Named after Washington Allston—a visionary painter and 1800 Harvard graduate—the town of Allston features vibrant, eclectic art that reflects the neighborhood's creativity and diversity. On this self-guided tour, you'll discover "can't-miss" public art installations along Western Avenue and learn the stories behind them and their artists. Follow along to explore hand-painted murals, sky-high sculptures, 25-cent art prints, and more!

Tour Stops: 27
Tour Length: 1 hour (shorter routes included)
Tour Distance: Up to 2 miles...

*For high school students living or attending school in Allston, Brighton, or Cambridge!*

Reflect on where you are right now to where you want to be. What comes easily to you? What do you love the most about yourself? Where do you want to put your energy?

Explore these questions and learn more about your inner world in this hands-on workshop led by Brighton artist Deborah Johnson. Start with a short meditation, look at examples of self-published...

*For high school students living or attending school in Allston, Brighton, or Cambridge!*

Do you daydream about places you've loved or imagined? Are you curious about how writers turn ideas into stories? Join author Abdul-Razak Zachariah for a glimpse into the children’s book writing process. Write your own story idea for a new generation of readers based on your life and experiences. Abdul will read from his children’s book "...

*For high school students who live or attend school in Allston, Brighton, or Cambridge!*

Have you ever visited or heard about a museum and wondered what it would be like to work there? While exhibitions may not magically spring to life every night, the reality of a museum career can be just as exciting. A job in an art museum means working in an enriching environment where you can turn your passion for art, people, and history into a meaningful career. We invite you to join employees at the Harvard Art Museums to learn more about the types of careers...

*For high school students living or attending school in Allston-Brighton or Cambridge!*

Remember Play Doh when you were a kid? What if we told you you're never too old to play with clay? Sign up for our 4-session Zoom clay class, where we will make and decorate mugs, phone holders, sculptures—whatever you want, really!—using our hands and objects you can find at home. No experience necessary!

We'll teach you everything you need to know, PLUS we'll mail you all the stuff you'll need! You'll get to keep your final product and, as an added bonus, we'll...

*For high school students living or attending school in Allston-Brighton or Cambridge*

Zoom fatigue is REAL, and we don't know about you, but all this sitting and laying down has got us feeling down... so let's get up! Join us for six weeks of movement, stress relief, and relaxation that you can do wherever you are, whenever you want—especially when you're feeling cooped up inside or stressed about anything.

We'll do some stretches, cardio, and other fun exercises you can do at home, anytime. You can even do them while watching your...

*For high school students living or attending school in Allston-Brighton or Cambridge!*

The personal statement essay can be one of the most stressful elements of the college application—but it doesn’t need to be! The personal statement is your opportunity to share parts of yourself with college admissions teams that they can’t see through test scores and your resume alone. This workshop series will provide tips for crafting a compelling essay, effectively telling your story, and proving to admissions teams that you would be a great student at their...

Celebrate National Fossil Day—a celebration organized by the National Park Service—by taking a closer look at museum fossils with Harvard paleontologists. What can we see on ancient seafloors? How do modern animals help us understand extinct animals? What fossils still amaze scientists? What is it like to be a practicing paleontologist? Bring your curiosity and questions to this online event for all ages!

Learn more about and RSVP for National...

The lectures pair Harvard professors with celebrated food experts and renowned chefs to showcase the science behind different culinary techniques. The series is based on the Harvard course “Science and Cooking: From Haute Cuisine to the Science of Soft Matter,” but public lectures do not replicate course content.

Each presentation will begin with a 15-minute lecture about the scientific topics from that week’s class by a faculty member from the Harvard course. This week's topic is "Honorary Book Celebration Lecture."

...

The lectures pair Harvard professors with celebrated food experts and renowned chefs to showcase the science behind different culinary techniques. The series is based on the Harvard course “Science and Cooking: From Haute Cuisine to the Science of Soft Matter,” but public lectures do not replicate course content.

Each presentation will begin with a 15-minute lecture about the scientific topics from that week’s class by a faculty member from the Harvard course. This week's topic is "Honorary Book Celebration Lecture."

...

Join the Ed Portal online with two of Boston's most impactful artists, Chanel Thervil and Sabrina Dorsainvil, to celebrate the virtual unveiling of Fresh Breaths: Portrait of Sabrina.

In an intimate conversation and Q&A on Instagram Live, these artists will explore ways they and other creatives of color are navigating the nuances of self-care, survival, and the new normals as a result of COVID-19.

Get cozy and experience the newest piece in Thervil's Quarantine Self-Care Portrait series, a multi-media project that combines interviews, portrait...

Join the Harvard ArtLab, Harvard’s new laboratory for art and research, for an opening celebration on September 21! Allston-based tap dance company Subject: Matter will kick off the celebration with a performance beginning promptly at 10:00am accompanied by a live jazz band. Visitors can have their portrait taken by Boston-based photographer OJ Slaughter and experience the ArtLab’s sound studio and A*, the multi-channel art installation by Harvard Film Study Center Fellow Andy Graydon.

This event is free and open to the public!

If you have any questions, please...

Each ARTS FIRST festival is unique, but every year combines the exuberance of Harvard students, faculty and affiliates who are passionate about the many art forms presented in four rousing days of performances, exhibitions and community.

Enjoy free, family-friendly performances, dance styles from around the world, public art walks, hands-on artmaking, and much more! We look forward to celebrating the artists of Harvard community with you during ARTS FIRST on May 2–5, 2019.

Events include:

• May 2,...