Public Arts Initiatives
Current Opportunities
WaterTunes
Tell us about music that is special to you—your favorite song, a song that evokes a memory, or a piece of music with meaning for you. We're collecting songs in 2025 and through Summer 2026. They will be included in a "Watertown Playlist" for everyone to share. We'll play a selection of songs at the finale of the 2026 Summer Concert Series!
Summer Concert Series
The annual Summer Concert Series runs on Wednesdays following the Watertown Farmers Market from 6:30-8pm throughout July and August. The application is always open. Interested performers should fill out the Summer Concert Series Performer Application.
Edible Watertown
New call for food service providers to participate in the next iteration of "Edible Plants" will open in July. The next call for artists will be in November. The Watertown Public Arts & Culture Committee launched Edible Watertown in 2022, a multi-year interdisciplinary project that promotes awareness of our local environment through community engagement and the artistic and scientific exploration of plants around Watertown. Edible Watertown aims to uplift the importance of local flora and their ecosystems to connect people with the environment right outside their door. The community connections created by this local movement, in response to the global issue of climate change, will encourage us all to be better stewards of the environment and increase recognition of the known natural gifts in our community.
Community Sculpture Walk
Sculptures are selected annually through an open call in August and on view for two years. The Community Sculpture Walk exhibits public sculptures in Watertown to encourage public interaction with contemporary art and create an annual exhibition opportunity for artists at all stages of career working in a variety of mediums. The Community Sculpture Walk follows the Community Path, from the library parking lot at Saltonstall Park to the Howard Street extension.
River of Light
River of Light is a January celebration preceded by a series of lantern-making workshops in the fall. Presented by the Public Arts & Culture Committee in partnership with the Watertown Cultural Council and Mosesian Center for the Arts, the workshops and wintertime parade build community and bring light. Workshop opportunities will be announced in September.
Watertown Arts Market (external link)
The Watertown Arts Market occurs each August, hosted by the Watertown Business Coalition in partnership with the City of Watertown, showcases Watertown’s working artists, cultural organizations, and the wide variety of unique products they produce. Visitors also enjoy live performances, arts activities, and local food. Applications for vendors open in March.
Watertown Porchfest (external link)
Porchfest occurs the third Saturday of May. In 2026, Porchfest featured over 200 bands at over 85 locations throughout the city. Registration for performers and porches open in March.
Past Opportunities
Open for Business (PDF)
Two artists or artist teams were selected to create 2-year installations in Coolidge Square to drive foot traffic during the Mount Auburn Street Reconstruction. This project supports the vibrancy of the neighborhood and local businesses during the ongoing reconstruction of Mount Auburn Street. See the press release for the Opening Reception on May 27, 2026.
A Pleasant Landscape (PDF)
Six artists were awarded $400 for their designs which were printed on 6x12 ft banners to screen the old Sterritt Lumber site at 138 Waltham Street. The theme of “A Pleasant Landscape” refers to the nearby natural beauty of the parks and landscapes along the Pleasant Street corridor and Charles River. See the banners and learn more about the artists online.
Call for Bike Rack Design and Fabrication
Artists, designers, or teams were invited to design up to four bike racks which are located at parks throughout Watertown. Read the full call (PDF).
100 Years of Arshile Gorky
The Watertown Public Arts and Culture Committee collaborated with the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation to commission a mural along the Watertown-Cambridge Greenway which commemorates the life and work of Arshile Gorky. The mural is part of a larger project to memorialize Gorky, led jointly by resident Jack Dargon and the Public Arts and Culture Committee with support from The Armenian Museum of America, Mosesian Center for the Arts, the Historical Society of Watertown, the Arshile Gorky Foundation, Mount Auburn Cemetery, the Watertown Community Foundation, the Watertown Cultural Council, and private funders.
YardArt Watertown (external link)
YardArt was a community-wide celebration of creativity and fun in front yards, porches and windows all over Watertown. Developed as response to the isolation experienced during the Covid-19 pandemic, YardArt encouraged neighbors to get outside and be creative. YardArt ran from 2021 through 2025, engaging some 150 sites and thousands of visitors. YardArt was featured in metropolitan area press and inspired similar events around the country.
Artist Workspace Survey (PDF)
The Community Development & Planning Office collected feedback from individual artists who live or work in Watertown to understand their workspace needs. Artists working across all genres and mediums were invited to give their input. Additionally, artists who are interested in commuting to Watertown were invited to contribute. The feedback was anonymous, unless artists were contacted for a follow-up interview. The survey report provides recommendations to developers, nonprofits, and the city for the development of future workspace.
Watertown Public Arts and Culture Kit (PDF)
The Watertown Public Arts and Culture Kit (WPACK) was created by the ad hoc Watertown Public Arts & Culture Committee, preceding the municipal committee, in 2018 and is still a guide for developers and the city for public art creation. Physical copies are available from the Planning Office.