Your Personal Connection 
We’ve all had defining moments in our lives. What personal connections with the arts and creative expression have had an impact on your life and your view of the community? 

Over​ ​the​ ​course​ ​of​ ​my​ ​time​ ​in​ ​elected​ ​office,​ ​I​ ​have​ ​had​ ​the​ ​opportunity​ ​to​ ​interact​ ​with​ ​many community​ ​arts​ ​organizations.​ ​Before​ ​I​ ​was​ ​mayor,​ ​I​ ​had​ ​the​ ​opportunity​ ​to​ ​visit​ ​Medicine​ ​Wheel​ ​in South​ ​Boston​ ​several​ ​times,​ ​and​ ​I​ ​was​ ​struck​ ​by​ ​the​ ​way​ ​that​ ​the​ ​young​ ​people​ ​there​ ​were​ ​using​ ​art​ ​as a​ ​means​ ​to​ ​communicate.​ ​Some​ ​of​ ​them​ ​talked​ ​about​ ​the​ ​fact​ ​that​ ​it​ ​was​ ​the​ ​only​ ​way​ ​they​ ​knew​ ​how​ ​to express​ ​themselves.​ ​I​ ​found​ ​that​ ​powerful.​ ​I​ ​believe​ ​the​ ​arts​ ​can​ ​be​ ​a​ ​powerful​ ​tool​ ​for​ ​many​ ​things: economic​ ​development,​ ​education,​ ​equity,​ ​and​ ​more,​ ​but​ ​youth​ ​development​ ​is​ ​what​ ​inspires​ ​me.​ ​I​ ​love the​ ​work​ ​being​ ​done​ ​by​ ​groups​ ​like​ ​Artists​ ​for​ ​Humanity,​ ​Zumix,​ ​Boston​ ​Children’s​ ​Chorus,​ ​True​ ​Colors and​ ​many​ ​more.​ ​I​ ​love​ ​seeing​ ​young​ ​people​ ​from​ ​different​ ​neighborhoods​ ​and​ ​backgrounds​ ​working together​ ​to​ ​create​ ​art.

City Investment in the Arts 
Boston Create​s lays out an ambitious program to build a strong arts and creative culture. Financial investments from the city are necessary for the plan to meet its goals. While the Office of Arts and Culture has grown since 2013, Boston invests significantly les​s per capita government support than the other comparable cities, leaving many small to medium sized cultural institutions vulnerable. For example, Boston supports the arts at just over $2/person while Chicago spends $7/person and New York contributes $15. What dedicated funding stream will you establish to provide funds for the priorities outlined in Boston Creates and the sector overall? At what financial level will the city invest in the Boston arts and creative sector? 

I​ ​am​ ​proud​ ​of​ ​Boston​ ​Creates,​ ​a​ ​far-reaching​ ​plan​ ​that​ ​sets​ ​goals​ ​for​ ​what​ ​a​ ​healthy​ ​arts​ ​and​ ​culture ecosystem​ ​in​ ​Boston​ ​looks​ ​like.​ ​This​ ​vision​ ​necessarily​ ​reaches​ ​beyond​ ​what​ ​City​ ​government​ ​alone can​ ​support.​ ​And​ ​so​ ​in​ ​that​ ​spirit,​ ​Boston​ ​Creates​ ​was​ ​a​ ​true​ ​citywide​ ​plan​ ​that​ ​laid​ ​out​ ​initiatives where​ ​the​ ​City​ ​could​ ​implement​ ​on​ ​its​ ​own​ ​but​ ​also​ ​where​ ​external​ ​partners​ ​would​ ​be​ ​necessary​ ​to further​ ​the​ ​spirit​ ​of​ ​the​ ​plan.​ ​I​ ​am​ ​very​ ​grateful​ ​that​ ​many​ ​of​ ​our​ ​philanthropic​ ​and​ ​non-profit​ ​partners celebrated​ ​the​ ​launch​ ​of​ ​the​ ​plan​ ​with​ ​us​ ​by​ ​contributing​ ​monetary​ ​and​ ​in-kind​ ​donations​ ​as​ ​well​ ​as launching​ ​new​ ​programs​ ​and​ ​otherwise​ ​aligning​ ​with​ ​the​ ​goals​ ​of​ ​the​ ​plan.​ ​But​ ​we​ ​have​ ​also​ ​invested at​ ​the​ ​City​ ​level.​ ​As​ ​we​ ​launched​ ​Boston​ ​Creates,​ ​we​ ​announced​ ​new​ ​City​ ​funding​ ​for​ ​an​ ​Artist Resource​ ​Manager​ ​to​ ​act​ ​as​ ​a​ ​direct​ ​liaison​ ​to​ ​artists​ ​trying​ ​to​ ​navigate​ ​City​ ​processes,​ ​a​ ​new​ ​round​ ​of artists-in-residence​ ​within​ ​City​ ​government,​ ​and​ ​Boston’s​ ​first​ ​grants​ ​to​ ​individual​ ​artists.​ ​Perhaps​ ​our most​ ​significant​ ​and​ ​lasting​ ​investment​ ​in​ ​the​ ​arts​ ​is​ ​the​ ​launch​ ​of​ ​our​ ​Percent​ ​for​ ​Art​ ​program,​ ​which designates​ ​one​ ​percent​ ​of​ ​the​ ​City’s​ ​capital​ ​borrowing​ ​dollars​ ​toward​ ​public​ ​art​ ​in​ ​new​ ​facilities.​ ​As​ ​we continue​ ​to​ ​monitor​ ​progress​ ​on​ ​the​ ​goals​ ​and​ ​initiatives​ ​within​ ​Boston​ ​Creates,​ ​we​ ​will​ ​look​ ​for​ ​other strategic​ ​areas​ ​for​ ​further​ ​investment​ ​or​ ​alignment​ ​with​ ​our​ ​partners​ ​across​ ​sectors.

