Q&A with Charlotte Wagner, Founder & President of Wagner Foundation, on the Boston art scene, why she established an arts fellowship, and how art can inspire social change

Q: Can you talk a bit about what the arts landscape is like in Boston today?
A: Boston is having a moment. There is a real engaged arts community here, comprised of artists at all stages of their careers. Emerging artists that choose Boston for school or come from deeply rooted communities here are deciding to stay put. And more established artists coming here for academic or career opportunities find a welcoming community and dynamic conversations between curators and artists. We also see institutions increasing access to the arts, offering more inclusive programming, and welcoming diverse audiences of all ages and backgrounds. We see a healthy arts ecosystem where the individuals and institutions are interacting with one another and understanding just how much they need each other. It’s a very energetic, supportive and positive scene.

Q: How has the art scene in Boston changed? Are there old stereotypes or long held beliefs that are no longer true?
A: Boston is very different than it was 20 years ago. Continued strength of the tech and financial sectors has made affordability a real challenge, particularly for anyone on a fixed or limited income. Young people looking to establish themselves face real tradeoffs when figuring out how to make ends meet. But the challenges that come with our booming economy also present opportunities: new talent and ideas, an influx of people from all over the world, and a desire for cultural vibrancy and enriching experiences. There is a thriving community of artists here finding ways to remain in Boston and support one another. I don’t think it’s true anymore that Boston is not a place for artists to establish themselves and build a life, I think that has changed.

Q: Why did you decide to support an annual arts fellowship?
A: We believe that for a community to be truly healthy, it needs a sustained and resilient arts community that provides growth opportunities for artists who’ve chosen to stay and build their careers. The Wagner Arts Fellowship recognizes the hometown heroes who strengthen Boston’s engaged arts community and give artists a boost towards reaching the national platform they deserve.

Q: How do the arts and artists have the power to inspire social change and address important societal issues?
A: Art helps us see, allowing us to reflect on our own experiences and better understand what’s going on with others around us. Let’s say an artist’s work is exploring a human struggle like the immigrant experience, or being Black in America, or how climate and big industry is affecting the well-being in their home communities … the viewer is for a moment considering a perspective that might be different than their own. This challenges us to really see others and consider what someone else might be going through. I believe that reflection can be a catalyst for dialogue and for change. Sometimes visual art can express emotions and experiences we can’t put into language and can spark conversations that we as a society need to have. And ultimately, art also provides a communal experience, beauty, and awe – three things we can all use more of.

Q: Wagner Arts Fellows receive support that goes beyond financial. What was your thinking behind including tailored artist support services as part of the Fellowship? And what are some specific services and supports that a Fellow might receive?
A: These are general operating grants, meaning artists can use the $75,000 grant for whatever they need – be it studio space, materials, monthly bills or whatever they decide. We were excited to partner with United States Artists to facilitate this grant because their model sets these artists up for long term success by providing additional funds in artist services adapted to their specific needs for things like financial planning, career consulting, or legal counsel. These are things you don’t always see, but that we all need to advance our careers.

Q: Was it a competitive process?
A: Yes. We asked a large group of artists, curators, and organizational leaders in Boston to nominate artists to apply. The nominated artists were then juried by local and national arts leaders, including ICA Boston’s Chief Curator Ruth Erickson, the Director of Transformative Art and Monuments for the City of Boston Karin Goodfellow, and nationally recognized artists Chloë Bass and Faheem Majeed. Our nominators and juries change every year so that different artists will have opportunities to be considered. We were faced with an incredible pool of talent, and it was a very tough decision. But our partner, United States Artists, is an incredible organization that runs a number of fellowship programs, and they build a very intentional process with us. There are so many artists here that will be competitive for this award, and we are excited to support them in the coming years.

Q: Why does the Fellowship focus specifically on supporting mid-career artists?
A: Mid-career is often the sweet spot when artists are doing their most ambitious work, and ready for a boost such as this to propel them toward greater institutional recognition and opportunities. We also know that mid-career artists are often embedded in their communities, serving as mentors and inspiring younger generations of artists to follow in their footsteps. We want to recognize that deep work of uplifting their fellow artists and making an art career more accessible for all.

Q: What are your hopes for the Wagner Arts Fellows?
A: We hope that offering artists this level of support at a pivotal moment in their careers provides them with the space and time to think about what’s next. We hope that when people from outside of Boston want to know what’s happening here, these artists are at the top of their list. We hope that more emerging artists consider staying in Boston, knowing that this opportunity awaits them, and that through this fellowship we celebrate Boston’s cultural life and the artists who decide to stay here.

Q: What are some unique initiatives, movements, and artwork coming out of the Boston arts community that excite you?
A: This spring and summer will see many instances of Boston in the national spotlight, including the Boston Public Art Triennial, the Arrival Art Fair, the ICA Boston’s Foster Prize, and the UnMonuments Initiative through the Mayor’s Office of Arts and Culture. And we’re really excited about several initiatives coming out of Boston Art Review, including publications on UnMonuments, the Triennial and Art Radar, their new map of Boston’s cultural spaces.

Q: What can we look forward to from the inaugural cohort of Wagner Arts Fellows?
A: I hope everyone will come and see our exhibition of their work at the MassArt Art Museum, GENERATIONS, which will be on view from May 22 through the fall semester. Other things on the horizon include Chinatown Worker Statues Project, Wen Ti Tsen’s public art project with the city of Boston, as well as L’Merchie Frazier’s Call and Response, Radiating Safety at Firestation 42 in Roxbury, and Daniela Rivera’s upcoming solo exhibition at Mass MoCA.