Boston joins World Cities Culture Forum
Boston, a leading city in the United States for arts, education, and civic innovation, is the latest to join our network of over 45 creative cities.
Boston has joined our global network of more than 45 creative cities.
It becomes the sixth U.S. city to join—alongside New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Chicago, and Austin—united in using culture to shape more inclusive, creative, and resilient cities. This milestone underscores Boston’s leadership in cultural equity, its commitment to expanding access to creative innovation, and its historic role as a hub of education and civic engagement.
As a city partner, Boston will contribute insights to our World Cities Culture Report 2025, the world’s most comprehensive dataset on culture in cities, and collaborate with other cities to develop cultural policies that improve life for all residents.
Mayor of Boston, Michelle Wu, said: “It is an honour to receive an invitation to join this unique partnership, alongside 45 peer cities in the World Culture Cities Forum. We look forward to sharing Boston’s rich history, diverse communities, and creative energy and learning how we can strengthen our city’s role as a global cultural leader. We are excited to share Boston’s successes and learn from partner cities around the world.”
Under the leadership of Mayor Michelle Wu, the City has transformed the way arts and culture are supported in Boston—creating access for a new generation, preserving and expanding cultural space, and reinventing the public art landscape of a city known more for its Revolutionary-era monuments.
With initiatives like Boston Family Days, the Mayor Wu and the City have opened the doors to Boston’s world-class cultural institutions to more than 60,000 Boston youth and their families. In Brighton, the City secured 290 North Beacon Street to create 40,000 sq ft of affordable music rehearsal/recording studio alongside affordable public housing. And with the launch of Un-monument—the largest-ever investment in public arts programming in the city’s history— and the first Boston Public Art Triennial, Boston is making its mark as a global leader in public art.
Joseph Henry, Director of Cultural Planning, Mayor’s Office of Arts and Culture (MOAC), said: “Our vision is for Boston to be a space of cultural production, education and civic innovation, and access to the Forum will strengthen our ability to collaborate, exchange ideas, and learn from our peers from around the world. Boston is home to world-class talent, and we are excited to elevate them on the global stage.”
Justine Simons OBE, Deputy Mayor of London for Culture and the Creative Industries and Chair of World Cities Culture Forum, said: “I’m delighted to welcome Boston to our global network of creative cities and civic leaders. Culture is an essential ingredient in the success of cities, bringing together communities and supporting fairness, inclusion and prosperity. Through the World Cities Culture Forum, we are using the power of culture to tackle the challenges of the 21st century.”
“Boston is a globally influential cultural city where arts, technology, and education drive innovation—home to world-class universities, vibrant public art and architecture, and pioneering civic institutions. We look forward to working closely with Boston to support its growth as a global capital for culture.”
