Free outdoor entertainment series June 11-October 8, 2025

Application deadline: March 27, 2025 at midnight

ANY APPLICATIONS RECEIVED AFTER THE DEADLINE WILL BE MOVED TO A BACKUP LIST AND CONSIDERED ONLY IF SPACE ALLOWS.

The Harvard Ed Portal is hiring family-friendly musical, dance, or other stage performers to perform 30-90 minute outdoor shows on select Wednesday afternoons June-October at the Brighton Farmers Market.

This free series presents eclectic live performances and can include acoustic or amplified music, dance, storytelling and/or educational entertainment. We are actively seeking a wide array of genres and performance styles, from Children’s music to hip hop, folk to salsa, funk or mariachi – surprise us! 

Our primary mission is to serve the Allston-Brighton community through artist support and professional development. Applicants can be emerging entertainers or long-time pros. Preference will be given to performers living, studying and/or working in Allston-Brighton. We are also focused on the rest of Boston and Cambridge. However, we welcome artists living throughout Greater Boston. BIPOC & LBGTQIA+ creatives are strongly encouraged to submit. Accommodations can be provided for artists with disabilities.

Performances are held once a month at Brighton Common, a pocket park across from the Brighton Library with a large outdoor stage at one end. Load-in is at 3:30pm. Performances begin at 4:30pm. Performers should come prepared to plug in and play. Concerts in the Common will provide a limited stage set up, including [2] speakers on stands, [2] floor monitors, [2] 110 volt outlets, a few mics and stands, a 16-channel analogue mixer, a brief sound check and a concert manager/audio technician. Performers must bring their own instruments, props, additional sound equipment and/or crew, as desired. Weather note: The stage has a decorative overhang but is not water-tight; a shade tent may be available on hotter days. 

Concerts are “fair weather only” but artists will be paid rain or shine as long as they report to the farmers market the day of the show ready to perform. Payment typically ranges between $200-$1,200 per act based on set length, experience level, number of performers, etc. Transportation, parking, and food are at the performers’ expense.

Presented in partnership with the Brighton Farmer's Market and the Allston Brighton Health Collaborative.

To be considered this year:

Please submit a formal application, even if you are in one of our contact databases.

REQUIREMENTS:

• Contact and Demographic Information
• 3 samples of past or proposed performances or material (at least one must be video clip or audio file) (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")
• Minimum of 2 hi-res promotional photos to be used for our website and concert flyers if selected

ONLINE SUBMISSION PERIOD: Now–March 27 

SELECTION NOTIFICATION: Late April–Early May

CRITERIA for jurying submissions may include, but are not limited to: appropriateness for an all-age audience; readiness for 30 or 90 minute outdoor set; connection to local community; quality of performance and audience engagement; and diversity of style or genre.

We look forward to reviewing your application!

*** Didn’t find the answer you were looking for OR need help filling out the application? ***

Contact the Harvard Ed Portal: at 617-496-5022 or edportal@harvard.edu. Staff is available if you speak Portuguese, English and/or Spanish. Mandarin may also be available.

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.

Application deadline: March 27, 2025 at midnight 

ANY APPLICATIONS RECEIVED AFTER THE DEADLINE WILL BE MOVED TO A BACKUP LIST AND CONSIDERED ONLY IF SPACE ALLOWS. 

The Harvard Ed Portal is seeking local artists for Crossings Gallery exhibitions with optional community program (Sept. 2025-2026) at 224 Western Ave in Allston, MA. 

Applicants are encouraged to propose exhibitions that engage, inspire, and educate the Allston-Brighton community — including people of diverse backgrounds. Submissions from creatives of all experience levels are encouraged as well as solo artists or collaborations but our primary mission is to provide artists with their first professional gallery show, artist support and professional development. Preference will be given to artists living, studying and/or working in Allston-Brighton. We are also focused on the rest of Boston and Cambridge.  BIPOC & LBGTQIA+ creatives are strongly encouraged to submit. Accommodations can be provided for artists with disabilities. 

If selected, the artist will work collaboratively with the Ed Portal arts programming team to develop their exhibition scope, project feasibility and timeline. 

Artists receive a standard exhibitor fee along with payment for their community program (if any). Fees typically range between $750–$2,000 depending on the number of people involved and project scope. The Ed Portal also provides marketing, a professional installer and gallery mentor, hosts a reception and covers participant expenses for optional community programs (ie workshop materials).

ONLINE SUBMISSION PERIOD: February 24 – March 27, 2025  

RESPONSES FROM ED PORTAL BY: Mid-May

DATES: Exhibitions will take place between Sept. 2025-Sept. 2026

LOCATION: Harvard Ed Portal's Crossings Gallery, 224 Western Ave, Allston, MA 02134
 

SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS: 

• Contact and Demographic Information 
• Brief idea proposal  
• A minimum of 3 images and/or videos 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 topics; potential engagement & impact for diverse community audience; overall aesthetic of artwork or proposed artwork; and detail of application/proposal.
 

*** NEED HELP? HAVE QUESTIONS? *** Please contact the Harvard Ed Portal: at 617-496-5022 or edportal@harvard.edu. Staff is available if you speak Portuguese, English, and/or Spanish. Mandarin may also be available.

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. 

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 supports, please look for the checkbox on the application and we’ll work with you to provide reasonable accommodations.

FAQ 

1. What type of art are you looking to exhibit in the gallery? 

This year, we welcome all mediums, especially fiber, jewelry, metalsmithing, glass, video media, drawing or paintings. Themes of interest include but are not limited to: works that sparks dialogue about contemporary issues.  

Preference for submissions that include an interactive component or program that prompts visitors to dive deeper into artistic themes, such as an artist talk, art-making activity or asynchronous engagement. 

Priority given to emerging artists, artists of all experience levels who have never shown work in a gallery, and/or artists looking to expand on their visual artwork by co-producing a community engagement program.  

2. Is it ok not to pitch a community program with my proposal?

Yes! A community program is optional, although we do prefer to offer a way for community members to engage deeper with the content or the artist. This is also something we can help brainstorm at a later date. We are ready to assist/mentor/support selected artists/presenters to co-develop a fun and interesting program in connection with an exhibition proposal.     

3. Who is responsible for framing/preparing/transporting my work (if applicable)?

Artists prepare their work for exhibition, including any costs of framing or transporting the work. Once work arrives at the Ed Portal, we are responsible for providing a professional installer, gallery mentor and interpretive materials. If you'd like any recommendations about best ways to present your work or ideas for budgets of all sizes, feel free to reach out. 

4. How can I get help filling out this form? 

Please contact the Harvard Ed Portal: at 617-496-5022 or edportal@harvard.edu. Staff is available if you speak Portuguese, English, and/or Spanish. Mandarin may also be available.