First Arts Festival
Arts Festival
Held annually on the last weekend in April, the Boston College Arts Festival brings the Boston College and surrounding communities together to celebrate the arts. From April 24-26, 2025, the Arts Festival will once again invite the community to experience the variety of arts at Boston College!
A performance by The University Chorale.
Attracting more than 16,000 attendees from Boston College and the surrounding community, the Arts Festival never fails to be one of the most vibrant and exciting events of the year. Delight in all forms of art from the transcendent beauty of the many dance ensembles to the boldness of the studio art students' work plus music, theater, film, creative writers, and more!
The Arts Festival spans campus. Centered on Lower Campus, our Main Performance Tent and Art Tent are in the Mod Lot and other venues include Robsham Theater, Vanderslice Cabaret Room, Bonn Studio, Gasson Hall, and Gallery 203 in Carney Hall.
Special guests at the festival have included Cameron Esposito '04, Lulu Wang '05, Tracey Wigfield '05, Nick Scandalios '89, Chris Doyle '81, Anne Garefino '81, Robert Polito '73, Chuck Hogan '89, Shelagh Abate '97, Shannon Reilly '08, Jeff Augustin '08, and Amy Poehler '93.
Arts Fest at a Glance
1999
1,440
Artist Participation
68
Events
210
Volunteers
Getting to the Arts Festival by subway: Take the B branch of the MBTA Green Line to the Boston College terminus. Cross to the other side of Commonwealth Avenue and turn right. Walk up the hill (west) on Commonwealth Avenue to the main gate.
By car: Boston College's main campus is located on Commonwealth Avenue (Route 30) in Chestnut Hill, just west of the Boston-Newton line.
From points north and south: Take Interstate 95 (Route 128) to Exit 24 (Route 30). Proceed east on Route 30, also known as Commonwealth Avenue, and follow for about five miles to Boston College.
From points west: Take the Massachusetts Turnpike (Route 90) to Exit 17. At the first set of lights after the exit ramp, take a right onto Centre Street. Follow Centre Street to the fourth set of lights, and turn left onto Commonwealth Avenue. Follow Commonwealth Avenue 1-1/2 miles to Boston College.
From downtown Boston: Take the Massachusetts Turnpike (Route 90) to Exit 17. Take a left over the bridge after passing the Sheraton Tara Hotel. Take the first right onto Centre Street. Follow Centre Street to the fourth 1-1/2 miles to Boston College.
- One hour parking is permitted, as posted, on Commonwealth Avenue.
- Weekend parking at Boston College is $10 per every 12 hours from 5:00 p.m. on Friday until Monday at 2:00 a.m.
- Visitor “Pay for Parking” is in effect from 2:00 a.m. Monday through 5:00 p.m. Friday. The first twenty minutes are FREE, and visitors pay $6.00 per hour after that, with a $28.00 daily maximum.
- Each garage has a pay station. Payments may be made with cash, Visa or MasterCard.
Additional Parking Information
To enter Lower Campus from Commonwealth Avenue from Downtown Boston: Turn left at the light just before the Boston College Green Line T Stop. (The T stop and Lake Street will be on your right; St. Ignatius Church will be ahead on your left.) Take the next right, towards the security guard station. Follow this road to the parking garage, which will be on your right. After parking, exit on foot from the bottom of the garage (level 1) and cross the street. The main tent of the Arts Festival is straight ahead in the lot behind Robsham Theater.
To enter Lower Campus from points west: Continue past the main gates of the college and down the hill to the light (The T Stop and Lake Street will be on your left; St. Ignatius Church will be on your right.) Turn right at the light. Take the next right, towards the security guard station. Follow this road to the parking garage, which will be on your right. After parking, exit on foot from the bottom of the garage (level 1) and cross the street. The main tent of the Arts Festival is straight ahead in the lot behind Robsham Theater.
Activities are designed for elementary aged children and preschoolers will certainly be able to participate. Older children are sure to be entertained by the dance and a cappella showcases, as well as other performances and art installations.
All activities are free. Food can be purchased at the festival.
Bathroom facilities are located in Robsham Theater, Maloney Hall, Corcoran Commons, Vanderslice Hall, and Gasson Hall - all buildings surrounding the Festival.
In the event of inclement weather, all outdoor activities will still take place at an indoor location. Rain or shine, we always have fun.
Once you get to the festival site, everything is very close and stroller-accessible. Depending on where you park, there may be 5-10 minutes of walking. With small children, we recommend parking in the Commonwealth Avenue garage and exiting from the 1st floor. From there, the walk is about two minutes.
Children’s Activities run from 11:30am to 2:00 p.m. on the Saturday of the festival. Each crafts activity is set up separately, so you can choose to do some and not others—depending on the amount of time you want to spend. Check the schedule to find out when our Children’s programming is happening. There are continuing performances from 11 to 5:00 p.m. in the main tent and the art exhibitions can be explored all day.
The Arts Council and the Arts Festival committee are always looking for new ideas and creativity to incorporate into yearly programming and expand the Annual BC Arts Festival. If inspiration has struck, please contact arts@239877.com with the subject lines of Arts Collaboration or Arts Festival Proposal. The Arts Council takes proposals for the upcoming festival until December. You will be contacted within a week of submitting your proposal by an Arts Council representative.
