Wu announces free cultural programs planned for City Hall Plaza

Local News

“We are thrilled to welcome such talented artists and creatives this season, reflecting our city’s rich diversity and contributing to City Hall Plaza as a welcoming spot throughout the year,” Wu said.

Mayor Michelle Wu and the city’s Office of Arts and Culture announced a diverse selection of free cultural events coming to City Hall Plaza this summer and fall. 

“We are thrilled to welcome such talented artists and creatives this season, reflecting our city’s rich diversity and contributing to City Hall Plaza as a welcoming spot throughout the year,” Wu said in a press release.

Paid for by the City Hall Plaza Engagement grant program, the events aim to foster community unity and celebrate local talent, according to the release. 

After a “highly competitive” application process with more than 115 candidates, the release said, selected groups received funding, production support, and technical assistance.

“With this funding, we can ensure that our event is inclusive, accessible, and professionally produced,” Annie Le, director of Boston Little Saigonor, said. “For our communities, it means recognition, representation, and pride. It affirms that their histories, art, and voices are not only vital to the local fabric but also worthy of being celebrated on a prominent, public stage.”

This year marks the third year of similar programming. According to the City, the more than 50 events held over the past two years have attracted more than 21,000 attendees. 

This year’s roster includes events like: “Slam Theater,” a series of ten minute performances; “Spicetoberfest,” a harvest-inspired marketplace celebrating Boston’s culinary diversity; and multiple “Spotlight Sessions” where upcoming youth artists can collaborate with more experienced artists. 

A multitude of the events offer cross-cultural and intergenerational collaborations, like “Rock The Plaza,” an event highlighting senior women in rock music, in an effort to foster an “accessible cultural experience” for attendees.

Events from past years have also made a return, such as “if you can Feel it, you can Speak it,” an open mic series showcasing LGBTQ+ voices and “Fiesta En La Plaza,” a compilation of events celebrating Latinx heritage.

“The momentum we have built in partnership with local artists, organizations, and vendors has created a new energy surrounding the Plaza,” said City Hall Plaza Engagement Director Billy Dean Thomas. “This year, we continue our commitment to support changemakers who are overlooked and underfunded, such as LGBTQ+ creatives, women of color, and our elders.”

To find the full list of events, click here.