Mayor Walsh announces revamped "Emerge" Boston arts festival

Mayor Martin J. Walsh today announced that the annual Boston Arts (Ahts) Festival will be re-imagined as Emerge, a one-day celebration of local arts and culture. The Festival will highlight Boston's ever-changing and emerging identity as a vibrant city with a thriving local art scene. The name Emerge was suggested by Chris Lindgren , who was selected as the winner of the 2015 Arts Festival naming competition. In addition to presenting work by emerging and established artists from both the local and national art scene, this new event will explore the civic role of art and design by positioning City Hall as a place that actively fosters cultural events and community dialogue. Emerge is free and open to the public and will be held at City Hall on September 10 from 5:00pm to 10:30pm.

"Boston is the home of many artists who represent our unique and diverse culture," said Mayor Walsh. "I encourage residents and visitors to enjoy this new, fun, family-friendly event and support the creative efforts of local Boston artists.

The newly relaunched festival will feature several visual arts showcases, including the Fay Chandler Emerging Artist Award and Exhibition, art vendors and several installations. There will also be dancing, DJs and live performances. Architecture tours of City Hall will be given by Mark Pasnik, a member of the Boston Art Commission and one of the authors of the forthcoming book Heroic: Concrete Architecture and the New Boston. The festival will also include a presentation on creating cohesive communities through grassroots art projects and urban interventions co-sponsored by Now and There, a non-profit organization dedicated to creating impactful public art projects in Greater Boston.

The Mayor's Office of Arts and Culture fosters community engagement in Boston's cultural landscape and throughout the City's many neighborhoods by organizing and supporting events that highlight local talent. The Office of Arts and Culture is committed to developing opportunities for artists at all stages of their careers.

For more information, please call 617.635.4235, visit www.cityofboston.gov/arts or check out @ArtsinBoston and @PublicArtBoston on Twitter. City Hall is accessible by MBTA via Haymarket (Orange and Green) and State Street (Orange and Blue).