Youth Engagement 
Engaging students with the arts in school and out of school is essential to educating the whole child. While the BPS Arts Expansion Initiative has achieved great success with 94 percent of children from Pre-K up to 8th grade receiving weekly art programs, high school student participation in arts education lags far behind. Boston’s nationally honored Creative Youth Development (youth arts) organizations continue to service thousands of kids, yet struggle to raise the money needed to reach student demand. How would you invest in arts education for students of all ages both inside and outside of school to ensure all youth in Boston have a connection to the arts and tap into their creativity? 

Through​ ​the​ ​BPS​ ​Arts​ ​Expansion​ ​Initiative​ ​and​ ​in​ ​collaboration​ ​with​ ​EdVestors​ ​and​ ​other​ ​partners,​ ​we have​ ​made​ ​remarkable​ ​progress​ ​in​ ​arts​ ​education​ ​through​ ​BPS.​ ​Our​ ​pre-K​ ​through​ ​eighth​ ​grade numbers​ ​are​ ​terrific,​ ​but​ ​we​ ​have​ ​increased​ ​access​ ​to​ ​arts​ ​education​ ​in​ ​our​ ​high​ ​schools​ ​as​ ​well. Between​ ​2009​ ​and​ ​2016,​ ​the​ ​number​ ​of​ ​high​ ​school​ ​students​ ​receiving​ ​in-school​ ​arts​ ​education increased​ ​by​ ​42​ ​percent.​ ​Overall,​ ​across​ ​the​ ​district,​ ​17,000​ ​more​ ​elementary,​ ​middle,​ ​and​ ​high schoolers​ ​are​ ​now​ ​experiencing​ ​the​ ​arts​ ​during​ ​the​ ​school​ ​day​ ​than​ ​in​ ​2009.​ ​This​ ​progress​ ​is​ ​the​ ​result of​ ​public​ ​and​ ​private​ ​investment,​ ​and​ ​we​ ​are​ ​committed​ ​to​ ​building​ ​on​ ​this​ ​success. 

Creating and Maintaining Vibrant Neighborhoods 
The Boston Creates Plan makes a powerful call for increased accessibility and diversity in the arts. With significant development planned in neighborhoods across the city over the decade, making and keeping vibrant neighborhoods for longstanding residents needs to be a priority. How would you use the arts and culture community to build connections that maintain and support the ethnic and socioeconomic diversity that makes the city thrive? 

Many​ ​new​ ​programs​ ​from​ ​the​ ​Mayor’s​ ​Office​ ​of​ ​Arts​ ​and​ ​Culture​ ​and​ ​through​ ​collaborations​ ​with​ ​other departments​ ​and​ ​organizations​ ​are​ ​using​ ​the​ ​arts​ ​to​ ​support​ ​our​ ​neighborhoods:

Supporting Working Artists
In the past year, Boston has provided funding and support for individual artists through a series of new grant programs. Despite this investment, many artists cannot support themselves in Boston due to the high cost of living. What will you do to provide more affordable housing and work spaces for artists? 

