As the first panel discussion of the spring series, NAACBoston hosted a discussion with Chris Robinson (Think Outside the VOX) and Mehdi Raoufi (Open Door Arts) exploring strategies for creating & sustaining an inclusive community, with a specific lens on accessibility. We welcome you to check out the entire conversation below, and here are some key spots for takeaways: 06:50 Speaker Experiences with Accessibility Work 14:30 Community Definitions of “Access & Inclusion” 17:00 What does “Access & Inclusion” mean to Chris Robinson? 20:18 What does “Access & Inclusion mean to Meh ..read more

Tell us about your work with the Community Music Center of Boston and the people you work with. I’m the Executive Director, so I’m responsible for running everything at the Community Music Center.  I serve as the chief decision-maker, strategist, etc. The CMCB staff is amazing.  Close to 70 percent of our staff is people of color.   When and why did you join NAAC?  I joined NAAC when I first arrived in Boston. I moved here in 2017 and I was looking for a community of predominantly Black and Brown folks who worked in the nonprofit arts and the group was really helpful for me ..read more

In Boston we’re lucky to have fantastic Black-centered cultural events all year long.  But during Black History Month, a particularly radiant spotlight shines on the performances, films, lectures and events created in special celebration of African Diaspora in America Here are five outstanding Black History Month events in Boston you’ll want to check out before the end of February. More information about each of them, as well as details on how to get tickets, is available on the ArtsBoston Calendar. (Links to each are provided below.)   February 16 Boston Conservatory Orchestra: Cele ..read more

NAAConnects: 5 Questions with NAAC member Ashleigh Gordon   Tell me about your work as an artist, and with your group Castle of Our Skins. I am a violist and the artistic director and co-founder of Castle of Our Skins, an arts organization focused on concerts and education related to Blackness, Black culture, Black history, and Black arts.   When and why did you join NAAC?  I joined NAAC in 2017, valuing the fellowship it promotes as a way to connect, engage with the members on the listserv, attend meet-ups, and participate in the mentorship program. I appreciate NAAC’s role in ..read more

Nestled in the vibrant city of Somerville, Arts at the Armory is a cultural beacon in its ever-evolving community. This historic venue on Highland Avenue is a hub for creativity, innovation, and community engagement. The Center for Arts at the Armory (CAA) is a non-profit organization that resides in a historic Armory building, serving Somerville and the Greater Boston community through arts, cultural and community events, exhibitions, markets, classes and more. In this post we’re taking a closer look at the Armory’s impact, and what to keep an eye out for, and shedding light on how recent ch ..read more

Announcing the 4th Mentor/Sponsor Program Cohort ArtsBoston celebrates the start of NAACBoston’s 4th Mentor/Sponsor Program (MSP4), a groundbreaking initiative to foster meaningful connections and professional growth within our community through six months of workshops and meetings. NAACBoston began in 2016 to provide BIPOC arts administrators with a way to identify and connect with other colleagues of color in their fields and to create a sense of solidarity within the arts sector. Soon after, an online directory was created and quickly adopted by grantmakers looking for new, diverse voi ..read more

ArtsBoston Staff Holiday Picks: A Diverse Palette of Performances to Spark Your Festive Spirit The holiday season is upon us, and what better way to celebrate than by immersing ourselves in the magic of live performances? Members of the ArtsBoston staff are kicking off the season right with their top picks for this week and next, promising a diverse array of shows to suit every taste and festive mood.   Catherine’s Pick: Chicago at Emerson Colonial Theatre Catherine kicks off the recommendations with a classic – “Chicago” presented by Broadway in Boston at the Emerson Colonial Theatre. Ca ..read more

We’ve finally reached the end of this year’s MSP 3.0 Program! We’ve had a great series of panels, and now we’re throwing a party to close it all out! You’re all invited to join us to help celebrate all of the amazing work this year’s cohort have put in! Food, art, performances, speeches, dancing, headshots & more!!! The NAACBoston Mentorship & Sponsorship Program (MSP3) is in its third year, MSP3’s builds upon research showing both that arts administrators of color are under-mentored and that mentoring under-represented categories of professionals (women and people of color)—by itse ..read more

Welcome all members to engaged with us on February 16th for an interactive workshop , covering tangible strategies and tactics for plugging in as a Boston artist no matter your discipline. Come join this session for creatives and culture bearers on managing, promoting, and safeguarding our practices. Let’s share and exchange best practices on resources to maintain forward momentum for ourselves and as a collective. The NAACBoston Mentorship & Sponsorship Program (MSP3) is in its third year, MSP3’s builds upon research showing both that arts administrators of color are under-mentored and ..read more

Presented by NAACBoston, The Secret Society of Black Creatives, and RoxFilm. This debut feature by Robert Townsend is an ingenious guerrilla satire that takes riotous aim at the typecasting of Black actors in 1980s Hollywood. “The writer-director-star’s megawatt charisma propels Hollywood Shuffle, the hilarious tale of a struggling actor attempting to break into an industry where the only roles available to Black performers seem to be hustlers, butlers, slaves, and “Eddie Murphy types”—forcing him to choose between selling out and maintaining his self-respect. Lampooning everything from film n ..read more