Boise City Department of Arts & History

Let’s kick off this beautiful month of June by shining a spotlight on our amazing Recipients! 🍓

Tree City Chamber Players present Musical Tales
June 3, 5, & 7
📍Boise Public Library locations

“Musical Tales” is a 45-minute event featuring storytelling interjected with classical music by Debussy, Ravel, Bizet, and more. Children's books featured: "Ocean Lullaby" (El Arrullo del Océano) recited in English and Spanish, by Laura McGee Kvasnosky and Kate Harvey McGee, and "Wild Symphony" by Dan Brown, illustrated by Susan Batori. Free admission.

The Ecogeoglyphic Observatory presents RIPARIA
Sat., June 7 (on view through Aug. 2)
📍MING Studios (420 S 6th St.)

Celebrate the opening of the Ecogeoglyphic Observatory's 4th group exhibition, RIPARIA. Experience Boise’s flood plain, wetlands, streams, and river through an installation-based show featuring found and repurposed objects. Free admission.

Starbelly School of Dance presents “Boise Raks”
Sat., June 14
📍Library! at Hillcrest (5246 W Overland Rd.)

Experience the vibrant rhythms and rich traditions of Egyptian dance at Boise Raks! This celebration of movement and culture invites the community to immerse themselves, free of charge, in the artistry of Middle Eastern dance.

Boise Community Band
Wed., June 18
📍Julia Davis Park Gene Harris Bandshell (700 S Capitol Blvd.)

The Boise Community Band performs free family-friendly music at Julia Davis Park in the shade by the Gene Harris Bandshell. Bring your own chairs or blankets.

Story Story Night 15th Anniversary Special
Fri., June 23
📍Shrine Social Club (715 S Capitol Blvd.)

As part of their 15th Anniversary season, Story Story Night revisits their previous venue El Korah (2014-2016) with original host, Jessica Holmes, and stories on the theme, MY OWN PRiVATE iDAHO: Stories of Wild States. With DJ Wendy Fox. Admission fee, with PWYC sales starting on June 16.

More at boiseartsandhistory.org/Events

As Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Heritage Month comes to a close, we zoom in on and honor the rich contributions of Boise’s Chinese community to our city’s history. Boise has always been home to a vibrant Chinese community since the city’s founding in 1863.

Originally drawn by the 1860s gold rush, many Chinese immigrants made Boise their permanent home—opening businesses, building neighborhoods, and shaping the city’s culture for over 150 years. At one time, Boise had not one, but two Chinatowns, filled with grocery stores, restaurants, pharmacies, and more. The city even hosted one of the largest Lunar New Year celebrations in the Northwest!

Generations of Chinese Americans continue to shape Boise’s identity, and their contributions remain a vital part of our shared heritage. Our collection of oral histories, like the one with Katheryn and Edmond Fong, help reflect this important legacy. Listen to these stories by visiting the Boise City Archives Oral History Collection: https://collections.boiseartsandhistory.org/explore-collections/list/collections/19

▶️Katheryn and Edmond Fong's Oral History: https://collections.boiseartsandhistory.org/Documents/Detail/katheryn-edmond-fong-interview/6672

Discover more by visiting the Boise City Archives Digital Collection: collections.boiseartsandhistory.org

INTRODUCING... “One Man’s Trash” (2025), Boise’s newest Art Port, by Grace Ott!

Located on Grove Street between 10th & 11th streets, this temporary, two-year public artwork is made of repurposed steel, found metal objects, aluminum, and a touch of spray paint. Of this work, Boise artist Grace Ott, currently enrolled and working towards a bachelor’s of Fine Arts at Boise State University, says:

“One man’s trash is another bird’s home. This work serves as an introspective on the birds that adapt to our landfills and how their ecosystem has consequently evolved.”

Responding to the statistic from the City of Boise’s Climate Action Roadmap describing the average amount of waste from each Boise household per month, Ott’s work features a Cooper’s hawk on its nest atop a 138-pound pile of trash.

Boise’s Art Ports consist of plinths with universal mounting plates allowing for a temporary and continual rotation of sculptures for public display. Made possible through a partnership between the city’s Arts & History and Public Works departments, along with Capital City Development Corporation (CCDC), this program is part of CCDC’s Rebuild Linen Blocks on Grove Street project. These community-driven infrastructure and placemaking improvements support economic vitality and a stronger, more connected neighborhood.

Our sincere thanks to Boise State Sculpture Associate Professor of Sculpture Lily Lee, Guho Corp, Okland Construction, and Pennbridge Hospitality for their assistance and support.

The area surrounding the art port is currently under construction. Please use caution around the site.

Photography by Wytske van Keulen.

May is here, and so are the vibrant events from this month’s Recipients!

The Boise Bard Players present "The Servant of Two Masters"
Thu. – Sun., May 1-4
Trailhead Boise (500 S 8th St.)

Simultaneously set in Boise in 2025 and Venice in 1750, this Commedia Dell'arte masterpiece by Carlo Goldoni directed by Chris Canfield delights audiences with universal stock characters and slapstick comedy. Admission is $20.

