ARTWEEK to Offer Its Largest Creative Festival Ever

Produced by the Boch Center, ArtWeek today announced its largest season lineup ever. The award-winning creative festival will offer more than 250 events from April 28 - May 7-representing a more than 40 percent increase over the spring and fall 2016 festivals. ArtWeek events provide participants with new ways to experience art, culture, and creativity, and will now be held in 13 new neighborhoods and towns across Eastern Massachusetts, with a total presence in more than 70 communities. In collaboration with ArtSpring Cape Cod, this season's festival will feature nearly 30 events on Cape Cod, Martha's Vineyard, and Nantucket.

"As we see the interest in ArtWeek continue to grow season after season, it's clear there is a hunger for creative, artistic events across the region," said Josiah A. Spaulding, Jr., President & CEO of the Boch Center. "With the support of the Highland Street Foundation, ArtWeek has grown from 26 events to more than 250 in just four years. I am extremely proud to say that more than 60 percent of this season's events are free, fulfilling our mission to make art and cultural experiences accessible to everyone. The Greater Boston creative community has so much talent to offer-I hope everyone will come out to participate in one of the many terrific ArtWeek events!"

Presented by Highland Street Foundation and produced by the Boch Center, ArtWeek is a bi-annual, ten-day festival that features unique and creative experiences that are hands-on, interactive or offer behind-the-scenes access to artists or the creative process. This season offers something for everyone, including a number of family friendly events. Participants can attend a MassQuerade Ball; experience live art at seven Whole Foods Market locations; run a Mural Mile Road Race; learn how to salsa dance; take a one-of-a-kind yoga class at the Wang Theatre; learn the elements of floral design with Winston Flowers; create eco-friendly art; attend a 90-second film festival; take apublic art Duck Tour; learn the art of meteorology with WCVB's Storm Team 5 Meteorologists; attend a Kids Really Rock concert; go on an architecture tour of Dorchester; join a panel of women artists to discuss current political and social issues; and much more.

With 13 new cities and towns participating this season, these exciting events are now happening across more than 70 neighborhoods and towns, including Boston, Norwood, Wakefield, Melrose, Barnstable, Framingham, Cambridge, Arlington, Osterville, Lexington, Watertown, Dedham, Lowell, Lincoln, Nantucket, and many more.

A complete calendar of events can be found here.

"Increasing access to the arts is part of our core mission," said Blake Jordan, Executive Director, Highland Street Foundation. "That is why we are thrilled to partner with the Boch Center and ArtWeek, which allows so many individuals and families the opportunity to participate in these unique, creative experiences."

Launched in 2013, ArtWeek works to spotlight how the creative economy is thriving in Massachusetts. Through community and artistic collaborations, this award-winning festival provides neighborhood-based experiences in dance, folk and traditional arts, fashion, media arts, spoken-word, poetry, writing, contemporary visual arts, music, opera, theater, design, film, and more. Since 2013, ArtWeek has grown exponentially and worked with more than 900 organizations and partners, held more than 1,000 unique events, and expanded into 70+ neighborhoods and towns across Eastern Massachusetts, engaging an estimated 100,000 participants.

For more information, visit artweekboston.org.