Boston Art Commission

Greetings from the Education and Community Engagement Department of the Boston Symphony Orchestra.  We hope this finds you well in the new year!  We are writing to share news of a major new BSO program offering and to invite you and your local community partners to apply, should it be a fit for your neighborhood.

In 2017, the BSO is launching a new program called BSO In Residence.  Through this program, the BSO hopes to form an in-depth, reciprocal partnership with a Boston neighborhood (and partners within that neighborhood) over a period of three years.  The residency will highlight the existing artistic strengths of the neighborhood and build close ties with community residents and organizations via the planning and implementation of program activities.  The specific program goals and activities of the residency will be co-designed with a committee of community leaders drawn from partner organizations in the neighborhood such as schools, libraries, arts and culture organizations, senior centers, faith-based organizations, hospitals, and community councils.  Program activities will draw from the BSO’s existing Ed-CE programming and include new large-scale offerings specifically addressing partner community interest and need.  Activities could include (but are not limited to):

• A large-scale Community Music Creation Project in which the BSO works with community members to create music, leading to a shared full orchestra performance with the BSO
• A Musical Block Party celebration day to mark the beginning of the BSO residency
• BSO and/or Pops musicians "in residence" within the community
• BSO/Pops musicians/conductors/guest artists interacting with local music/arts organizations
• Visits by BSO conductors Andris Nelsons, Thomas Wilkins, and/or Keith Lockhart at community events
• School assembly performances or professional development workshops for educators
• Tickets to BSO Family Concerts for neighborhood families and children
• Concerts for Very Young People and Community Chamber Concerts at local venues
• A Trip to Tanglewood experience for neighborhood residents
• Recruitment of local students to participate in DARTS, the BSO's residential arts immersion program for middle school students at Tanglewood

APPLICATION INFORMATION

We are currently seeking "consortium" applications from partners within Boston communities for the first iteration of this program.  A strong application will demonstrate a commitment from several community leaders (representing different voices of the neighborhood) to form a committee that will work together with the BSO to design and implement this program.  The BSO will offer all program components free of charge to the residency community, but will expect that the partner community serves actively and consistently in co-designing and executing the content and activities within the residency. Committee members will receive a stipend for their participation.  

The application and more information about the program can be found here:  www.bso.org/bsoinresidence.  Applications are due February 15, 2017 and program activities are tentatively scheduled to begin in September 2017. 

Email (bsoinresidence@bso.org) with any questions.