The Grants Committee of the Arlington Commission for Arts and Culture announces an extension of its deadline for submitting applications for grants. The deadline for submission is now December 14, 2020. Grants are used to fund arts, humanities, and interpretive science programs to benefit the community of Arlington. Annually, these grants typically range from $150 to $1000. […]
“We Cannot Walk Alone” a mural on the side of 284 Broadway across from the Fire station, was created by the artist, Kari Percival, working with very young children who came together at a pre-pandemic Martin Luther King (MLK) Day event in January 2020, coordinated by the JCC Greater Boston. Stephanie Marlin-Curiel, JCC Metro North Family […]
Installation finished on Sunday for ‘Clean Energy Now’ –a mural created by local artist Maria Lobo on a grant initiative from Generation180 to inspire voters on environmental issues — and will be the backdrop to Arlington’s latest outdoor parklet, developed in partnership with the Town of Arlington’s “Shared Streets” initiative and building owner Cynthia Pasciuto. […]
Six months after Arlington’s first diagnosed cases of COVID-19 in March, Arlington’s COVID-19 Community Archive is available and accepting contributions on the “Local History Resources” page at robbinslibrary.org. The archive presents a snapshot of life in Arlington during the pandemic and includes a growing array of images, videos, and documents for future students of local […]
Citizen-Contributed Haiku Returns, This Time on Mass Ave! Arlington has been waxing poetic during the pandemic, first through the inspiring series of Red Letter poems circulated by Town Poet Laureate Steven Ratiner, then by the multimedia collaboration of Walking Poetry installations on the bike path by visual artist Adria Arch and poet Jesse Brown, and […]
Arlington Community Education (ACE) is offering more than 150 adult classes this fall, including 34 new classes. New Fine Arts & Crafts classes feature the opportunity to use a broad-nibbed fountain pen to form beautiful lettering at “Introduction to Calligraphy,” draft and sew an A-Line skirt that will fit your measurements perfectly, create prints without […]
Chairful Where You Sit, an annual community event featuring artistically transformed chairs and small furniture rescued from basements and curbs, has helped support public art in Arlington since 2012 and rescued more than 400 chairs from the landfill. The fundraising event traditionally coincides with Porchfest and takes place in a festive gathering at historic Uncle […]
The Arlington Center for the Arts and ACAC are teaming up to offer a free ZOOM workshop for youth and families on July 23, from 4 to 5pm. Meet puppeteer Sara Peattie and artist Kari Percival, and get started making art or a video short starring our paper puppets, Fox and Owl! You can print […]
The new Youth Banners by local Arlington teens were recently hung in Arlington Center. Last fall, 95 students submitted work to the Youth Banner Initiative, inspired by the theme “cycles,” and 20 winners were selected to be featured on the banners. Of this group, three students were chosen to each receive a $200 scholarship. Congratulations to Claire Grant, Eliot Hughes, and Sarah Peterson! Funding […]
Guest blog by Laurie Bogdan Say their names. An idea became an action on June 13th for a group of 30 East Arlington neighbors. We gather periodically “6 at 6” (at least 6 feet apart at 6 pm), text ideas and opinions, report wildlife sightings, borrow puzzles and cooking staples, and ask advice. In the […]
Marina Strauss, our ArtLinks Featured Artist for June/July, is offering an outdoors, open art studio format for kids 7 and up on several Fridays over the summer, from 4-6pm on June 26, July 3, July 10, July 17, July 31 and August 7th. Space is limited. All artists will be required to wear masks and […]
A cherished annual tradition in Arlington, The Fox Festival & Parade, has been reimagined as an expansive and welcoming, virtual family event this year that encourages creativity, appreciation for local wildlife, and safe social distancing. This year, we celebrate with an at-home puppet art extravaganza for kids and adults to do together: The Epic Adventures of […]
Life inside a six-foot bubble can be lonely. But bubbles are transparent. We can see out and find inspiration. Others can see in and feel inspired. Connecting the dots in these uncertain times is not impossible. It just requires more creativity. Introducing BUBBLEFEST: A New Community Celebration in the Spirit of Porchfest. Since the Arlington […]
Businesses, Artists and Town Collaborate to Salute Covid Workers, Promote Safety In mid-April, Arlington Service Station owner Abe Salhi was inspired and determined to make a bold statement of hope and resolve amid the Covid-19 crisis. Known for his patronage of public art, which earned him a 2018 Business of the Year Award, Salhi reached […]
Enjoy this week’s latest installment of the Red Letter Poems Project, inspired by our own Steven Ratiner, Arlington’s Poet Laureate, HERE! Haven’t read about the Red Letter Poems yet? This special project was envisioned as a letter-mailing campaign sharing poetry by a variety of poets with randomly-selected households. In these times of Covid-19, this project […]
Neighbors hanging positive banners on homes and signs in storefronts, creating sidewalk chalk art and virtual concerts, supporting local businesses and nonprofits, offering online classes — If you are inspired by the creativity, generosity, and resourcefulness of our town, consider contributing to the new volunteer-driven community-building initiative, Amazing Arlington! Take the kick-off survey here. Check in with your neighbors […]
In a partial response to the Covid-19 crisis, the Arlington Commission for the Arts and Culture has launched a new ArtsArlington Creates Facebook group intended to connect people involved in our creative participatory projects, such as Plarn Art to Save the Planet, Artist-in-Residence Michelle Lougee‘s current public art project for the Minuteman Bikeway. Designed as […]
This April, in celebration of National Poetry Month, the Arlington Commission for Arts & Culture is honored to join Arlington Center for the Arts and Robbins Library in supporting The Red Letter Poems Project by Arlington Poet Laureate Steven Ratiner. Originally intended as a campaign sharing poetry by a variety of poets with randomly-selected households, the re-envisioned […]
Dear Friends in the Non-Profit Community, The Town of Arlington has compiled a page of resources available to small businesses, including non-profits, impacted by COVID-19. You’ll find it here. You’ll see that there is a business impact survey — please fill that out, as it will help make town and state officials aware of your […]
Steven Ratiner, Arlington’s New Poet Laureate, is extending the deadline for submissions from Arlington students! March 30 is the new deadline, giving students lots of time while the schools are closed to submit poems. The Details: Ratiner is working on a rather unconventional and utterly delightful way to inject poetry into the everyday, to be […]