ArtBeat is the city’s largest cultural festival, with over a dozen bands, dance troupes, 75 craft vendors, food, and all-age activities. This year we’ll have a giant baby virus installation, Cliff Notez (voted best new artist of 2018 at the Boston Music awards), and a poetry banquet, to name just a few highlights! A free event with suggested donation of $3–get a theme based dogtag from one of our tables or from the volunteers roaming the festival.  Truly, it’s a collector’s item!!  This small gesture is a direct way to support the festival.

About this year’s theme.  

Are you consumed by feelings of joy, creativity — or guilt or anxiety? Do you associate the word “consumed” with synonyms like “absorbed” and “engrossed” or “depleted” and “dissipated?” We are interested in all your interpretations of this theme yet are particularly interested in exploring how our consuming habits affect the planet. In fact, the Arts Council (SAC) is teaming up with the City’s Office of Sustainability and Environment (OSE) for this festival, to investigate how artists and climate activists can collaborate in ways that affect positive change. Can we consume less? Can we consume in ways that are smarter? We’ll have a slew of “consumed” installations and activities including a giant clothing swap and a Consumed Data Lab.

It’s B.Y.O.W.B event; that means bring your own water bottle, and fill up at the Quench Buggy!