The Live Arts Boston (LAB) grant program was launched in 2016 by the Boston Foundation and the Barr Foundation to support Greater Boston-area artists and small arts organizations in creating, presenting, and producing new work. Through direct investment in artistic risk-taking, we aim to ensure and grow the richly diverse cultural vitality of Boston for generations to come. LAB provides up to $15,000 in project-specific funds to create, produce or present artistic work for Greater Boston audiences. In addition to grant funding, grantees receive support for project documentation, mentorship, peer networking opportunities and professional development.
LAB has provided more than $2.3M in grant funding and $500,000 in capacity-building supports to 186 grantees over the past three years. Priorities of LAB include investing in people of color, immigrants, and new Americans, as well as in disciplines which have traditionally received less institutional support. To learn more about the 61 artists, groups of artists, and organizations that comprise the 2019 LAB grantee cohort and their grant-funded projects, please see below.
Live Arts Boston will begin accepting applications in January 2020 for projects occurring July 1, 2020 – June 30, 2021. Please check back in fall 2019 for more information on information sessions and how to apply. Feel free to reach out to the LAB team at F2VwtJpiAxYq2jsxYGNQeqr58sM8DjrkNGZqgP7PApXIhBakcfs56AqXuIlPwdJTgU5omJwCqbZg58TQIJOsCiuud7Qk+hRk0zNt7eq0/rOmuywVcjgQx3sTrHHCldO4 with any questions.
Next application deadline: Early 2020
Boston Globe op-ed
Paul S. Grogan and Jim Canales
Boston needs to invest in a new generation of artists
Support our LAB grantees by attending their performances and productions:
7: Chevan Devereaux
The Center for Arts at the Armory
191 Highland Ave., Somerville
7:30 p.m.
12: Schooltree
Lizard Lounge
1669 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge
9:00 p.m.
Tickets and more information
13: Ceren Turkmenoglu
Hunnewell Chapel, Arlington Street Church
351 Boylston St., Boston
7:30 p.m.
Tickets and more information
14: Jean Appolon Expressions
The Center for Arts at the Armory
191 Highland Ave., Somerville
6:30 p.m.
Tickets and more information
15: TC2 Theatre Company
Fort Point Room at Atlantic Wharf
290 Congress St., Boston
3:30 p.m.
More information
15: Sissy Castrogiovanni: A Preview Into "Terra"
Casa Perla
72 Pearl St., Newton
8:00 p.m.
Tickets and more information
20-21: Emily Beattie
Deane Hall
527 tremont St., Boston
8:00 p.m. (also 2:00 p.m. on 12/21)
18: Rising Step: Boston Celtic Music Festival
The Sinclair
52 Church St., Cambridge
3:00 p.m.
Tickets and more information
24: Palaver Strings
Shalin Liu
37 Main Street, Rockport
7:00 p.m.
31: Cliff Notez
The Sinclair
52 Church St., Cambridge
8:00 p.m.
Tickets and more information
186
Grants since 2017
1,000
Performances of new and original work
71%
Projects headed by artists-of-color
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
ALFii |
All Together Now | Anjimile |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
Anthony Romero, in collaboration with Dan Jackson and Jules Rochielle Severt of NULaw Lab ...first in thought, then in action. |
Arlekin Players Theatre The Seagull |
Ashton Lites | StiggetyStackz Worldwide Inc. Stackin' Stylez Freestyle Dance Festival |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
Asian American Playwright Collaborative New Works Series |
Billy Dean Thomas | Catherine Siller All American Beauty |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
Ceren Turkmengolu East of the Sun West of the Moon |
Cliff Notez Live Concert Series |
D. Farai Williams Surveil Me |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
Emily Beattie See | Be Seen |
Faith in a City Exploring Religion in Somerville, Mass. |
Feminine Empowerment Movement Slam Home Spaces: Sustaining FEMS Community Programming |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
Fort Point Theatre Channel Tempest Reconfigured |
Fred Woodard The Dudley Jazz Festival |
Fresh Ink Theatre Company Ink Spot Festival |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
FUKUDANCE A World In-Between |
Gabriela Martina Homage to Grämlis |
Guy Mendilow Ensemble & Sand Artist Kseniya Simonova The Forgotten Kingdom: Sand Stories |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
Humano Multicultural Project Esto es Puerto Rico |
Isaac de los Reyes | Jane Park Asian Glow |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
Jean Appolon Expressions Traka |
Joel LaRue Smith Pasajes (Passages): an Afro Latin Jazz Musical Odyssey |
John Kordalewski Big band arrangements of Chico Freeman compositions |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
Jorge Perez-Albela Original music composing and recording project |
Josie Bray Owning Dissonance: A New Play |
JUMA Iconoclast |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
Karen S. Young Older and Bolder Anthem |
Kera Washington/Zili Misik From Shining Seas, Freedom Sings |
Latrell James Under EP |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
Marshall "Gripp" Gillson and Porsha Olayiwola Afro-futuristic Storytelling |
MASARY Studios Water's Edge |
MassOpera New Opera Workshop: Freedom Ride |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
Mazumal New Music with Radical Intention |
Mehmet Ali Sanlikol Mehmet Ali Sanlikol & Whatsnext? feat. NEA Jazz Master Dave Liebman |
Nedelka F. Prescod The Un-Silenced Voice Project |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
New Movement Collaborative Lions Jaw Performance and Dance Festival |
Non-Event Sounding Boston: Experimental Music in Non-Traditional Spaces |
Omar Najmi En la ardiente oscuridad |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
Oompa Tbd |
Palaver Strings Lifesongs |
Prakriti Dance Through Fish Eyes |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
Prometheus Dance | Regie Gibson and Queen Mab, Inc. The Juke: A Blues Bacchae |
Rising Step |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
Schooltree The Telos Project |
Seraah Sad Satan |
Sissy Castrogiovanni TERRA:Mother Earth |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
STL GLD The New Normal |
Sumati Ram-Mohan | TC Squared Theatre Company TC Squared Art Salons and New Play Festival |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
Tim Hall Sonic Experience |
Triveni Ensemble Sapta - The Seven Deadly Sins |
Unbound Bodies Collective Unbound Bodies Lab: Unbinding Series |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
Wee the People My Night in the Planetarium |
Yara Liceaga-Rojas El despojo: ¿Alguien ha/Has Someone? |
Yo Soy LOLA |
![]() |
||
Zakiyyah Sutton African Import |