TRANSFORMATION
Our Story
We began in 2015 as Now + There, an artist-run non-profit connecting free, contemporary public art to Boston’s communities. After nine years and 45 projects, we became the Boston Public Art Triennial (The Triennial) and successfully mounted Boston’s first-ever citywide public art exhibition, Triennial 2025, from May 22 through October 31, 2025. This ambitious, collaborative event, created in partnership with over 75 organizations, showcased 25 extraordinary artworks and 115 life-affirming art experiences, attracting more than 225,000 visitors. All for free. With international, national, and local artists, as well as many of Boston’s notable institutions, the city provided a platform for envisioning a more vibrant, equitable, and inclusive city.
Annually, we find local talent through our unique Public Art Accelerator program and foster new forms of public art through annual commissions in our shared public spaces, striking a balance between artistic vision and community input. Every three years, we focus on co-creating a public art exhibition responsive to the times.
Help us co-create Triennial 2028! Whether you join us with a donation, as a volunteer, or share your feedback, your input shapes the vibrant, equitable, and open Boston we all strive for.
Find more ways to connect with us here.
Our transformation proves the impact of public art in changing lives.
Our Mission
To foster relationships between artists and the public to create bold public art experiences that open minds, conversations, and spaces across Boston, resulting in a more open, equitable, and vibrant city.
Our Vision
Boston Public Art Triennial will become recognized locally, nationally, and globally for presenting public art as a critical catalyst for open community engagement, equitable social change, and a contributor to the cultural and economic vibrancy of a city.
Our Values
Our Board, Staff, Partners, and the artists we collaborate with are Bold, Open, and Sharp. Our works are always free and open to the public.
Why a Triennial?
Boston, not unlike other cities in America, suffers from a prevailing narrative that it is an economically, racially, and culturally closed city. The Triennial’s mission changes that story through annual public art commissions and a focused citywide experience, a triennial, every three years.