revenue stream yet. Bowen noted that the money would only last for the program's first few years.
Both Bowen and Williams are optimistic and excited about Boston Speaks. Bowen noted the supportive backbone for the arts in the community. Williams said she is excited because something is happening in the right direction.
