Based in Massachusetts and founded in January 1995, the Haitian Artists Assembly of Massachusetts (HAAM) is comprised of more than 40 artists and their friends, art lovers, and volunteers. They promote Haitian art and culture through artmaking, information sharing, and Haitian-themed cultural events and celebrations. HAAM serves primarily Haitian-American artists based in New England, and collaborates with writers, musicians, and storytellers. HAAM has held more than 100 arts exhibitions and developed many partnerships throughout the years.

Photo courtesy by Mass Design Group

This session, hosted by the Mayor’s Office of Arts and Culture, MASS Design Group, and the Institute on Policing, Incarceration, and Public Safety at Harvard, delves into the intersection of community violence, public safety, and design. Drawing on the experiences and impact of the Gun Violence Memorial Project, which has been on display in Boston since the end of August, this conversation examines how we can redirect public attention to gun violence in ways that genuinely honor community mourning, avoiding exploitation, inspiring meaningful change.

Through the lens of Boston’s unique challenges and opportunities, we’ll explore critical questions:

• How can we activate monuments to foster policy advocacy and serve as calls to action?
• What does the closing of the Memorial Project’s installation mean for Boston’s ongoing work in gun violence prevention? 
• How do we reframe narratives about gun violence and gun violence prevention to deepen understanding and drive collective action and survivor advocacy?

Join thought leaders in public safety, design, and advocacy as we consider the power of memorials to shape the future of policy, community healing, and gun violence prevention in Boston and beyond.

A Trike Called Funk invites you to our first-ever pop-up art exhibit and celebration from 5 - 8 p.m. on Friday Dec. 6, at Boston’s Civic Pavilion.

Photo courtesy by A Trike Called Funk

Join us for an evening of spoken word, performances, and community art-making to celebrate Harvard Graduate School Of Education's inaugural Public and Community Art Exhibit!

The opening reception of “Veritas? Naming and Reclaiming [Y]our Truth,” a powerful exhibit led by students in the Harvard Graduate School of Education’s fall course Practices in Community and Public Art alongside their professor Dr. Raquel Jimenez and Teaching Artist-In-Residence Ruth Henry. The exhibit, developed in partnership with the Harvard Art Museums, the Louis D. Brown Peace Institute, and Un-monument (an initiative on restorative art and public memory from the City of Boston’s Office of Arts and Culture), explores how collective artmaking can serve as a tool for justice. Through their artwork, students and community partners bring to life a range of perspectives often silenced in public discourse, offering a vision of community that celebrates multiplicity and difference.

Photo courtesy by Harvard Graduate School Of Education

For You for Us, Pop Up Workshop by Harvard Graduate School of Education of Public Art (HGSE) invites the public for building connections and art-making this Saturday, November 23, from 12:30 - 2:30 p.m. at the Louis D. Brown Peace Institute. The workshop will be facilitated in both English and Spanish by students from HGSE with support from LDBPI artist-in-residence Ruth Henry. Lunch and childcare will be provided. The artwork created during this workshop will then be showcased at an upcoming exhibit at HGSE's Gutman Gallery on Wednesday, December 4th from 5:30 - 7:00 p.m. at Gutman Library at 6 Appian Way, Cambridge. 

Photo courtesy by R9 FOTO

Two artists will lead a talk about how tenderness and familial nurture dispel violence and communal distress at Roxbury Community College 1234 Columbus Ave, Boston, MA 02120. John Wilson’s monumental Father and Son Reading models how tenderness and familial nurture dispel violence and communal distress. Learning to care matters, not just in families but also in the larger community. No work could better demonstrate this truth about learning together where one teaches another across generations. Come gain new insights into this major sculpture at Roxbury Community College near the Media Arts Building (1234 Columbus Ave), a place situated well to promote learning, sharing and growing together. Simultaneously, discover more about masterful artworks in Roxbury and the artists who made them. A reception at RCC will follow. All are welcome to this free and public event! This project and exhibition are funded by The Mayor's Office of Arts & Culture's Un-monument Initiative, supported by a grant from The Mellon Foundation.

Photo courtesy by National Center of Afro-American Artists

The Gun Violence Memorial will be hosting an Object Collection event where families will have the opportunity to contribute remembrance objects to the Memorial that honor and celebrate the lives of their loved ones taken by gun violence. This event is affiliated with The Un-monument | Re-monument | De-monument: Transforming Boston program, an initiative supported by the Mayor's Office of Arts and Culture, in collaboration with Mass Design, Purpose Over Pain, and Songha & Company, LLC. This programming is made possible by a grant from the Mellon Foundation's Monuments Project.

Photo courtesy by Mass Design

WATCH - DANCE - CREATE - PARTY

Watch live excerpts United Dance's The Extraordinary Nutcracker, discover the story of this unique ballet, make holiday crafts, dance, and celebrate!​​​

Sensory friendly and integrated event.

• Interactive reading of the Extraordinary Nutcracker with performance excerpts

• Fun activities

• Complimentary alcohol-free drinks and snacks

• Dance Party

Step into a transcendent afternoon of chamber music that resonates with the rich tapestry of immigrant experiences and the universal language of music. This concert, thoughtfully curated around the theme of immigration, showcases the profound contributions of immigrant composers to the world of classical music. Renee Hemsing (violin), Guy Fishman (cello), and Ian Watson (harpsichord) will take the stage to bring this story to life.

Each piece performed is a testament to the journeys, trials, and triumphs of those who have ventured far from their homelands in pursuit of their artistic passions. Throughout the afternoon, you will be transported through a diverse repertoire that spans continents and centuries, featuring works by luminaries such as George Frederic Handel, Luigi Boccherini, Jean Baptiste Lully, and Dietrich Buxtehude. Their music not only reflects their personal struggles and aspirations but also celebrates the universality of human experience.

As you immerse yourself in the exquisite harmonies and intricate melodies, you'll embark on a journey that transcends geographical boundaries and speaks directly to the heart. Join us for an unforgettable exploration of how music, in the hands of immigrant composers, has the power to bridge cultures, evoke emotions, and inspire profound connections across time and place.

This event is free to the public thanks to the generous support of the Office of Nightlife Economy's Wake Up the Night Grant. Additionally, this event would not have been possible without the support of Boston Properties (BXP).

Night Cap Fashion and Figure Drawing features a free drawing class from the Boston Figurative Arts Center and Guest Fashion Designers.

SCHEDULE

6 - 11 p.m.: Cafe Open

6 p.m.: Music by Vexing Boy

8 p.m.: Music by Stealth Mode

8 p.m.: BFAC Figure Drawing

Night Cap is an 8 night coffee lounge in Boston's City Hall this November, fostering community through art, music, and coffee.

From live house music and stand-up comedy to queer speed dating, we offer bold experiences in an inclusive alcohol-free space. Night Cap isn’t just another night out; it’s where culture and creativity meet over a cup of joe.

Night Cap will transform the lobby of Boston's iconic Brutalist City Hall in Government Center into a cozy lounge, offering soft seating, communal tables, and a rotating retail space. This unique setting will provide a warm, inviting atmosphere for attendees to gather and connect in the heart of the city.