Programming
The Greater Roxbury Arts & Cultural Center is already making an impact ahead of our future home's completion. By engaging in artist residencies, forging innovative educational partnerships, and fostering inclusive community engagement, GRACC actively champions the arts, diversity, and inclusion. Our dedication extends beyond cultural enrichment, embedding social justice and economic development into the fabric of our initiatives. Committed to uplifting Boston's Black and Latinx communities, we're creating meaningful experiences today that reflect our future ambitions. Click here to fill out our form if you'd like to partner with us.
[Photo from GRACC-curated artist residencies at Harvard's 2023 Black Policy Conference. From left, artist Daniel Callahan, GRACC CEO Taneshia Nash Laird, and artist Eyevan in front of their work, as well as work by artists Mar and Merlo Philiossaint.]
Programming Services
Artist Residencies and Installations:
We are creating artist residencies that bridge the gap between the arts community and corporate or academic worlds. Our services include curating installations for corporations, conferences, and public forums that foster creative dialogue and showcase the diversity of artistic talent. These residencies are designed to inspire innovation, enhance cultural awareness, and facilitate meaningful collaborations between artists and diverse sectors.
Partnerships for Creative Community Engagement:
We are committed to forming strategic partnerships with educational and community organizations to promote creative engagement and expand access to arts and culture. Through these collaborations, we develop programming that empowers individuals, strengthens community bonds, and celebrates cultural diversity.
Cultural and Historical Keynote Presentations:
Our organization offers expert keynote presentations that highlight the significant contributions of Afrodiasporic communities to the arts and culture on a local and national scale. With a special focus on Black Bostonians, we provide insightful talks on their impact across various artistic disciplines, celebrating their achievements and exploring their influence on American culture and beyond.
Portfolio
Roxbury Main Streets Arts & Culture Committee :
Established by the Roxbury Main Streets in partnership with the Greater Roxbury Arts & Cultural Center, this committee drives community revitalization by integrating arts, culture, and economic development, showcasing local businesses, public art projects, and cultural events that enrich the Roxbury area.
Artist Residencies at Harvard's Black Policy Conference:
Facilitated the integration of the arts into the policy dialogue at Harvard's Black Policy Conference through visual artist residencies, enhancing the forum's engagement with sustainable solutions for the Black community.
Hip-Hop America: The Mixtape Exhibit at the Grammy Museum in Los Angeles:
As a member of the national advisory committee for the exhibit, GRACC's CEO Taneshia Nash Laird played a critical role in shaping the 5,000-square-foot exhibition, providing recommendations that highlighted the rich diversity of hip-hop culture. Her efforts also ensured the inclusion of Boston rappers in the exhibit's "Shout Out Map," which showcases 14 hip-hop scenes across the United States and highlights the city's contribution to the genre. The exhibit runs from October 7, 2023 through Sept. 4, 2024.
"Voices of Heritage: Poetry and Cultural Expression in Descendant Communities"
GRACC has partnered with Poetry in America, a TV series and educational initiative that brings poetry into classrooms and living rooms around the world, to launch "Voices of Heritage: Poetry and Cultural Expression in Descendant Communities", a teacher training program that equips educators to engage with and teach the works of Black artists, emphasizing cultural heritage celebration. This program prepares teachers to integrate culturally rich poetry and arts into their curriculum, fostering a deeper appreciation and understanding of diverse narratives in education.
Boston's Black History Month Keynote Address
In February 2024, GRACC's CEO Taneshia Nash Laird delivered a compelling Black History Month address at Boston City Hall, amplifying the historic and ongoing contributions of Black Bostonians to the arts and culture nationally. The speech underscored GRACC's commitment to celebrating and advocating for the representation of Black and Latinx communities in the cultural narrative of Boston and beyond. [Click here to read the speech]
Volunteer Opportunities
Be part of a movement that champions diversity, fosters community, and shapes the future of arts, education, and the creative economy. Whether your involvement is behind the scenes or front and center, it brings our mission to life.
Attend an Art & Soul Session: Discover GRACC
These virtual gatherings are designed to introduce prospective volunteers and community members to the Greater Roxbury Arts & Cultural Center, spotlighting our mission, upcoming events, and volunteer opportunities.
Future Home
GRACC's future home is under development in the Nubian Square commercial district of Roxbury, and we are poised to be New England’s first state-of-the-art visual and performing arts center led by Black founders. Our 34,000-square-foot facility is designed to be more than just a building; it's a beacon of cultural expression, historical recognition, and community engagement. Inspired by both local influences and the rich history of Nubia, GRACC is envisioned to encompass a diverse array of spaces, including a two-level main stage proscenium theater, a flexible black box theater, a rehearsal space, and two first-floor art galleries.
