“Artists show us the way. Over and over they deliver works of imagination, beauty, and courage that inspire us to keep striving, keep an open heart, keep an open mind, keep hope alive.”

- DAVID C. HOWSE, Executive DIRECTOR

As Boston’s leading presenter of contemporary world theater, ArtsEmerson circles the globe to select creative works that challenge and inspire, dazzle and provoke. We believe in celebrating differences, reflecting the vital diversity of our city, and deepening our connection to each other.

OFFICE OF THE ARTS AT EMERSON COLLEGE

ArtsEmerson is Emerson College’s professional presenting and producing organization. As part of an institution that believes in fostering creativity, passion, excellence, and inclusivity, we are using art to bring the world to Boston, and to bring Boston together.

Founded With a Purpose

ArtsEmerson’s mission is to engage all communities through stories that reveal and deepen our connection to each other. By cultivating diversity in the art and in the audience, we ignite public conversation around our most vexing societal challenges as a catalyst for overcoming them.

Core Values

These principles guide us as we make decisions about how to use resources, develop programs, plan seasons, and interact with audiences, artists, and one another:

Invest in building strong relationships

Our work together is massively interdependent. Through meaningful, equitable, and reciprocal relationships we can break down barriers and strengthen the collective social fabric.

Celebrate diversity in all its forms

Embracing a vibrant mix of ideas, cultures, and people is integral to everything we do. As people connect—through art, conversation, and relationships—humanity and possibility expand.

Be effective and efficient stewards of resources

We’re fortunate to have incredible facilities, expertise, and the support of Emerson College. It’s our job to deploy resources wisely on behalf of the College, students, artists, and audiences.

Model respect, integrity, civility and transparency

To achieve our goals, we need to walk the walk in all our interactions: with each other and our artists, audiences, students, and neighbors.

Balance our social conscience and dedication to artistic excellence

We believe exceptional art has special superpowers that enable it to use beauty and courage to fight for justice, inspire without preaching, and open hearts and minds.

Land Acknowledgement

At Emerson College’s Office of the Arts, we hold ourselves accountable to the work of undoing oppression and advancing equity to overcome our city’s bitter history of segregation and racial inequality. As part of this work, we must start by acknowledging that we are residing on the ancestral and unceded lands of the Massachusett people, whose name was appropriated by this Commonwealth.

We pay respect to the Massachusett elders past, present and future, the traditional custodians of the lands on which we make and present our art. We acknowledge the truth of violence perpetrated in the name of this country and make a commitment to uncovering that truth through dialogue, partnerships and learning.

Our Story

Find Out the Latest

Conversations about plays, interviews with artists and directors, photos and video, special offer alerts, invitations to share your opinion—find all this and more on our social media channels.