What's New

BPS Summer Arts Intensives: July 8 - August 9

BPS Summer Arts Intensives: July 8 - August 9

Posted: Apr 23, 2013

Register now for FREE summer music and dance programs at locations throughout the city of Boston. Open to BPS students in grades 3 – 12.  See descriptions below for details and registration info.  For registration materials, click the links at t...

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BPS High School Arts Festival

BPS High School Arts Festival

Posted: Apr 03, 2013

Join us May 23rd-25th! The High School Arts Festival (HSAF) is a new district-wide event gathering students from all arts disciplines under a single roof to learn, share, and celebrate the visual and performing arts.  This conference-style festiva...

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The After Hours Exhibition

The After Hours Exhibition

Posted: Apr 25, 2013

While Boston Public School Arts Specialists are dedicated to inspiring and instructing youth in the visual arts discipline, they are accomplished artists in their own right. The exhibition, After Hours, artists behind the influence, aims to highlight th...

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Upcoming Events

  • 23 May

    High School Arts Festival

    Information: http://www.bpsarts.org/what-s-new/216-hsaf.html Saturday Workshop Registration: http://www.bpsarts.org/component/rsform/form/8-hsaf-sa...
  • 29 May

    CMCB Strings Festival

    The Community Music Center of Boston will host strings students from four BPS schools--the Adams Elementary, Chittick Elementary, J.F. Kennedy Element...
  • 1 Jun

    Roslindale Arts Initiative Youth Arts Festival

    The Roslindale Arts Initiative brings visual arts into the core education of all elementary and middle school students in Roslindale's public schools....
  • 4 Jun

    Roland Hayes Spring Concert I

    Students in Grades 7-12 from the John D. O'Bryant School of Math and Science will present a Piano, Vocal Jazz, and Guitar concert in the Rollins Griff...
  • 5 Jun

    Roland Hayes Spring Concert II

    Students in Grades 7-12 from the John D. O'Bryant School of Math and Science will present a Band and Ensemble concert in the Rollins Griffith Auditori...
  • 6 Jun

    Leadership Team Convocation

    Year-end meeting of all leadership teams to share completed work and brainstorm next steps. Teams involved: CATs, Arts Liaisons, Mapping, Assessment....
  • 6 Jun

    BPS City-Wide Celebrate Arts Festival

    Student performers and exhibitors from dozens of Boston Public Schools will converge on the Boston Common at the Parkman Bandstand and Cathedral Churc...
  • 6 Jun

    Orchard Gardens Music & Theater Showcase

    Orchard Gardens 6th and 7th Grade Theater students, 7th Grade Chorus, and 8th Grade Band will perform a variety of selections....
  • 6 Jun

    Making Music Matters! Spring Concert

    All year long, students at the Bates, Beethoven, Irving, Mozart, Ohrenberger, and Philbrick Schools in Roslindale have been taking lessons and playing...
  • 7 Jun

    BPS City-Wide Celebrate Arts Festival

    Student performers and exhibitors from dozens of Boston Public Schools will converge on the Boston Common at the Parkman Bandstand and Cathedral Churc...
  • 12 Jun

    Orchard Gardens presents "Phaethon and the Sun Chariot"

    8th Grade Theater students from the Orchard Gardens K-8 School will perform a modern retelling of a classic Greek myth....
  • 13 Jun

    Otis Elementary presents "Bye Bye Birdie"

    5th Grade students at the Otis Elementary School will perform the musical "Bye Bye Birdie" on June 13th at 6:00 pm at the East Boston High School Audi...
  • 26 Jun

    Arts Conference 3: Looking Ahead

    Join us for this dedicated arts PD session! BPS arts teachers should make plans now to secure release time. Content will include hands-on trials of ac...
May 23 - Jun 1
Jun 4 - Jun 6
Jun 6 - Jun 6
Jun 7 - Jun 13
Jun 26 - Jun 26

Why Art Matters!

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I look forward to an America which will reward achievement in the arts as we reward achievement in business or statecraft. I look forward to an America which will steadily raise the standards of artistic accomplishment and which will steadily enlarge cultural opportunities for all of our citizens. And I look forward to an America which commands respect throughout the world not only for its strength but for its civilization as well.

John F. Kennedy

There are dozens of schools and arts partners across the city that will benefit from the continued expansion of arts education. In the end, it is Boston’s students that will benefit the most.

Laura Perille, EdVestors

The arts can help students become tenacious, team-oriented problem solvers who are confident and able to think creatively. These qualities can be especially important in improving learning among students from economically disadvantaged circumstances.

Arne Duncan, U.S. Secretary of Education

Recent research… showed that at-risk youth with a history of intensive arts experiences enjoy better academic outcomes and are more civically engaged than similar students who largely miss out on the arts.

Laura Perille, EdVestors

Arts are crucial to a rigorous and high-quality education – and access to the arts in schools is an issue of equity for all of Boston’s children.

Dr. Carol R. Johnson, Superintendent

Our Partners

Our Partners

Our Mission

The BPS Visual and Performing Arts Department aims to provide excellence, access, and equity in arts education for all Boston Public Schools students. Learn more

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Get in touch

  • 443 Warren Street, Suite 6
    Dorchester, MA 02121
  • (617) 635-9653
  • (617) 635-9249