波士頓兒童博物館館長Carole Charnow 訂明年8月退休

 Boston Children’s Museum Announces the Retirement of President & CEO Carole Charnow

Esteemed Cultural Visionary Prepares to Pass the Torch at Cherished Boston Institution Next Summer

BOSTON, MA—September 30, 2025 — Boston Children’s Museum has announced that President & CEO Carole Charnow will retire in August 2026, at which point she will become the second-longest serving President in the Museum’s 112-year history. Upon her retirement, Charnow will be honored with the title of President Emerita.

With Charnow’s guidance, Boston Children’s Museum has become a leader in informal, early education both nationally and internationally. The institution has provided resources to schools, libraries, museums, homeless shelters, and community centers throughout Massachusetts and the United States. Her leadership oversaw the renovation of three permanent exhibitions and numerous improvements to the Museum’s 135-year-old building, ensuring its legacy as a destination for more than 450,000 annual visitors.

During her fifteen-year tenure, Charnow presided over Boston Children’s Museum’s strongest financial period in its history. Under her visionary leadership, the Museum has raised over $75M in two major campaigns, in addition to several significant programmatic and capital grants, including $10M for flood resilience, which will protect the Museum from the threat of climate change. Charnow has also retired two thirds of the Museum’s debt and doubled the Museum’s endowment.

“It has been the greatest honor to lead Boston Children’s Museum these past fifteen years. I am so grateful to the outstanding staff and Board, who have ensured that the Museum has stayed vibrant, relevant, and financially sound,” said Carole Charnow, President & CEO. “I am thankful to the many individuals, foundations, and corporations who have supported the Museum over so many years. I look forward to working with the next leader to ensure that the Museum continues in its critically important service to the community long into the future.”

Charnow’s significant achievements and initiatives as President and CEO include:
•    Working closely with Mayor Michelle Wu and other Museum leaders, Charnow and her team were founders of Boston Family Days, a free admission program for Boston school children and their families. 
•    The Museum’s recent efforts to combat sea-level rise have resulted in an imaginative resilience masterplan described by civic leaders as an innovative example of how institutions can protect their property and neighborhood, while providing engaging and educational opportunities for their communities. Construction will begin this Fall on Phase 1 of the plan.
•    The Museum was awarded the IMLS National Medal, the nation’s highest honor conferred on museums for extraordinary service to the community, presented by First Lady, Michelle Obama, at the White House in 2013.
•    Alongside then Mayor Martin Walsh and the Richard Family, establishing Martin’s Park adjacent to the Museum, a 1.5-acre, accessible park and playground. 
•    Founding of the region’s first museum access program for families receiving benefits, the EBT Discount Initiative, now known as the Massachusetts Cultural Council’s Card to Culture Program, which is offered in 450 museums and cultural institutions across the state, and was also the model for the nation-wide Museums for All program. 
•    The Museum’s pioneering new exhibition, You, Me, We, tackles the complex subjects of race, bias and empathy, and won the national American Alliance of Museums Excellence in DEAI Award in 2024.
•    The Museum’s groundbreaking program on Religious Literacy is the first for a children’s museum.
•    A science and engineering department, encompassing a STEAM lab, multiple grant programs, and curriculum materials which are used in 80 state school districts, programs, and exhibits.
•    Other inventive programming included: 
o    Innovative performing arts program 
o    BCM Summer Camp
o    The Boston Grown-Ups Museum
o    Imaginative program of special events such as the Hundred Acre Wood, Winnie the Pooh Experience, the Snowmazing winter festival, the Halloween Spooktacular, and…
o    Annual Wonder Ball Fundraiser, which has raised millions of dollars for the Museum’s free and discounted admissions, making up over a third of their visitation each year.

“Carole’s leadership has been nothing short of transformational for Boston Children’s Museum. She has guided the organization through a period of remarkable success and achievement. She combined vision with stewardship, ensuring that the Museum is not only stronger financially but also more deeply connected to the children and families we serve,” said David Healy, Chair of the Board. “Carole has strengthened the Museum’s role as a national leader in early education and community engagement, and her positive impact can be seen in the joyful experiences of children at play in the Museum, in our community programs, and through the work of our exceptional team. The Board is deeply grateful for her extraordinary leadership and lasting contributions.”

