PROFILE

The Urban Culture Institute, an award-winning initiative, works with diverse communities to transform civic spaces into meaningful, dynamic places. Our mission is to support community building through the facilitation of public art, placemaking, cultural and educational initiatives. We are committed to delivering excellence and to developing winning strategies for public places. A culturally engaged society, public health and a commitment to fostering our urban environment as well as our natural resources are central to our work. 

Our interdisciplinary practice, research, writing and educational projects are focused on the synthesis of the built environment, diverse cultures and community building through a holistic approach. We serve our partners by conducting assessments, facilitating community conversations, preparing proposals and providing comprehensive writing services to help find solutions for complex challenges. We bring leadership, experience and compassion to the table, working with people of all ages, backgrounds and abilities, the public and private sector, diverse communities, design teams and creative professionals.

The high quality of our work has garnered the Urban Culture Institute such clients as the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority, the Cities of Boston, Worcester, and Berlin, Germany, and the Boston Children’s Hospital, a Harvard University institution.

The Urban Culture Institute offers:
  • Services in the areas of concept development, cultural assessments, proposal writing, competition management, fundraising, curatorial work, cultural planning, civic engagement, mentoring...
  • Planning and implementation of permanent and temporary design-build projects, placemaking or art in public places, specializing in complex sites with multiple locations 
  • A long-standing track record of storytelling and writing
  • An understanding of the role of cultural and natural assets in the built environment as well as within a global context
  • Architecture, design and planning community partnerships
  • Development of realistic and feasible projects
  • A commitment to teaching and learning in the community as well as at the academic level

​The Urban Culture Institute is DBE/WBE certified and eligible to meet women and minority business participation goals on federal and state-funded contracts issued by the State of Massachusetts.

Recent Awards