Thirdspace Quartet presents “State of the Art”
Fri., May 2 & Sun. May 4
MING Studios (420 S 6th St.)

Thirdspace Quartet’s State of the Art (SOTA) series presents innovative chamber music from living composers, including brand-new work by Boise State student composer Jesse Salinas, among others. Admission is $25. Students and seniors are $10.

Pendulum Early Music presents “Exploring the Galant: Vivaldi to Boccherini”
Sat., May 3
St. Michael's Cathedral (518 N 8th St.)

Pendulum Early Music performs historically informed performance of music from the 16th-18th centuries from Vivaldi to Boccherini. Free admission.

Boise Philharmonic presents Chamber Music (ft. Ballet Idaho)
Sat., May 24
JUMP (1000 W Myrtle St.)

The Boise Philharmonic season ends with family-friendly chamber music accompanied by dancers from Ballet Idaho. Purchase tickets to see the action up close or watch for free on JUMP's massive outdoor screen!

Tree City Chamber Players present “Musical Tales”
Sat., May 31
Downtown Library (715 S Capitol Blvd.)

“Musical Tales” is a 45-minute event featuring storytelling interjected with classical music by Debussy, Ravel, Bizet, and more.

Common Ground Community Chorus presents “A Look to The Future”
Sat., May 31
First Presbyterian Church (850 W State St.)

Come hear a selection of choral music featuring a new, never-performed piece, and celebrate Common Ground’s 25th anniversary with cake and coffee following the concert! Admission is $10.

More at boiseartsandhistory.org/Events

✨Funding Opportunity! ✨ Apply for the annual Arts & History Grant program from May 1 to June 16, 2025. Grants up to $5,000 are available for cultural projects taking place between October 1, 2025 and September 30, 2026 within Boise City Limits. Join our info sessions (In-person/Virtual) to learn more!

📍 Zoom: Monday, May 5, 11 a.m. - 1 p.m.
📍 Idaho Film Society: Tuesday, May 13, 12-1 p.m.
📍 Library! at Cole & Ustick: Wednesday, May 14, 6-7 p.m.

Apply now 👉 boiseartsandhistory.org/Grants

And even more from our Grant program! A second grant opportunity will open in January 2026 (dates TBA) funding cultural projects to support the City of Boise’s commemoration and celebration of America’s 250th anniversary between April and July 2026. Stay tuned for details and apply for both! 🎉

Image: "The Goddessey", a production by FY24 Grant Recipient The Luminary, directed by Jen Stockwell-Fortner. Pictured (L-R): Katie Preston, Jenny Sternling, and Jz Marrero. Photography by Joel Hroma.

Exciting news, Boise! 🗺️💫 Our CITY STEPS guided tours of Boise’s rich history and vibrant public art are BACK this spring!

Sign up for 90-minute tours every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday in May and June and choose from the following topics:

🟡 Public Art Downtown Tour

🔵 Building Blocks of Boise History Tour

🟣 Public Art Cultural District Tour

🟢 Tracing Boise’s Eco-History Tour

Each tour covers 1.5 miles. Space is limited to 15 participants per tour. Ticket cost is $10 for residents and $15 for non-residents.

Learn more and register at BoiseArtsandHistory.org/Explore/Guided-Tours.

Historic photograph: Corki Walking in Front of Ada Theater, Cordelia and William Onweiler Papers, MS031, Boise City Archives

“Voyaging: in defense of slow travel” (2025) by Boise artists Annika Kalac and Will Miller envisions a future in which the Boise Depot is a central hub for travel in and out of Boise, and is surrounded by high-speed railways, buses, streetcars, bicycles and airships.

Of this projection art, Kalak and Miller say: “We yearn for wonderous transportation systems where air travel feels like sailing, bullet trains speed across the country, streetcars retake our city streets, and we have abandoned the headaches of intercity driving.”

Experience a different animation and theme at approximately 8:30 p.m. (dusk) until 10 p.m. each night of the Boise Depot Centennial celebration (April 13-16).

Learn more at CityOfBoise.org/Boise-Depot-Centennial

Photography by Daniel Olson

Join us in welcoming the April-September 2025 Boise City Writer-in-Residence, Alan Heathcock!

Alan Heathcock is the author of VOLT (Graywolf Press) and 40 (MCD x FSG). He is the recipient of the Whiting Award, National Magazine Award, and has won fellowships from the National Endowment for the Arts, Bread Loaf Writers’ Conference, Sewanee Writers’ Conference, the Lannan Foundation, and Idaho Commission on the Arts. He holds a Master of Fine Arts degree in creative writing from Bowling Green State University and Boise State University. Based in Boise, Alan has presented and taught widely with various literary organizations across the United States and abroad.

Over the next six months, Alan will lead a series of free workshops titled "The Five Tenets of Literary Potency." He will share insights from his 30+ years of writing, editing, publishing, and teaching. Each session will explore one core principle he believes is essential to powerful storytelling.