[Rendering by Studio Enée, GRACC's architect of record.]
Resident Companies
These are the companies that call GRACC home
Castle of Our Skins
Castle of our Skins is a Black arts institution dedicated to fostering cultural curiosity and celebrating Black artistry through music. In classrooms, concert halls, and beyond, Castle of our Skins invites Black heritage and culture exploration, spotlighting both unsung and celebrated figures of past and present.
OrigiNation
OrigiNation's professional dance division will be GRACC's resident dance company, making OrigiNation the first professional Black and Latino youth dance company in the nation to residency at a performing arts center specially designed for the African Diaspora.
ROXFILM
The Roxbury International Film Festival bills itself as the largest festival in New England that celebrates people of color. Over the course of ten days the festival screens all genres of films, holds workshops and panel discussions and offers filmmakers the opportunity to network with each other as well as audience members.
Featured Company
GRACC is pleased to provide a home away from home for mission-aligned organizations at our own future home
Project STEP
"We envision a world in which the classical music profession reflects the racial and ethnic diversity of our communities."
Since 1982, Project STEP (String Training Education Program) has provided comprehensive music instruction to talented young musicians who identify with historically underrepresented groups in classical music with comprehensive music instruction.
100% of Project STEP graduates attend college or conservatory
60% of Project STEP graduates continue in the field of music as a profession
52 students are currently studying in STEP’s core program
12 years is how long students can study in STEP’s Core Program
Leadership
Taneshia Nash Laird
Inaugural President & CEO
Click Here for Taneshia's Digital Business Card
Taneshia Nash Laird is a transformational leader with a history of stewarding large redevelopment projects and fostering arts and culture. As the Inaugural President & CEO of the Greater Roxbury Arts & Cultural Center (GRACC), Taneshia has been instrumental in establishing the organization's foundation and driving its mission forward. She led the creation of GRACC's mission, vision, and values, setting a clear direction for the organization's future. Taneshia also recruited the GRACC Advisory Council, which plays a pivotal role in securing the resources necessary to fulfill the organization's mission. Additionally, she established community, artistic, and scholarly advisory committees, which provide specialized guidance and diverse perspectives to inform GRACC's initiatives, strategies, and programs.
Alongside her organizational development work, Taneshia hosts the "Nubian Narratives" podcast, where the rich tapestry of Black and Afro-Latino communities comes to life through stories of art, culture, and transformative empowerment. The podcast celebrates the creativity, resilience, and achievements that define Black Boston, offering universal lessons that communities across the nation can apply toward their own cultural and economic development.
Taneshia's leadership experience includes the turnaround of the near century-old Newark Symphony Hall in New Jersey, for which she raised $15 million for its historic preservation. Before Newark Symphony Hall, Taneshia led the Arts Council of Princeton, notably as its first leader of color, where she reactivated its Solley Theater and transformed its Paul Robeson Center for the Arts to feature more inclusive visual and performing arts programming. As an entrepreneur, Taneshia co-founded MIST Harlem in New York City and Legendary Eats in Los Angeles. She also served as director of economic development and affordable housing for Trenton, NJ, and is the co-author of the critically acclaimed book "Still I Rise: A Graphic History of African Americans." She has served as a grants panelist for The Pew Center for Arts & Heritage and the National Endowment for the Arts.
In addition to her professional accomplishments, Taneshia has shared her arts management and strategic planning expertise as an adjunct professor at Drexel University, where she taught Strategic Management in Entertainment and Arts Management. Taneshia holds a BBA from Baruch College and an MA in Live Entertainment Management from the Frost School of Music at the University of Miami.
Taneshia's impressive track record, tri-sector expertise as a nonprofit leader, entrepreneur, as well as a city and state economic development official, and her commitment to stimulating positive change for underrepresented communities make her an ideal leader for GRACC.
Damien R. Wilson
Advisor, Community Development Finance
Damien R. Wilson is a highly accomplished community development finance professional. He brings over 20 years of expertise in structured finance, public-private partnerships, and commercial real estate development to his role as Advisor for Community Development Financing at GRACC.
Damien's impressive track record includes key roles in high-profile cultural projects such as the Studio Museum in Harlem, a LEED Silver Certified, state-of-the-art institution for artists of African descent, the Lillian Marcie Center in Chicago, a modern theater complex in the historic Bronzeville neighborhood, and The Schomburg Center Museum in Harlem. His expertise in community development financing and public-private partnerships has been instrumental in driving the success of these transformative cultural initiatives.
Currently serving as Senior Director for the HBCU Brilliance Initiative, Damien provides critical technical and financial support to historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs), empowering them to make strategic investments in their facilities, financial stability, and long-term growth. Alongside this role, Damien is the President of WD Advisors, a national real estate capital advisory firm specializing in commercial real estate financing and public-private partnerships.