Prior to her appointment as President & CEO of Boston Children’s Museum, Charnow led cultural and educational non-profits in the US and the UK and was the founder and General Director of Opera Boston, where she produced 50 original opera productions at the Cutler Majestic Theatre, including the world premiere of Madame White Snake, which she commissioned. The opera was jointly produced with the Beijing Music Festival and toured to China in the fall of 2010. It won the Pulitzer Prize for Music in 2011, the first Pulitzer for an opera in 49 years.

As a 30-year active leader in the Boston Cultural Community, Charnow was a co-founder with Kara Elliott-Ortega and David Howse of the Boston Cultural Leaders Coalition. She is a member of the Community Services Board of the Dimock Health Center in Roxbury, serves as Vice Chair of the Boston Arts Academy Board, and is on the Board of the American Alliance of Museums. She serves as Vice Chair of both the Green Ribbon Commission Cultural Working Group and the Boston Chamber of Commerce Climate and Energy Committee. She is a Senior Fellow of the Institute for Non-Profit Practice and was named a Barr Fellow in the class of 2015. Charnow is a recipient of the Emerson College Distinguished Alumni Award, the Berklee College Urban Service Award, the New England Museum Association Excellence Award, the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce Pinnacle Award, and this Fall, will receive the 2025 Norman B. Leventhal Distinguished Leadership Award in December.

With a deep commitment to the children and families of Greater Boston and beyond, Charnow will serve as a Senior Advisor to the Museum following her retirement and will continue to support and advocate for the education and arts and culture sectors in Boston. Her contributions to the Museum, performing arts, and the city will be celebrated at a gala on May 2, 2026.

The Museum’s Board of Trustees will initiate a search for Charnow’s successor in Fall 2025.

About Boston Children's Museum
Boston Children’s Museum engages children and families in joyful discovery experiences that instill an appreciation of our world, develop foundational skills, and spark a lifelong love of learning. More information about Boston Children’s Museum can be found at www.BostonChildrensMuseum.org Like us on Facebook and find us on Instagram 

Hours and Admission
The Museum is open Wednesday–Monday (Closed Tuesday) from 9:00am–4:00pm. Advance tickets/reservations are highly recommended, especially during weekends, holidays, and school vacation weeks. Adults, $24, children (1-15) and senior citizens, $24; children under 12 months and Museum members are always free.

麻州文化協會2026年度撥款630萬元 迄今支持424文化組織

$6.3M in New Mass Cultural Council Grants Bolster Arts and Culture Throughout Greater Boston

CAMBRIDGE – Yesterday at the Multicultural Arts Center in Cambridge, Mass Cultural Council celebrated a $6.3 million state investment in Greater Boston’s cultural sector - to date - in Fiscal Year 2026 (FY26). “Across Greater Boston, cultural organizations and artists keep our communities vibrant by bringing people together through creativity, history, and diverse perspectives,” said Michael J. Bobbitt, Executive Director of Mass Cultural Council. “These investments not only support the arts, but also strengthen our economy, our workforce, our neighborhoods, and our sense of belonging.” As the Commonwealth’s independent state arts agency, Mass Cultural Council is charged with bolstering the cultural sector, advancing economic vitality, supporting transformational change, and celebrating, preserving, and inspiring creativity across all Massachusetts communities.

Group photo of attendees at at the event at the Multicultural Arts Center in Cambridge.