The combined efforts of students, faculty, and the entire BC community are what makes the Boston College annual art festival unique every year. These individuals (just like you) are passionate about the arts, and are committed to presenting and celebrating three days of performances, exhibitions, and creative expression.
In addition, any arts event taking place on the Boston College campus during the three day festival can be listed in the Arts Festival program by filling out our participation application. The application will be available online in November. All events will also be listed on the Univeristy online events calendar.
Who can perform in the arts festival?
All Boston College affiliates (undergraduates, graduate students, faculty, staff, and alumni/ae) may apply to perform during the festival. Performance applications are submitted online beginning in November. Performance groups may include non-Boston College affiliates, as long as at least 50% of the performers are a part of the Boston College community.
What are the expectations?
Performers are expected to honor their commitment to performing in the arts festival. On the day of the scheduled performance, all performers are expected to arrive at their assigned venue at least 20 minutes prior to their performance time slot. Communication is essential in regards to performance needs and any potential schedule conflicts.
Can performers pick their location, day and performance time?
All performances are scheduled by the Arts Council staff and Arts Festival programming committee. In the application there is an option to list preferred venues, dates and times, however we cannot guarantee that your requests will be met. All time slots are carefully selected to prevent schedule conflicts for performers in multiple groups, so when filling out your application please make note of this in the additional information section.
What kind of support is provided?
We provide publicity for individual events in the Arts Festival guide and on the University Event calendar. We also publicize the festival in general throughout the greater Boston area.
In addition, we provide production support to artists by supplying a performance venue, stage manager, chairs and music stands, and other audio equipment depending on the venue.
What if my group needs to cancel?
Everything doesn't always go as planned. If your group has a conflict, please contact Tatiana Flis, Arts Festival Director, as soon as possible.
BC Arts Festival Submission Guidelines
Maximum of three pieces per artist. Each piece should have its own submission form.
Every effort will be made to keep artwork secure, however, artists submit at their own risk. Again, the Arts Festival, Arts Council and Boston College are NOT responsible for any work not picked up by the artist or their representative by May 1st, 6:00 PM.
The exhibits are curated by faculty and the gallery staff. Not all submissions will be accepted, and there is no guarantee that your work will be displayed.
Art for Sale
Works of art on exhibit can be sold at the Arts Festival. Artists must set a price when the work is submitted. The Arts Festival will advertise that this price is non-negotiable. The Arts Festival Visual Arts Coordinator will not collect cash or checks but will coordinate a direct buyer-to-artist transaction.
Work sold will be labeled with a red sticker. Purchasers may not pick up their work until after the festival is over. (Pick-up time is Saturday, 4:00–6:00 PM.)
Basic Art Pricing Guidelines:
Quantifying Creativity: How Any Artist Can Price Their Art for Sale from ArtBusiness.com.
The Lighter Side of Pricing Your Art by Sonya Paz, professional artist and writer.
Who can volunteer to help with Art Festival?
Everyone! Regardless of whether or not they are affiliated with Boston College.
What can volunteers expect to do?
Volunteers may help set up or put away chairs, music stands, and signs; greet visitors and provide basic directions to venues; check in performers; and other tasks as needed.
In advance of the festival, volunteers may help deliver programs and t-shirts to various locations on campus, or organize festival materials.
What are the perks of volunteering?
Learn a new skill, add valuble expereince to your resume, grow your network and meet new people. All volunteers receive an free arts festival t-shirt!
Arts Council Awards
Each year, the Boston College Arts Council recognizes an alumnus, a faculty member, and several students for their accomplishments and contributions to the arts in various disciplines. Alumni and faculty award recipients serve as role models, inspiring and guiding developing young artists in the Boston College community. The award recipients participate in programming at Arts Festival and interact in small-group settings with students in their fields. Student award recipients in their sophomore, junior, or senior years are recognized for their creativity and accomplishments, as well as for specific projects.
Children's Activities
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Arts 'n' Crafts
Kids love these hands-on activities facilitated by BC volunteers. Activities vary each year, but have included making tambourines, decorating masks and bookmarks, making pipecleaner 'monsters', sidewalk chalk, and decorating a pot to plant a seed in.
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Children's Theatre
Boston College theatre classes and other campus ensembles have presented live performances for children to enjoy. Previous performances have included The Little Mermaid, "From Film to Broadway–The Songs of Disney," Shrek! The Musical, Peter and the Wolf, Nick of Time, The Princess Bride, Beauty and the Beast, and more.
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Interactive activities
Various student groups that perform at Arts Fest have led 20-30 minute activities to engage kids in what they are passionate about. Children have been able to participate in mini-sessions on dance, singing, and improvisation. Every year the children and parents have loved being introduced to new styles of performance and art.
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Instrument Petting Zoo
The Boston College Marching Band takes over green spaces to give children an opportunity to touch, feel, and play the instruments. This experience is for kids of all ages!
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Chamber Music Children's Concert
Boston College's Chamber Music Society performs beloved children's music and theater.