Throughout his career, Damien has demonstrated a remarkable ability to execute complex structured finance transactions. As a partner at Monge Capital Advisors, he originated, underwrote, and advised on over $1 billion in tax credit transactions and public-private partnership financings. Previously, at his own firm, Dominion Realty Capital, Inc., Damien arranged and advised on over $100 million in commercial real estate transactions.
With an MBA in Real Estate and Entrepreneurial Management from the Wharton School and a BS in Mathematics from Morehouse College, Damien brings a wealth of knowledge and a strategic mindset to GRACC. His expertise in community development financing and public-private partnerships, coupled with his experience in cultural projects, will be invaluable in driving the successful creation of GRACC's new state-of-the-art visual and performing arts center in Roxbury.
John McDonagh
Advancement Advisor
John McDonagh is an accomplished fundraising and advancement consultant. With a distinguished career that spans leadership roles at major cultural and philanthropic institutions, John has demonstrated an exceptional ability to spearhead transformative fundraising campaigns and foster meaningful community engagement. At the Detroit Institute of the Arts, he significantly expanded operating support and donor engagement, exemplifying his talent for cultivating partnerships and inspiring philanthropy. As Vice President for Development at the Boston Foundation, John played a pivotal role in growing the foundation's assets and enhancing its community impact through strategic fundraising initiatives. At GRACC, John's leadership of the Advisory Council is instrumental in driving the organization's mission to promote Afrodiasporic arts and culture, leveraging his deep philanthropic industry knowledge and strategic insight to support GRACC's fundraising for the creation of a state-of-the-art visual and performing arts center in Roxbury. John's commitment to cultural enrichment and community development aligns perfectly with GRACC's vision, making him a key asset to the organization's growth and success.
Dean J. Marsh
Chairman, GRACC Advisory Council
A cornerstone of GRACC's transformative journey, the Advisory Council is tasked with charting the strategic direction, spearheading fundraising initiatives, and cultivating a network of supporters. Dean J. Marsh, CEO of Virtual Technologies Group, heads the GRACC Advisory Council. With a proven track record of guiding business transformations for North America's leading corporations, Mr. Marsh brings a wealth of experience in business development and leadership. His extensive knowledge and strategic insight greatly benefit the GRACC Advisory Council, supporting GRACC's mission to champion diversity, equity, and inclusion in arts and culture.
Advisors
Meet the Members of our Advisory Council and Artistic & Scholarly Advisory Committees
Cityline Interview with
Erika Alexander
Erika Alexander & Ben Arnon
Erika is an Actor, Writer, Producer, Entrepreneur and Activist
Ben is a Media and Tech Entrepreneur
Co-Founders, Color Farm Media
GRACC Advisory Council
https://www.colorfarmmedia.com/
Producers of "John Lewis: Good Trouble", Producer "The Big Payback (also co-directed by Erika, PBS)", Producer of "Finding Tamika (Audible).
Wendell Pierce
Award-winning Actor, Producer, and Entrepreneur, Presidential Scholar in the Arts Alumnus
GRACC Advisory Council
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wendell_Pierce
Best known for "Death of a Salesman" (Broadway, London), "Jack Ryan" (Amazon), "Selma." "Ray," "The Wire," "Treme" (HBO), and "The Watch" (BBC)
Dart Adams
Author, Boston Griot, Journalist
GRACC Artistic Advisory Committee
Recently seen in HBO's Murder in Boston: Roots, Rampage and Reckoning
Mariana Green Hill
Concert Violinist, Arts Educator
GRACC Artistic Advisory Committee
Thato Mwosa
Danny Rivera Jr.
Red Shaydez
Recording Artist, Artist Mentor (Youth and Adults), Educator and Cultural Curator
GRACC Artistic Advisory Committee
Zakiyyah
Régine Michelle Jean-Charles, PhD
Zebulon Vance Miletsky, PhD
Academic, Activist, Speaker
GRACC Scholarly Advisory Committee
http://www.zebulonmiletsky.com
Currently appointed at Stony Brook University as Associate Professor of Africana Studies
Imani Perry, JD, PhD
Interdisciplinary scholar of race, law, literature, and African-American culture
MacArthur Fellow
GRACC Scholarly Advisory Committee
Currently jointly appointed at Harvard University as Professor in Studies of Women, Gender, and Sexuality, and in African and African American Studies
Emmett G. Price III, PhD
Scholar, Musician, Speaker
GRACC Scholarly Advisory Committee
Currently appointed at Berklee College of Music as Inaugural Dean of Africana Studies and Visiting Faculty at Harvard University
