The Harvard Ed Portal is a collaborative partnership involving Harvard, the Allston-Brighton community, and the City of Boston. The Ed Portal is the Allston-Brighton community’s front door to Harvard’s educational, arts, wellness, and workforce and economic development programs.
The Harvard Ed Portal is seeking local artists for a short-term mural at 224 Western Ave in Allston, MA.
Applicants are encouraged to propose site-responsive ideas that engage, educate, and inspire the Allston-Brighton community. Themes of interest include but are not limited to: building social connections; racial & social justice; health & healing; and wonder & joy.
The mural board is freestanding and modestly sized (approximately 8 x 12 feet). In addition to the mural, the artist will also provide visual and written materials for related content on the Ed Portal's website.
Selected artist(s) will receive a payment of $1000-$1500 that includes an honorarium as well as a materials budget. The fee variability is dependent on project complexity and the number of people involved.
Optional: Priority given to submissions that include an idea for an interactive component that prompts visitors to dive deeper into mural themes, such as an artist talk or asynchronous engagement. An additional honorarium will be provided if there is an engagement activity.
Submissions from artists of all experience levels are encouraged — emerging, mid-career, or established — as well as solo artists or collaborations. Preference to applicants living and/or working in Allston-Brighton and Cambridge. BIPOC & LBGTQIA+ people are strongly encouraged to apply.
If selected, the artist will work collaboratively with the Ed Portal Arts Program team in development of the final mural and any interactive components to determine project feasibility within city and university real estate regulations.
ONLINE SUBMISSION PERIOD: Now-October 27, 2025
SELECTION ANNOUNCEMENT: November 17, 2025
INSTALLATION DATES: Early-April 2026, TBD by the artist and Ed Portal
RUN DATES: April 2026-March 2027
LOCATION: Harvard Ed Portal, 224 Western Ave, Allston, MA 02134
SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS:
- Contact and Demographic Information
- Brief mural idea proposal with conceptual and visual description. (If applicable, interactive component idea.)
- Three-five images capturing examples of past or proposed work. (Please submit images as JPEG files no larger than 2000 pixels max width @ 72 DPI. ALL FILES MUST BE NAMED AND NUMBERED "lastname.firstname_title01")
Criteria for jurying submissions may include, but are not limited to: Relevance of mural theme; impact on pedestrian experience; overall aesthetic of artwork or proposed artwork; appropriateness for public display; the scale and ability to withstand the elements and normal wear and tear; and detail of application/proposal.
About the Ed Portal:
The Harvard Ed Portal (HEP) is a collaborative partnership involving Harvard, the Allston-Brighton community, and the City of Boston. Created in close consultation with the Allston community, it’s a space where Allston-Brighton residents, students, families, and professionals from every walk of life participate in innovative programming and learn from one another. From K–12 education and family programs, to opportunities for digital learning, career and economic development, personal wellness, and the arts, the Ed Portal provides countless resources to support and enrich the lives of those in and around the community.
Dear applicant,
Thank you for taking the time to fill out the application below.
Research shows that people from groups closest to the harms of institutional racism and inequality often apply only to opportunities where they meet 100% of the qualifications. We believe that no one meets 100% of listed qualifications! We hope you will review the eligibility below and decide to apply.
If you need assistance with this Submittable platform or completing this application, please register for the Info Session + Application Assistance (in-person) on October 8, 2025 or the Drop-In Application Assistance Session (online) on October 22, 2025 or contact the Harvard Ed Portal 617-496-5022 or edportal@harvard.edu. Staff are available to assist in English, Spanish or Portuguese.
For more information about the Harvard Ed Portal, this program, and Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ), click edportal.harvard.edu/artist-pipeline-program.
ONLINE SUBMISSION PERIOD: Now–October 27, 2025 at 11:59 p.m.
PROGRAM DATES:
Required cohort meetings on Tuesdays in-person at 6:00-9:00 p.m. unless otherwise noted
- December 9, 2025*
- January 13, 2026
- January 27, 2026**
- February 10, 2026
- February 24, 2026***
- March 10, 2026
- March 24, 2026***
- April 14, 2026
- April 28, 2026**
- May 12, 2026
- June 9, 2026
*5:00-6:00p.m. (online)
**6:00-7:00p.m.
***6:00-7:30p.m. Optional excursions/Harvard arts insider tour. Attendance is strongly encouraged.
LOCATION: Harvard Ed Portal, 224 Western Ave, Allston, MA
SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS:
- Please allocate 30 - 40 minutes to complete the application.
- Contact and Demographic Information
- Short and Long answer descriptions of your creative practice, goals, challenges and interests.
- Three-five images and/or videos capturing examples of past work, if possible. (Please submit images as JPEG files no larger than 2000 pixels max width @ 72 DPI. ALL FILES MUST BE NAMED AND NUMBERED "lastname.firstname_title01")
SELECTION CRITERIA:
- Consistent engagement in artistic practice(s)
- Detailed, thoughtful responses to the application questions
- Orientation toward justice and equity in arts practice
- Expression of how identity and lived experience has influenced artistic practice(s)
- Opportunity represents an artistic challenge or stretch; there is risk involved
- Exploration feels relevant and deeply considered
- Commitment to all required sessions
- Residence / work in Allston or Brighton
ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS:
To be eligible, you must currently live and/or work in Allston-Brighton and commit to attending all [8] cohort meetings. A commitment of 100% in-person attendance is required to receive the completion stipend. There are no Zoom options.
TYPE OF ARTISTS:
We are seeking a variety of artists, makers and performers in all genre, styles and mediums. Priority given to artists at a threshold in their career who have not had extensive coaching or professional development opportunities already. QTDBIPOC (Queer, Trans, Disabled, Black, Indigenous, People of Color) creatives are strongly encouraged to apply.
ACCESSIBILITY SUPPORTS:
The Harvard Ed Portal is a one-story building with no stairs. We are equipped with chairs, tables, air conditioning, and wheelchair-accessible all-gender restrooms. If you need further ADA or learning supports, please look for the checkbox on the application and we’ll work with you to provide reasonable accommodations.