Boston Artists Invite Everyone to Celebrate Joy and Liberation in Downtown Boston for Juneteenth 

(Boston, MA)  ALL Our Relations: A Family Reunion Celebrating Juneteenth is an invitation for Boston to come together at The Steps at Downtown Crossing – to play, connect, dance and BE together in public again.  Hosted by the Design Studio for Social Intervention (DS4SI), in collaboration with New England Foundation for the Arts (NEFA) and Downtown Boston BID, ALL Our Relations is curated by a multi-racial team of local artists with the intentions of centering joy and creative expressions of Black, Indigenous People of Color (BIPOC) in the heart of Downtown Boston. 

“This event will honor and celebrate the inherent liberation of our past, present and future selves, our inner children and our ancestors,” says Dorchester artist and co-curator Letta Neely. “…Juneteenth is a turning point away from bondage for the lineage of Black folks and is meant to be celebrated in a joyous and spectacular way. All Our Relations is a public afro-futuristic practice of making something new from our collective expressions of freedom.” 

• WHAT: ALL Our Relations: A Family Reunion Celebrating Juneteenth  
• WHEN: June 17, 2022; 5:00-9:30pm 
• WHERE: The Steps at Downtown Crossing 
• Free and open to the public

Curated by a team of local artists (Dzidzor Azaglo, Crystal Bi Wegner, Letta Neely, Sheila Novak and Jenny Oliver), All Our Relations features Boston area artists welcoming the whole family to play summer games together, have a family portrait taken by Stefanie Belvanis of the Diahann Project, dance with DJ Jo Saint-Surin and a Trike Called Funk, and enjoy performances by Vogue X, and Boston Latin Academy Step and Stroll Team. MC’d by Ashton Lites. 

"Centering diverse cultural and artistic expressions of BIPOC creatives in public spaces is essential for helping us all to imagine more equitable and vibrant public spaces,” says Kim Szeto, NEFA program director of public art.  “In this moment in Boston, this event is helping us to experience new possibilities.”  

All Our Relations is part of DS4SI’s inPUBLIC 2022 Summer Series, which aims to activate public spaces in Boston with opportunities for belonging, play, connection, rest, interaction, laughter, dialogue, learning and surprise. “The BID is all about ‘clean, safe and welcoming’ and our partnership with DS4SI is a key part of how we ensure that Downtown continues to be welcoming to everyone,” said Anita Lauricella, Senior Planner at the Downtown Boston BID.

About the Organizers

Design Studio for Social Intervention (DS4SI)

Based in Upham’s Corner in Boston, DS4SI is dedicated to changing how social justice is imagined, developed and deployed here in the United States. DS4SI is a creativity lab for social justice work in the public sphere, where activists, artists, academics and the larger public come together to imagine new approaches to social change and new angles to address complex social issues.  

New England Foundation for the Arts (NEFA) 

The New England Foundation for the Arts invests in artists and communities and fosters equitable access to the arts, enriching the cultural landscape in New England and the nation. NEFA accomplishes this by granting funds to artists and cultural organizations; connecting them to networks and knowledge-building opportunities; and analyzing their economic contributions. NEFA serves as a regional partner for the National Endowment for the Arts, New England’s state arts agencies, and private foundations. Learn more at www.nefa.org 

Public Art at the New England Foundation for the Arts 

Through grantmaking and field-building opportunities, NEFA’s public art program invests in artists and the creative process, cultivates artists as civic leaders, and strengthens a community of practice. NEFA’s public art program is made possible by funding from the Barr Foundation and the Fund for the Arts, an endowed fund at NEFA. 

Downtown Boston BID

The Downtown Boston Business Improvement District (BID) is a private, non-profit corporation created and maintained by property owners in Downtown Boston who are committed to improving the experience of all who live, work, visit, go to school or shop in Downtown Boston.  

Contact

Joëlle Fontaine 
Art and Creative Placemaking Lead, DS4SI  
joelleds4si@gmail.com 

inPUBLIC | ALL Our Relations: A Family Reunion Celebrating Juneteenth is part of the inPUBLIC 2022 Summer Series, a series of events from May - August 2022 that creates and nurtures atmospheres, provides the tools and inspiration, which allows ALL of us to play, connect, dance and BE our full selves in public space. 

Visit DS4SI.org for a full listing of the inPUBLIC 2022 Summer Series events.