What is Radical Welcoming?
Radical Welcoming says we see you, we hear you, and we’re glad you are here. Radical Welcoming is greeting people with intention, honoring any past experiences (good and bad, new and old) they have had in a space, and attending to the current one in ways that invite them to bring their whole self.
Why an artist commission?
We believe artists bring nuance and beauty to public life and everyday interactions. Artists’ understanding of energy, beauty and the symbolic mean that they can lead us in intentional acts of welcoming that help community members both feel welcome in public spaces and feel the desire to welcome others.
This art commission invites artists to radically welcome people back into Upham’s Corner’s public spaces and public life. While some members of the community are holding a lot of anxiety about being in public spaces again, others have been frontline workers, out in public and keeping Upham’s going throughout the pandemic. We want to welcome all with deep intention.
We are looking for a diverse group of local artists to design welcoming rituals and activities that invite people to bring their whole selves, whether they are:
- People who’ve already been gentrified out of the neighborhood
- People new to Upham’s, including new immigrant communities
- People who’ve been harassed or profiled by police while going about their business
- Families looking for safe and free activities to do together
- Elders and folks with disabilities who may be challenged by Upham’s hectic traffic
- Young artists and students of color looking for community in Boston
- People re-entering our community after being taken from us through incarceration
- People who may have experienced xenophobia, Afrophobia, anti-Asian violence or discrimination based on their culture, language or country of origin
- Shopkeepers and others who work to make Upham’s Corner a destination for all of us
What is the criteria for the artist commissions?
Priority will be given to BIPOC artists who live and/or work in the Upham’s Corner neighborhood or along the Fairmount Cultural Corridor.
If you are applying for the $2,500 commission, you must include multiple artists and/or multiple activity dates.
Application Deadline: June 25th
