Move4ART

An interesting thing happened on the way back from NYC:  a phone call alerting me about an info session the following day. Despite the late notice, here's  what I learned: Dudley Street Neighborhood Initiative (DNSI) has issued a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) on behalf of "a broad range of community-based partners" to commission a public art installation in the Upham's Corner neighborhood. Although the "call" has gone out "for artists," facilitators of the info session stressed that the artist label is broadly defined to privilege: "local, cultural markets;"  "elevat[ing] the richness" that resides at the local level. Any and all "creative practitioners" are welcome to apply; especially those who have demonstrated leadership engaging communities in "participatory processes." Answering a few key questions in a three- to five-minute video is all that's required to start the application pro...

When African Repertory Troupe, Inc. aka the Other  ART was formed (15 years ago), its founders held out hope that it would find support for stage works written by playwrights, poets, and storytellers of African descent.  Even as the company worked its way through the morass of paperwork associated with organizing a non-profit corporation, it faced space constraints.  Space to build capacity; space to hold auditions, rehearsals, and staged readings; space to meet, to write, to play.  Finding space (of all varieties) has always required a great deal of creativity.  Although  the  Other  ART  found a temporary home from time to time, it was too short-lived to stabilize our operations. So we adapted: we've presented works in all kinds of 'flexible' spaces.   In 2004 we established Mattapan Cultural Arts Development to explore the feasibility of establishing an arts center in Mattapan.   The purpose being, not only to provide...