We hope you’ll consider joining him at one of the following events:

📌Writing with Empathy: April 19, 10:30 a.m. – 12 p.m. at the Downtown Library

📌Writing with Authenticity: May 31, 10:30 a.m. – 12 p.m. at the Library! at Cole & Ustick

📌Writing with Urgency: June 21, 10:30 a.m. – 12 p.m. at the Library! at Hillcrest

📌Writing with Meaning: July 19, 10:30 a.m. – 12 p.m. at the Library! at Collister

📌Writing with Originality: August 16, 10:30 a.m. – 12 p.m. at the Library! at Bown Crossing

📌A Community Reading and Celebration of the Written Word: September 20, 10:30 a.m. – 12 p.m. at the Erma Hayman House

The Boise City Writer-in-Residence is a collaborative program between the Boise City Department of Arts & History, Boise Public Library, and The Cabin. Funded by the City of Boise, these six-month residencies offer local writers dedicated time and a one-time stipend to support their creative practice and connect them to the community through free monthly literary public programs and events. Alan Heathcock, alongside Susan Bruns, was selected as one of the Writers-in-Residence for 2024–2025.

April showers bring… a full calendar of events from our amazing recipients! ☔🌸

Starbelly School of Dance presents “Boise Raks”
Fri., April 11
📍 Dick Eardley Senior Center (690 Robbins Rd., Boise)

Starring the Starbelly Dancers, this special event brings the beauty and energy of Raks Sharqi and Egyptian folkloric dance to the heart of Boise. Join this FREE day of movement, music, and connection while immersing yourself in the vibrant rhythms and rich traditions of Middle Eastern dance. Registration encouraged.

Idaho Dance Theatre - IDT presents “Resonance”
Thu. – Sun., April 17-20
📍 Special Events Center at Boise State University (1800 W University Dr., Boise)

For its 36th season Spring recital, Idaho Dance Theatre presents "Resonance," a performance featuring an array of new choreographic works that will resonate with your body, mind, and soul, with special guests Gem State Ballet.

The Boise Bard Players present “The Servant of Two Masters”
Thu. – Sun., April 24-27 (additional dates in May!)
📍 Trailhead Boise (500 S 8th St., Boise)

Join The Boise Bard Players for a night of mistaken identities, secret romances, wild disguises, and fast-talking fools in Carlo Goldoni’s timeless satire, The Servant of Two Masters. A delightfully chaotic comedy that’s been leaving audiences in stitches for over 250 years—now with a Boise flair. Directed by Chris Canfield.

Story Story Night: BiSHOP
Tue., April 29
📍 JUMP Pioneer Room

Story Story Night’s 15th anniversary flagship season culminates on April 29 at JUMP with true stories inspired by the theme “BiSHOP” told live by the people who lived them. YOUR TURN? Be featured by sharing your story moves to [email protected].

More at boiseartsandhistory.org/Events

✨Calling all Idaho artists!✨

We invite you to submit qualifications for a vinyl mural opportunity at the Boise Airport. ✈️ Artists or artist teams will consider two locations: The first one is located on a banner on the east facade of a new Consolidated Rental Car facility (CONRAC); the second location includes four panels and is in a nearby walkway.

The installation of the mural will coincide with and support the Boise Airport’s 100th anniversary and the City of Boise’s commemoration and celebration of America’s 250th anniversary in 2026. Artists are invited to consider the following prompt:

While acknowledging the past years of history, what could the future of air transportation in Boise look like? How would you represent that in your artwork?

A community-based selection panel will first select three finalists who will be awarded a $500 stipend for their proposals. The panel will then select one final artist or artist team who will be awarded a $30,000 budget to design artwork for the two large-scale mural locations.

📝 Information Session: Tuesday, April 15, at 12:00 p.m. (MT) via ZOOM
⏰ Application Deadline: Tuesday, April 29, at 1 p.m. (MT)
📩 Apply at boiseartsandhistory.org/Opportunities/Calls-Opportunities.

CALL FOR APPLICATIONS: City of Boise Cultural Ambassador

Every odd-numbered year, Mayor McLean appoints a local organization and/or individual as Cultural Ambassador to exemplify the best of Boise’s vibrant and diverse cultural community and to represent our city to the world! The Cultural Ambassador is offered funding and support for a two-year term of service.

We are now accepting applications to serve as the 2026-2027 City of Boise Cultural Ambassador through April 30, 2025. Learn more and apply at boiseartsandhistory.org/CulturalAmbassador.

Thank you to our current Story Story Night for their incredible work in this role for the last year and half and counting. 👏🙌

CALL FOR NOMINATIONS: Mayor's Awards for Excellence in Arts & History

Presented every two years, the Mayor's Awards for Excellence in Arts & History celebrates people, organizations, and businesses that contribute to Boise's cultural and creative community. The award categories are:

✨Excellence in the Arts
✨Excellence in History
✨Excellence in Education
✨Support of the Cultural Sector
✨Emerging Individual or Organization
✨Lifetime Achievement

If you know of any Boise-based individuals, organizations, or businesses that have demonstrated distinguished service, creative accomplishment, and a record of work that enhances Boise's artistic, historic, and broader cultural life, consider nominating them for a Mayor's Awards!

Nominations are open through April 30, 2025. Learn more and nominate at boiseartsandhistory.org/MayorsAwards.