I​ ​often​ ​hear​ ​from​ ​artists​ ​about​ ​the​ ​challenges​ ​of​ ​finding​ ​affordable​ ​live​ ​and​ ​work​ ​space​ ​in​ ​Boston.​ ​As we​ ​continue​ ​to​ ​increase​ ​the​ ​overall​ ​stock​ ​of​ ​housing​ ​in​ ​Boston​ ​based​ ​on​ ​our​ ​ambitious​ ​housing​ ​plan,​ ​I have​ ​ensured​ ​that​ ​the​ ​Mayor’s​ ​Office​ ​of​ ​Arts​ ​and​ ​Culture​ ​(MOAC)​ ​has​ ​a​ ​seat​ ​at​ ​the​ ​table​ ​in​ ​these discussions.​ ​This​ ​has​ ​already​ ​led​ ​to​ ​positive​ ​collaborations​ ​and​ ​results​ ​within​ ​City​ ​Hall,​ ​changing​ ​our processes​ ​to​ ​foster​ ​the​ ​creation​ ​of​ ​more​ ​artist​ ​spaces.​ ​Following​ ​the​ ​release​ ​of​ ​Boston​ ​Creates,​ ​we worked​ ​with​ ​the​ ​Boston​ ​Planning​ ​and​ ​Development​ ​Agency​ ​(BPDA)​ ​to​ ​include​ ​arts​ ​and​ ​culture​ ​in​ ​the City’s​ ​community​ ​plans​ ​and​ ​in​ ​development​ ​review,​ ​which​ ​means​ ​the​ ​BPDA​ ​now​ ​has​ ​clearer​ ​guidelines to​ ​negotiate​ ​artist​ ​housing​ ​and​ ​affordable​ ​cultural​ ​space​ ​to​ ​support​ ​creative​ ​communities​ ​across​ ​the city.​ ​Additionally,​ ​MOAC​ ​recently​ ​partnered​ ​with​ ​the​ ​Department​ ​of​ ​Neighborhood​ ​Development​ ​to release​ ​an​ ​RFP​ ​for​ ​the​ ​creation​ ​of​ ​new​ ​affordable​ ​artist​ ​housing​ ​in​ ​East​ ​Boston.​ ​These​ ​are​ ​partnerships we​ ​intend​ ​to​ ​continue​ ​and​ ​strengthen​ ​as​ ​we​ ​see​ ​results​ ​in​ ​the​ ​creation​ ​of​ ​new​ ​affordable​ ​artist​ ​live​ ​and work​ ​spaces.

Creating Space to Rehearse, Perform and Operate 
Artists and cultural institutions struggle to find space to rehearse, perform, and run their administrative operations. The Boston Performing Arts Facility Assessment demonstrates that the current supply of space does not meet the demand of the arts community. What steps will you take to address this problem? 

The​ ​Performing​ ​Arts​ ​Facility​ ​Assessment​ ​does​ ​an​ ​excellent​ ​job​ ​of​ ​making​ ​the​ ​case​ ​that​ ​the​ ​current supply​ ​and​ ​demand​ ​of​ ​performing​ ​arts​ ​spaces​ ​in​ ​Boston​ ​do​ ​not​ ​match,​ ​leaving​ ​arts​ ​organizations scrambling​ ​to​ ​find​ ​appropriate​ ​spaces​ ​for​ ​rehearsal​ ​and​ ​performance.​ ​With​ ​the​ ​data​ ​in​ ​hand,​ ​we​ ​will work​ ​with​ ​the​ ​BPDA​ ​to​ ​create​ ​a​ ​policy​ ​document​ ​that​ ​will​ ​guide​ ​talks​ ​with​ ​developers​ ​who​ ​are​ ​thinking about​ ​developing​ ​big​ ​projects​ ​in​ ​Boston.​ ​This​ ​approach​ ​has​ ​already​ ​led​ ​to​ ​a​ ​major​ ​success,​ ​with​ ​WS Development—the​ ​developer​ ​of​ ​the​ ​12.5-acre​ ​Seaport​ ​Square​ ​site—recently​ ​announcing​ ​that​ ​its​ ​plans include​ ​the​ ​creation​ ​of​ ​three​ ​new​ ​theaters,​ ​filling​ ​a​ ​large​ ​cultural​ ​gap​ ​in​ ​the​ ​Seaport.​ ​I​ ​am​ ​committed​ ​to continuing​ ​this​ ​kind​ ​of​ ​success​ ​story,​ ​and​ ​that​ ​is​ ​why​ ​my​ ​administration​ ​will​ ​work​ ​with​ ​the​ ​BPDA​ ​to codify​ ​this​ ​process​ ​in​ ​a​ ​policy​ ​document​ ​that​ ​will​ ​guide​ ​their​ ​treatment​ ​of​ ​arts​ ​and​ ​cultural​ ​spaces​ ​in developer​ ​negotiations.

