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ARTS AND HUMANITIES PROGRAMS
The UU Urban Ministry’s Arts and Humanities programming celebrates the rich cultural heritage and vibrant creativity of Roxbury and Greater Boston. With collaborations with local artists and supporting congregations, we tell the stories and unknown history of Roxbury. Through community-centered performances, exhibits, workshops, and events, we provide spaces for artistic expression, learning, and conversation. Rooted in our commitment to racial and social justice, our programming amplifies voices and fosters connection and transformation through the arts.
To learn more about our programming, please contact Dayenne Walters, dwalters@uuum.org.
An Update from our Arts Liaison, Dayenne Walters
2025 has brought its turmoil but also joys. This summer’s tour schedule was upgraded with two additional new public art tours. The most popular tour was The Roxbury Ramble, a 3-hour walking tour of public art, architecture, and history in the Fort Hill and Sugar Hill areas of Roxbury. This tour includes a visit to the National Center for Afro-American Artists, and a historic overview of some significant manufacturing, medical and educational facilities in
Roxbury. Scheduled tours will start up again next summer.
During summer 2025, the Peace Garden Activation brought several community events to the newly replanted Peace Garden (near the Putnam Street entrance) from June-September 2025. Participants enjoyed writing, somatic awareness and self-care, and music workshops. The most successful program under this summer was the Transformative Rhythms drumming workshop that brought youths from the Roxbury Youth Program (RYP) and seniors from the Dynamic Seniors group together, and has sparked an interest on both sides to continue making
music together.
The 2026 holiday arts catalogue, RICH Roxbury: A Catalogue of Remarkable Innovators and Creative Humans will be out soon, and it’s not too late to be included. This year we are expanding from visual artists and craftspeople to include the performing arts and arts and arts-related organizations in the Greater Roxbury area. In other words, if your work impacts Roxbury, you need to be listed here.
Interested in being listed in the 2026 Catalogue?
If you’re a visual, performing, or crafts creative and interested in being listed, click here to sign
up.
If you are affiliated with an arts or arts-related organization, click here to be listed.
Changing Hearts, Changing Minds
The Urban Ministry and First Parish in Lexington have collaborated put on an art exhibit featuring the work of local Greater Boston artists. The exhibit features the work of four distinguished visual artists from Greater Boston's African and Black artistic and cultural communities: Jaypix Belmer, Photography; L'Merchie Frazier, Textiles; Khalid Kodi, Mixed Media and Hakim Raquib, Digital Media.
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Below, you will find different Artists that we wanted to shine a light on. in our Artist Spotlight Series, and also in the Artists of Color. You can find the link to the PDF catalog below to find more local Roxbury Artists to purchase from.
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Keep an eye out on our Events calendar, that will give you more details towards more events that you can participate in.
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We are grateful to support from the Polly Thayer Starr Charitable Trust for enabling us to live into this mission. Take a peek below, check back to see more artists highlighted, share with a friend, and write to us at engagement@uuum.org to tell us what you think.