Move4ART

In 2017 Mattapan Cultural Arts Development (MCAD) received $60,000 from LISC’s  Creative Placemaking Program ; two-thirds ($40,000) of which we re-distributed to local artists and arts organizations to make art happen in Mattapan. As a result, our mini-grants funded a youth arts project at Greater Boston Nazarene Compassionate Center (GBNCC), community paint nights facilitated by  K. Fine Arts Studios ‘ Marjorie Saintil-Belizaire, as well as 53 performers and 18 technical/production  assistants through three performing arts organizations who bring cultural content to Mattapan every year:  African Repertory Troupe, Inc .;  Aashka Dance Company ; and  musiConnects . MCAD channeled just under 12% ($7,000) of this $60,000 grant to provide organizational support to the  Mattapan Arts Council –including pop-up galleries, planning meetings, and most notably, its launch of the first ever  Mattapan Open Studios  last October. Of the remaining b...

Mattapan Cultural Arts Development Live Arts l Creative Placemaking l  Arts Advocacy FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact:   G. Sierra Khan                  857.333.3513 LISC Boston Prepares to Fund Creative Placemaking in Mattapan LISC Boston  has been selected to receive sixty-thousand dollars to support creative placemaking projects coordinated through   Mattapan Cultural Arts Development  ( MCAD )--a network of artists and arts organizations invested in making Mattapan a cultural destination.  The grant goes to support the implementation of projects derived from community engagement processes prior to August 2016. LISC Creative Placemaking requested proposals from LISC field offices that are integrating arts and culture into their comprehensive community development work.   LISC Creative Placemaking was launched with major fundi...

The Mass Cultural Council is seeking input from artists , arts organizations and schools  to inform the development of its new strategic plan.   It's particularly important that Mattapan-based artists and arts organizations weigh in to quash the perception that creatives don't live, work, or play here. You've likely heard elsewhere, when you don't 'vote,' you don't matter.  You are effectively saying, "Do what you will."  Your silence gives assent to what follows; and delimits the authority of your voice, if  (or when) you are later heard to complain. It is an imposition.  It takes about 15 minutes to thoughtfully complete the survey.  Many of the questions require reflection.  It's worth it, however; if you've ever wished you had somewhere to show your work, to find grants, or otherwise forward your projects. Take the time, now--before it's too late.  The survey closes soon.

Dear Friends, I want to thank you once again for partnering with Celebrity Series on Street Pianos Boston. We are especially grateful to you and your teams for all your help in making the festival run so smoothly, and for your flexibility in protecting the pianos throughout rainy days we encountered.  Despite the challenging weather, we are very pleased with the delight these pianos brought to our hometown and the sense of community Street Pianos Boston 2016 generated — we hope you are, too! We heard from many of you that the pianos have encouraged people of all ages, backgrounds, and abilities to gather together and create moments of engagement in each neighborhood of Boston and many parts of Cambridge. In addition, we have seen an enthusiastic online conversation on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, with thousands of photos and videos from the general public—all using the hashtag #streetpianosboston.  I'm pleased that our organizations ...

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact:   G. Sierra Khan                  857.333.3513 Street Pianos Boston 2016 kicks off at City Hall Plaza at 3 p.m. Friday, 23 September 2016 “to celebrate the artists who created the pianos and the organizations that have stepped up to host them.”  Mattapan Cultural Arts Development (MCAD) will follow-up with an opening reception of its own in Mattapan Square starting at 6:30 p.m. at the intersection of River St. and Blue Hill Avenue (near the Mattapan T Station.   Weather permitting, our performance showcases this weekend include the ‘Beantown Jazz Extension’ on Saturday, 24 September starting at 3 p.m., and the ‘Gospel Fest’ on Sunday, 25 September at 4 p.m. Additional information about this weekend’s schedule will be posted @ArtsMattapan on Facebook and Twitter as details become available.  ...