Best Utilizing the Chief of Arts and Culture
 In the fall of 2014, Julie Burros became Boston’s first Chief of Arts and Culture in over twenty years, and she presently works within the Mayor's cabinet. How will you work with additional city departments to leverage this cultural cabinet seat to utilize Boston’s arts and cultural sector as an asset to address the various economic and social issues of the city? 

Much​ ​of​ ​this​ ​work​ ​has​ ​already​ ​begun.​ ​The​ ​fact​ ​that​ ​the​ ​Chief​ ​of​ ​Arts​ ​and​ ​Culture​ ​sits​ ​on​ ​the​ ​Cabinet​ ​-- along​ ​with​ ​other​ ​senior​ ​officials​ ​such​ ​as​ ​the​ ​Chief​ ​of​ ​Police,​ ​Superintendent​ ​of​ ​Schools,​ ​and​ ​Chief​ ​of Housing​ ​--​ ​has​ ​already​ ​led​ ​to​ ​many​ ​important​ ​collaborations​ ​within​ ​City​ ​Hall.​ ​Additionally,​ ​when​ ​we assemble​ ​internal​ ​task​ ​forces​ ​or​ ​working​ ​groups​ ​to​ ​work​ ​on​ ​important​ ​City​ ​issues,​ ​we​ ​make​ ​sure​ ​that an​ ​arts​ ​voice​ ​is​ ​at​ ​the​ ​table.​ ​One​ ​specific​ ​program​ ​led​ ​by​ ​the​ ​Mayor’s​ ​Office​ ​of​ ​Arts​ ​and​ ​Culture​ ​that informs​ ​the​ ​work​ ​of​ ​other​ ​departments​ ​is​ ​our​ ​Artists​ ​in​ ​Residence​ ​program,​ ​Boston​ ​AIR.​ ​This​ ​new program,​ ​about​ ​to​ ​start​ ​its​ ​third​ ​iteration,​ ​embeds​ ​Boston-based​ ​artists​ ​within​ ​City​ ​agencies​ ​and departments​ ​to​ ​influence​ ​those​ ​departments​ ​to​ ​find​ ​creative​ ​new​ ​approaches​ ​to​ ​their​ ​work.​ ​We​ ​believe that​ ​these​ ​efforts​ ​combined​ ​have​ ​led​ ​to​ ​a​ ​culture​ ​shift​ ​within​ ​City​ ​Hall​ ​where​ ​we​ ​are​ ​constantly leveraging​ ​the​ ​arts​ ​and​ ​their​ ​inherent​ ​creativity​ ​to​ ​do​ ​our​ ​work​ ​in​ ​better​ ​and​ ​more​ ​innovative​ ​ways.

Promoting Arts and Culture in Boston
Boston is known for its educational and medical institutions as well as its championship sports teams. Yet, more than 80 percent of tourist express that their primary reason for visiting the city is to attend arts and cultural events. What will you do to encourage more locals and tourists to see Boston as an international destination for the arts? 

