Who is the BCA?
Mission & Vision
Situated in Boston's historic South End neighborhood, the Boston Center for the Arts (BCA) is an urban cultural village that incubates and showcases visual and performing artists and provides a vibrant urban gathering place that connects diverse people and new ideas.
History
In the late 1960s, a diverse group of people got together to save a complex of historic but dilapidated buildings in Boston's South End from demolition, with the goal of transforming these structures into a safe haven where artists would have space, tools, and freedom to exercise their creativity. In 1971, the City designated the BCA to develop the real estate into a visual and performing arts complex that today is a vibrant arts hub—one that has materially advanced the social and economic revitalization of the neighborhood.
Today, the BCA is home to a range of venues for performance, exhibition, and work. The complex includes artist studios, galleries, theaters, and the historic Cyclorama rotunda. With the completion of the adjacent Atelier|505 mixed use development, the Stanford Calderwood Pavilion at the Boston Center for the Arts opened in September 2004, adding two state-of-the art theaters, rehearsal, and community spaces to its campus.
BCA programs
The BCA's core areas of focus are visual arts, performing arts, youth, and community. The BCA welcomes more than 200,000 visitors each year and connects arts and community through key programs:
Mills Gallery
Presenting curated exhibitions of contemporary art that explore unique themes and ideas, the Mills Gallery at the BCA showcases new and bold work by artists and curators from the New England region and beyond.
Resident Theater Program
Offering residencies to five of Boston's most acclaimed and promising theater companies, the BCA supports their audience development, artistic growth, and financial stability.
Artist Studio Program
Maintaining affordable artist studios and workspaces and an environment for professional growth for 50 artists and not-for-profit arts organizations is a cornerstone of the BCA's mission.
Cultural Partners Program
Showcasing innovative arts organizations that connect new audiences to the arts through participation and interaction with artists, the BCA partners with a range of other organizations.
Youth Arts and Community Engagement
Partnering with community-based organizations and the Boston Public Schools, the BCA provides customized workshops, internships, tours, dialogues, and access to dress rehearsals—all of which encourage youth and their families to experience the arts up close and personal.
For more information about happenings at the BCA go to www.bcaonline.org.