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: G. Sierra Khan              857.333.3513 MCAD brings Street Pianos Boston to Mattapan          Mattapan Cultural Arts Development (MCAD)is bringing the Street Pianos Boston Festival to Mattapan Square this year. The street piano MCAD is hosting was painted by Marjorie Saintil-Belizaire of K. Fine ArtsStudios .  It will be located at the southeast corner of River St. and Blue Hill Avenue (closest to the T Station) thanks to CelebritySeries Boston ’s Street Pianos project.    MCAD--a network of artists and arts organizations invested in making art happen in Mattapan—will program certain hours of poetry, performance and “Play Me, I’m Yours” to call attention to this temporary installation. Track #StreetPianoMattapan between 9.23 and 10.10.2016 for program schedules and updates. Photo credit: Robert Torres/Celebrity Series Boston

by Marjorie Saintil-Belizaire      A lifetime of working with steel drums creates a unique palette for Jeffrey Bernard’s artistic talents and designs.  Whether it’s abstract, realistic or fantasy imagery, Jeffrey creates works of art utilizing the colors and characteristics of steel that evoke awe and wonder.  His unique style blends Folk Art with cultural Haitian traditions.  He sculpts his pieces out of metals using an artistic touch of chiseling, hammering and shaping.      Jeffrey Bernard was born and raised in Croix-des-Bouquets, (northeast of Haiti's capital city of Port-au-Prince) to a family of metal sculptors. His older brother taught and encouraged Jeffrey to learn metal working at the young age of 8.  He apprenticed with his older brother until he was proficient enough in metalwork and craftsmanship to market and sell his own metal artwork.          Jeffrey creates his artwork using l...

The Mattapan Arts Council has lately been entertaining the idea of curating an exhibit of Haitian art at the State House this May.  The call for submissions will be posted online soon.   In the meantime, if you're interested in volunteering to assist we'd appreciate hearing from you.  Don't hesitate to email us directly via move4ART@gmail.com or poke us  if you just can't contain your excitement.  Will say more later.

The City of Boston is engaged in a cultural planning process.  Join the conversation, before it's too late. Details follow: What Artists Knead: Breadmaking Parties + Conversation for Artists : Meet neighbor-artists, bake bread together, and foment ideas for a better creative Boston! Did you know Boston is making its first-ever cu...

Mattapan Cultural Arts is launching a new art space for community arts and showcase events!  Mem Nahadr is set to launch our showcase series this September.  Details to soon come.

When the Fairmount Indigo Corridor Collaborative brought its community "visioning" process to Mattapan last December, the forum was packed.   The Collaborative's Community Action Group (CAG) gathered residents, urban planners, architects and developers around six work tables in the community room at the Mattapan Branch Library ; replete with maps, markers, clips, and questions to prompt the work ahead. The table-sized maps were drawn from the  City of Boston's Fairmount Indigo Planning Initiative  launched in February 2012  to take advantage of the MBTA's expansion of commuter rail service.  The CAG's facilitators wanted to know what kind of "transit-oriented development" Mattapan residents envisioned along the Blue Hills/Cummings corridor. Biggest surprise was how many people there voiced a desire for a more robust nightlife in Mattapan.  Turns out, there was no need to convince anyone that Mattapan would benefit from having a cultural arts ce...

We're not looking to build a LEED-certified building simply because the City of Boston requires all large-scale developments to meet (if not exceed) the US Green Building standards. We're going green because we want to be part of the solution to the high greenhouse gas emissions typically found in cities like Boston. We appreciate fully the policies Mayor Thomas Menino has put into place to mitigate, and adapt to the effects of climate change; especially the following: Article 37 , Boston's Green Buildings Standard; and Article 80 , Large Project Green Building Review Process. Our internal planning process takes to heart the lessons forwarded via Mayor Menino's Green Building Task Force Report ; with special focus on its " Opportunities for Action " executive summary about the Costs and Benefits of Green Affordable Housing. We're looking to go green, not only for the energy efficiency, but because we see potent opportunities in developing a mix...