Avenues to the Arts Boston

Futurecity was commissioned by the Massachusetts Cultural Council and the Boston Foundation to explore ideas 
for a new creative district in Boston and a structure that was attractive to cultural, economic and political groups. Futurecity chose a test area around the Avenues to the Arts along Huntington & Massachusetts Avenues – home to a key cluster of arts, higher education and research organisations that could create cultural partnerships between public and private sector united in a single purpose.

The Boston Foundation further commissioned Futurecity for a second stage of work to set out a vision of culture as a catalyst, uniting key stakeholders under the ‘Three Pillars’ of the Civic, Culture and Commercial Sectors. This model established a framework for the Avenues to the Arts as a means to deliver new spaces, ambitious artworks and projects, new partnerships and significant financing opportunities. Within this framework, the Avenues to 
the Arts cultural programme allows the area to take
a ‘production house’ approach using creative placemaking to promote its identity, which in turn offers greater social permeability, local ownership and a clear sense of identity.

The end game for the Avenues to the Arts is a new approach to urban renewal, one that sees architecture, infrastructure and public realm as having cultural value. It joins up businesses, community groups, cultural organisations and city authorities and provides a distinct narrative and vision for the area.

Additional support for the vision and strategy development was provided by the Fenway Alliance, Sasaki Associates, Boston Planning & Development Agency (BPDA) and the City of Boston.