On Wednesday, candidates for mayor of Boston gathered at Dorchester’s Strand Theatre to present their visions for the city’s arts and culture sector.
Moderated by Jared Bowen, host of GBH’s “The Culture Show,” the forum attracted approximately 350 attendees and was organized by MassCreative as part of its Create the Vote Boston 2025 campaign.
Notably absent was Robert Cappucci, a former police officer and businessman.
Audience members raised significant concerns over funding for the arts and the threat of displacement faced by artists in an increasingly expensive city—a topic Mayor Michelle Wu addressed throughout the discussion.
Josh Kraft, a philanthropist and son of billionaire Robert Kraft, emphasized the importance of partnerships with the private sector and creating a safe space for artistic expression.
Community organizer Domingos DaRosa captured attention with passionate speeches advocating for marginalized communities in Boston.
Rather than appearing together, the candidates took turns talking with Bowen for 30 minutes each.
Wu opened the forum by highlighting her administration’s achievements and her personal connection to the arts.
When asked to share an impactful recent experience in Boston’s arts scene, Wu, who trained as a pianist, reminisced about her performance at Symphony Hall.
“I’m still not quite over the part terror, part glee,” Wu remarked about her time onstage with the Boston Pops, adding, “that is a highlight of my life, I think, forever.”
In contrast, Kraft struggled to recall his favorite local venues, eventually mentioning The Channel, a nightclub that has been closed for decades.
DaRosa briefly hesitated before responding to a similar question but adeptly shifted focus to the inequities present in accessing the arts.
“Boston has a way of killing cultures by killing people’s music, killing people’s food, and we have to change that,” he concluded, prompting applause from the audience.
Wu repeatedly cited her administration’s allocation of $26 million in ARPA funds to support the cultural sector, which included substantial grants to 11 local arts organizations focused on youth, LGBTQ artists, and communities of color.
She also mentioned the Boston Family Days program, which grants families with school-aged children free access to various cultural institutions in the city.
Further, the mayor highlighted efforts to secure artist workspaces amid a challenging real estate market, citing plans to convert a city-owned building in Allston-Brighton into a music rehearsal space.
“What I hear about with the most urgency, and often desperation, is the risk of displacement of artists and creatives,” Wu stated.
She identified displacement as a space issue and an affordability issue, emphasizing the need for equitable resources in all these areas.
Kraft, addressing artist displacement, suggested, “First and foremost, we need to create more housing.”
He also put forth a proposal for including commercial artist spaces in a rent control plan, which received approval from the audience.
Wu’s response to how artists could contribute to her administration drew cheers:
“I am determined that Boston will continue to be a city that refuses to back down, not to kings, not to bullies, not to people who want to take us backward,” she asserted.
“The arts are absolutely critical to providing the fuel and the momentum and the care that can keep us moving forward.”
Wu faced significant scrutiny regarding the vacant Chief of Arts and Culture position, left unfilled since January, following the departure of Kara Elliott-Ortega, who had garnered favor within the arts community.
Wu assured the audience, “We’re in a very active search process now.”
DaRosa took this chance to differentiate himself from Wu, pointing out the prolonged vacancy and proclaiming, “How much planning do you need?”
He proposed the idea of having a chief of arts and culture for each of Boston’s 23 neighborhoods.
While DaRosa did not present many more concrete policy ideas for the arts sector, he touched on vital issues like education and the disproportionate police overtime budget, resonating with those in attendance.
“My top priority is education. That’s where we start. That changes everything,” he emphasized.
DaRosa, who was born in Cape Verde and attended Madison Park Technical Vocational High School in Roxbury, underscored education as the key driver for success.
“You put education back at the top of the list, our children now become successful. [They’re] not looking for low income housing. Why? Because they got a career.”
Both Kraft and Wu acknowledged the pressing need to assist institutions affected by federal cuts to the arts, especially after reductions in NEA and NEH funding.
Cultural institutions fear the ramifications of former President Donald Trump’s anti-DEI agenda, prompting Kraft to express interest in the private sector filling funding gaps.
Wu, however, remained defiant in her commitment.
“We have gone to court now multiple times. I think we’re involved in six different lawsuits with the Trump administration,” she elaborated, adding that Boston is making it clear that funding for housing support cannot be conditioned on exclusionary practices.
DaRosa adopted a more critical stance, suggesting, “We cut our legs from under us when we told the federal government we’re not playing ball,” hinting at Wu’s decisions regarding Boston’s sanctuary city status.
“As mayor, I would’ve kept my line of communication open. I would’ve negotiated with the federal government and I would’ve let Boston Police handle how we go about doing things humane.”
As the attendees exited the theatre, mariachi musician Veronica Robles shared her takeaways from the forum, expressing new interest in DaRosa.
She noted, however, concerns about his arts exposure.
Robles reserved her highest praise for Mayor Wu, noting the significant impact of an ARPA-funded grant received by the Veronica Robles Cultural Center in East Boston.
“I got the cultural investment grant, and that helped me a lot,” Robles remarked.
“So [Wu] really opened it up. She opened City Hall to diverse people.”
The candidates are set to face off in a nonpartisan preliminary election on September 9th.
image source from：wbur
