The Fenway Alliance, founded in 1977, is a consortium of academic, cultural, and arts organizations working collaboratively to enhance the cultural, environmental, and economic vitality of the Fenway area.

An impressive roster of member organizations is committed to excellence in planning and development, and to creating a contemporary vision which will unlock the huge potential of this area. Of parallel importance is the advancement of the Arts - both visual and performing - within our region. Effective advocacy and implementation are the keys to a successful vision, and the Alliance boasts a strong track record of accomplishments. Speaking with one voice, the Alliance works closely with area business leaders, government officials and community groups to further its initiatives and fulfill its mission.

And what a mission it is! The establishment and promotion of The Fenway Cultural District is a cornerstone goal of the Alliance membership. Furthering the Arts through various medium, education and programmatic opportunities is central to the Alliance mission. This began in earnest on January 4, 1998 when Boston's Mayor Thomas Menino named Huntington Avenue the "Avenue of the Arts." This new moniker and its dedication ceremony were co-sponsored by the Fenway Alliance and Boston's Cultural Affairs Office. The Alliance is the City's designated organization to develop the Avenue, unearth the rich cultural and artistic resources contained therein and promote the Arts in cooperation with other City and regional groups.

To understand the importance of the Fenway Alliance is to understand the profiles of its member institutions and investment partners as found within the pages of this web site. The Fenway Cultural District is home to several world-renowned academic, cultural and religious institutions, which play a crucial role in the vitality and civic life in Boston. Independently, each of the member institutions faces pressing operational, financial and programmatic challenges. Rising to this challenge, the Alliance seeks to identify areas of common interest and target those programs or issues whereby shared effort will benefit the greater good.

Fenway Alliance Member Institutions:

Berklee College of Music
Boston Arts Academy
The Boston Conservatory
Boston Symphony Orchestra
Emmanuel College
The First Church of Christ, Scientist
The Forsyth Institute
Harvard School of Public Health
Huntington Theatre Company
Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum
Mary Baker Eddy Library for the Betterment of Humanity
Massachusetts College of Art
Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences
Museum of Fine Arts
National Braille Press
New England Conservatory
Northeastern University
School of the Museum of Fine Arts
Simmons College
Wentworth Institute of Technology
Wheelock College
YMCA of Greater Boston



The Alliance works in two parallel environments to advance the vitality of the Fenway Cultural District. One is working with Boston's cultural community to make the Cultural District a vital reality. Number two, is close alignment with Boston's planning and governmental community to design and reconstruct infrastructure projects within the physical boundaries of the Cultural District.

We believe the combination of programmatic educational and cultural initiatives coupled with a strong focus on the physical environment provides a reasoned holistic approach to accomplish our organizational mission.

The Alliance's key Arts initiative are:

  • Promote "The Fenway Cultural District" in Boston
  • Promote the Avenue of the Arts
  • Foster collaboration within the arts community in The Fenway Cultural District and throughout the city and state
  • Establish philanthropic funding for public art and arts programming in the District
  • Advocacy and Coordination for the following public infrastructure major projects:
    1. Reconstruction fof the Huntington Ave/Avenue of the Arts
      $18 million- began in April 2001
    2. Reconstruction of Massachusetts Avenue
    3. Promote the Muddy River Restoration and improvement of the Back Bay Fens Park

Your enjoyment and usefulness of this site is of paramount importance to us. Please help us improve as we grow by providing feedback to us via the "contact us" section of this site.

We look forward to hearing from you and seeing you in the venues on the streets of The Fenway Cultural District!

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