In Spring 2026, ArtsArlington and partner, the Mystic River Watershed Association, will bring the local community together to create a public art project celebrating the return of the herring to the Mystic River and the creativity of our local community.
Introducing GO FISH!
GO FISH! is a participatory mural project for residents of all ages. In collaboration with local partners, ArtsArlington will offer free workshops inviting community members to paint a fish, with a goal of creating 2,000 uniquely painted herring.
The finished herring will be installed on the exterior brick walls of local storefront businesses in groupings that pedestrians can discover as they walk through town. The work will embody the incredible diversity of our vibrant community as well as the positive good we can accomplish by working together.
Join a Fish Painting Workshop!
GO FISH! workshops will take place throughout the spring of 2026. All ages and experience levels are welcome to participate. We will provide the “fish” (a printed outline of a herring printed on special aluminum material), brushes, and acrylic paint. Imagination and creativity do the rest!
Many community groups are already planning to participate in GO FISH! workshops, including the Arlington Public Schools, the Arlington Housing Authority, the Arlington Recreation Department, and several local arts organizations and small businesses.
You can join a scheduled workshop to participate in creating the herring, or sign up to host a painting event for your organization.
Upcoming Workshops:
Sunday March 8, 3 pm to 5pm
In collaboration with Maxima Hive. More info.
Saturday, April 4, 2 pm to 3:30 pm
In collaboration with Mystic River Watershed Association. More Info.
Saturday, April 25, 2 pm to 4 pm
In collaboration with Arlington Center for the Arts.
Learn More
Interested in participating in a planned workshop, or hosting one at your organization? Contact Cecily Miller, ArtsArlington Public Art Curator, email: cecily.apa@gmail.com, phone: (617) 331-1715.
About Return of the Herring
Every spring, a major migration moves through the heart of Greater Boston, invisible to most people. From early April through June, more than 500,000 river herring from the Atlantic Ocean return to the Mystic River, where they were born.
Over the several years, this herring population has gone from endangered to robust thanks to a combination of government protection, nonprofit organization initiatives, and volunteer efforts. Since 2012, the herring that make their annual voyage from Boston Harbor up the Mystic River to spawn has more than tripled – from 200,000 to 640,000 in 2024!
Project Supporters
Many thanks to all the generous supporters who made Go Fish! possible. We received a grant through the Cultural District program of the Massachusetts Cultural Council (MCC), a state agency. A generous donation from FloorSignage, LLC/Alumigraphics made it possible for us to use their innovative temporary mural material. We received additional grant support from the Arlington Commission for Arts and Culture, a local arts agency supported by the MCC. Paint supplies generously contributed by Blick Art Materials/Central Square. Finally, our work would not be possible without the ongoing generous support from the Town of Arlington and our local business and individual supporters, plus the time, energy and enthusiasm donated by our community volunteers!
Project Partners
Mystic River Watershed Association
Mystic Open Studio
Arlington Public Schools
Extinction Rebellion
ArtLinks
Arlington Housing Authority/Drake Village
Arlington Center for the Arts
Robbins Public Library
Edith M. Fox Library
13Forest Gallery