Supporting Artistic Process + More Art for Boston

At Now + There, we believe public art has the power to open up Boston. And we’re committed to fostering artists who break down biases and shed light on often-overlooked people and issues while also providing moments of joy and respite that enliven our neighborhoods and city.

Cohort 5 projects still on view

The artists of Cohort Five, Krystle Brown, Eben Haines, Tanya Nixon-Silberg, and Ponnapa Prakkamakul, are bringing their projects to a neighborhood near you. Tanya’s “They Did Not Know We Were Seeds” is still on view and represents the range of media, from installation to puppetry, painting, and performance. Be sure to check out Slán Abhaile/Safe Home by Krystle Brown - also on view and ready to experience in Dorchester!

Go behind the scenes and hear from Cohort 5 and the stories behind their projects here.

Pathway to future success

The Now + There Public Art Accelerator creates an on-ramp for early-to mid-career Boston-area artists to successfully participate in the dynamic realm of public art. Accelerator artists build the skills and sensibilities necessary to conceptualize compelling, neighborhood-centric temporary public artworks and receive substantial funding to realize their projects. Together we develop a pathway for future success and a pipeline of artists for future projects in Boston.

Launched in 2018, the Public Art Accelerator chooses a new cohort of local artists each year and provides a six-month training curriculum to help augment their practice with the curatorial, technical, and financial support they need to develop new temporary artworks in Boston. In the second phase of the program, artists present before a jury for the opportunity to receive $25,000 in funding and continued one-on-one Now + There staff support to create a neighborhood-focused project.

A city-wide effort

Now + There's Public Art Accelerator Program is possible thanks to the generosity and leadership of Joyce Linde, who supported the 3-year pilot program. She is joined by James and Audrey Foster, the National Endowment for the Arts, and other donors who believe the work of local artists, especially artists of color and those underrepresented in traditional art systems, belong in public space.

 
 

Meet Cohort 6

After a historic 70+ applications and a strenuous jury process, Now + There is thrilled to introduce you to the four jury-selected artists who are set to shake up Boston with their bold, open, and smart public artworks. Ranging from video game development to mural work, we cannot wait to see what they’ll create in 2024!

Photo of Sarah Brophy, a white woman with long hair, slightly smiling. There are a lot of blue hues and shadows in the photo. She is wearing a black tunic.

Sarah Brophy (she/her)

Michael Berthaud (he/him)

Jeremy ‘Sobek’ Harrison (he/him)

Nelly Kate (she/her)

 
 

Click on each headshot to learn more about the artist

 
 

Cohort Five Public Art Accelerator artists

In 2022, we launched the fifth year of our Public Art Accelerator program and introduced the four Greater Boston-based artists who wanted to grow their public art practice: Krystle Brown, Eben Haines, Tanya Nixon-Silberg, and Ponnapa Prakkamakul. This Cohort works in a range of media, from installation to puppetry, painting, and performance, and is eager to work closely with Boston’s communities to co-create contemporary art.

KRYSTLE BROWN

PONNAPA PRAKKAMAKUL

TANYA NIXON-SILBERG

EBEN HAINES

Click on each headshot to learn more about the artist and their projects!

Header image: Accelerator Artist Ang Li’s Place of Assembly, photo by Faith Ninivaggi (c)

 
 

For vibrancy and equity

Ultimately, the Accelerator develops a pathway for artists’ future success and increases the amount of contemporary art that opens minds, conversations, and spaces resulting in a more vibrant and equitable city. But don’t just take our word for it. See how the Accelerator program encouraged these past Accelerator artists to bring their visions to life and how creating public art can both challenging and rewarding.

 
 

Acts of generosity

Every project completed by an artist in the Accelerator is a labor of love and a gift to the city of Boston. Below are projects completed (or soon to open) over the past four years by Accelerator artists.

 
 

Meet past cohorts

Every alumnus of the N+T Accelerator has left their mark on our young program and shaped it for the better for the following cohort. Click each artists’ image for more on their practice and works they completed in the Accelerator.

RIXY, PA*LANTE
2022

MIMA MCMILLAN, UNSUNG HEROES
2022

ELI BROWN, BEAM ME DOWN
2022

RHEA VEDRO, AMULET
2022

YU-WEN WU 2020

YU-WEN WU, WE BELONG
2022

ANG LI 2020

ANG LI, PLACE OF ASSEMBLY
2021

KARTHIK PANDIAN 2020

KARTHIK PANDIAN, VIDEO COMMUNE
2021

GABRIEL SOSA, NO ES FACIL/IT AIN’T EASY 2020

GABRIEL SOSA, NO ES FACIL/IT AIN’T EASY
2020

ANDREW MOWBRAY 2020

ANDREW MOWBRAY
2020

SHAKA DENDY 2020

SHAKA DENDY
2020

PAT FALCO, MOCK 2019

PAT FALCO, MOCK
2019

SAMANTHA FIELDS, DESIRES NOT EVEN OUR OWN, 2019

SAMANTHA FIELDS, DESIRES NOT EVEN OUR OWN, 2019

CAT MAZZA, ELECTROKNIT DYMAXION  2019

CAT MAZZA, ELECTROKNIT DYMAXION
2019

DANIELE RIVERA, SOBREMESA (KARAOKE POLITICS) 2019

DANIELE RIVERA, SOBREMESA (KARAOKE POLITICS)
2019

DAVID BUCKLEY BORDEN 2019

DAVID BUCKLEY BORDEN
2019

DELL MARIE HAMILTON 2019

DELL MARIE HAMILTON
2019

EKUA HOLMES, THE ROXBURY SUNFLOWER PROJECT 2018

EKUA HOLMES, THE ROXBURY SUNFLOWER PROJECT
2018

RYAN EDWARDS, HD•BPM 2018

RYAN EDWARDS, HD•BPM
2018

STEPHEN HAMILTON, THE FOUNDERS PROJECT 2018

STEPHEN HAMILTON, THE FOUNDERS PROJECT
2018

KATARINA BURIN, WE REGRET TO INFORM YOU  2018

KATARINA BURIN, WE REGRET TO INFORM YOU
2018

CYNTHIA GUNADI & JOEL LAMERE, LOST HOUSE 2018

CYNTHIA GUNADI & JOEL LAMERE, LOST HOUSE
2018

LINA MARIA GIRALDO, GOLDEN HOME 2018

LINA MARIA GIRALDO, GOLDEN HOME
2018

 
 

The latest from the Accelerator