It’s​ ​not​ ​surprising​ ​that​ ​tourists​ ​point​ ​to​ ​arts​ ​and​ ​culture​ ​as​ ​a​ ​strong​ ​driver.​ ​I​ ​think​ ​Boston​ ​is​ ​as​ ​well known​ ​for​ ​its​ ​cultural​ ​offerings​ ​as​ ​it​ ​is​ ​for​ ​the​ ​others​ ​mentioned.​ ​We​ ​are​ ​known​ ​the​ ​world​ ​over​ ​for​ ​our historic​ ​sites.​ ​The​ ​Boston​ ​Symphony​ ​Orchestra​ ​is​ ​the​ ​best​ ​in​ ​the​ ​country.​ ​The​ ​Museum​ ​of​ ​Fine​ ​Arts​ ​is​ ​a world​ ​class​ ​institution.​ ​Berklee​ ​and​ ​the​ ​New​ ​England​ ​Conservatory​ ​have​ ​trained​ ​a​ ​generation​ ​of musicians.​ ​We​ ​are​ ​the​ ​U.S.​ ​capital​ ​for​ ​Early​ ​Music,​ ​and​ ​in​ ​the​ ​last​ ​ten​ ​years,​ ​our​ ​theater​ ​scene​ ​has blossomed.​ ​There​ ​are​ ​so​ ​many​ ​great​ ​organizations​ ​showing​ ​and​ ​performing​ ​outstanding​ ​work.​ ​The Greenway​ ​is​ ​a​ ​gem​ ​that​ ​has​ ​found​ ​its​ ​niche​ ​as​ ​a​ ​public​ ​art​ ​leader.​ ​We​ ​draw​ ​attention​ ​to​ ​the​ ​arts​ ​with simple​ ​things​ ​like​ ​members​ ​of​ ​my​ ​administration​ ​being​ ​present​ ​at​ ​arts​ ​events,​ ​issuing​ ​proclamations, promoting​ ​events​ ​on​ ​social​ ​media,​ ​and​ ​talking​ ​about​ ​the​ ​arts​ ​everywhere​ ​we​ ​go.​ ​In​ ​my​ ​next​ ​term,​ ​we would​ ​like​ ​to​ ​lift​ ​up​ ​the​ ​stories​ ​of​ ​people​ ​of​ ​color​ ​and​ ​immigrants​ ​in​ ​Boston,​ ​by​ ​working​ ​with institutions​ ​like​ ​the​ ​Museum​ ​of​ ​African​ ​American​ ​History​ ​and​ ​the​ ​National​ ​Center​ ​for​ ​Afro-American artists,​ ​and​ ​neighborhood​ ​groups​ ​that​ ​serve​ ​immigrant​ ​populations.​ ​We​ ​will​ ​also​ ​continue​ ​to​ ​support and​ ​leverage​ ​city​ ​assets​ ​like​ ​City​ ​Hall​ ​Plaza,​ ​The​ ​Strand​ ​Theatre​ ​and​ ​our​ ​libraries​ ​to​ ​promote​ ​the​ ​arts. The​ ​Mayor’s​ ​Office​ ​of​ ​Tourism​ ​works​ ​closely​ ​with​ ​the​ ​Office​ ​of​ ​Arts​ ​and​ ​Culture​ ​as​ ​well​ ​as​ ​the​ ​Greater Boston​ ​Convention​ ​and​ ​Visitor’s​ ​Bureau​ ​to​ ​spread​ ​the​ ​word​ ​about​ ​Boston’s​ ​cultural​ ​offerings.​ ​In​ ​June 2018,​ ​we​ ​will​ ​host​ ​the​ ​U.S.​ ​Conference​ ​of​ ​Mayors,​ ​and​ ​we​ ​plan​ ​to​ ​showcase​ ​Boston’s​ ​arts​ ​and​ ​culture scene​ ​to​ ​municipal​ ​leaders​ ​from​ ​throughout​ ​the​ ​country.

Your “Go To” Places
Boston is blessed with a rich mix of arts and cultural organizations. Please name two places where you have had personally significant connections to the arts and/or cultural experiences.

I​ ​was​ ​pleased​ ​to​ ​be​ ​at​ ​Franklin​ ​Park​ ​recently​ ​when​ ​the​ ​Boston​ ​Symphony​ ​Orchestra​ ​and​ ​Boston​ ​Pops played​ ​together​ ​for​ ​the​ ​first​ ​time​ ​at​ ​a​ ​free​ ​neighborhood​ ​concert.​ ​There​ ​were​ ​so​ ​many​ ​families​ ​there enjoying​ ​the​ ​park​ ​and​ ​the​ ​music​ ​on​ ​a​ ​beautiful​ ​day.​ ​I​ ​am​ ​grateful​ ​to​ ​the​ ​BSO​ ​for​ ​making​ ​the​ ​investment to​ ​be​ ​there​ ​that​ ​day,​ ​and​ ​for​ ​the​ ​work​ ​in​ ​Jamaica​ ​Plain​ ​that​ ​they​ ​are​ ​doing​ ​as​ ​part​ ​of​ ​a​ ​residency.​ ​And​ ​as a​ ​history​ ​buff,​ ​I​ ​love​ ​the​ ​special​ ​collections​ ​at​ ​the​ ​Boston​ ​Public​ ​Library.​ ​I​ ​was​ ​glad​ ​to​ ​be​ ​able​ ​to​ ​make​ ​a significant​ ​capital​ ​investment​ ​to​ ​insure​ ​that​ ​they​ ​are​ ​cared​ ​for​ ​and​ ​maintained​ ​for​ ​generations​ ​to​ ​come.