To date, Mass Cultural Council has awarded grants to 424 cultural organizations in Greater Boston through a variety of programs, totaling $5,455,950: Creative Experiences: 211 organizations received a total of $1,007,500 to support public activities that incorporate the arts, humanities, and/or interpretive sciences. Operating Grants for Organizations and the Cultural Investment Portfolio: 174 organizations received a combined $3,479,100 in unrestricted operating support. YouthReach: 39 organizations received $969,350 to integrate substantive out-of-school arts, humanities, and science opportunities into a collaborative community response to the needs of youth. Local Cultural Councils: 30 councils received $869,400 to regrant locally, supporting arts and culture projects in every community across the region. "The arts are essential for inspiring people and supporting cultural activities in our communities and I am excited to see so many fantastic creative organizations throughout my district awarded with critical grant funding from the Mass Cultural Council," said Senator Sal DiDomenico (D- Everett). "I am proud to support funding for the arts each year which brings more young people and interested residents into creative spaces and helps launch new projects across our neighborhoods. The Multicultural Arts Center was a great setting for this event because it serves as a beautiful public space in East Cambridge that showcases local artists and brings community members together to celebrate art, music, and dance." “Mass Cultural Council support is crucial to sustaining our mission to enrich our community and invigorate the local economy through cultural experiences that are as widely accessible as they are possible, both townwide as a Local Cultural Council and in targeted development through our vibrant Cultural District,” said Stewart Ikeda, co-Chair, Arlington Commission for Arts & Culture. “Art challenges and inspires us. It literally brings us together more than it divides us and helps us to respond to each other in new ways,” said Leah Abel, Executive Director, Circus Up, a first-time recipient of and organizational support grant from Mass Cultural Council. “If you see a Circus Up performance, you witness youth work collaboratively to literally hold each other up. I firmly believe we create hope and possibility by holding each other up. This is why Mass Cultural Council funding is so important to us right now.” During the celebration, the Agency also highlighted its continued strategic focus on advancement—broadening the reach of arts and culture into other sectors. Over the past two years, Mass Cultural Council has developed new cross-sector partnerships, resources, and opportunities for the cultural community statewide. Through this work, Mass Cultural Council aims to: Position the arts and culture sector as a visible, recognized resource and essential partner in problem solving across the Commonwealth. Leverage new economic resources from outside the sector for the benefit of those within. “Grantmaking is one of the most important tools we have to sustain and strengthen the cultural community,” said Bobbitt. “And through advancement, we are working to secure new resources and build long-term partnerships to ensure the arts and creativity are seen not just as valuable, but as essential thought partners in solving the challenges of today.” Massachusetts’ Fiscal Year 2026 runs from July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2026. Throughout the year, Mass Cultural Council will continue administering several grant programs for creative individuals, cultural organizations, youth arts programming, and creative communities. The Agency will also celebrate these public investments, grant recipients, and cultural sector partners at regional gatherings this fall and next spring.

41 INDEPENDENT CINEMAS WIN GRANTS TO BRING SCIENCE TO THE MOVIES

41 INDEPENDENT CINEMAS WIN GRANTS TO BRING SCIENCE TO THE MOVIES

Nationwide Science on Screen® initiative promotes scientific literacy through entertainment

                       

Brookline, MA (Tuesday, September 30, 2025) — Coolidge Corner Theatre and the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation named the 2025−26 recipients of their nationwide Science on Screen® grant program this week, awarding grants totaling $250,000 to 41 independent cinemas, museums, and community groups with film programs. Each organization will receive up to $9,000 to create and present three or more Science on Screen events, which pair expert-led discussions of scientific topics with screenings of feature and documentary films. At least one of the films shown by grantees must be a past recipient of the annual Alfred P. Sloan Foundation Feature Film Prize or a Sloan Development Grant.

 

Since partnering with Sloan in 2011, the Coolidge has awarded over $3 million in grants to 140 film and science-focused organizations in 45 states (plus Washington, DC) across the country.

 

Science on Screen features classic, cult, and documentary films provocatively matched with presentations by experts who discuss scientific, technological, or medical issues raised by each film. The Coolidge/Sloan Foundation nationwide Science on Screen partnership seeks to inspire in theater-goers an increased appreciation for science, technology, engineering, and mathematics as compelling enterprises and vital elements of a broad understanding of human culture and current events.

 

Over the past 13 seasons, grantees have sold more than 188,000 tickets to over 1,610 Science on Screen events (including free tickets offered by many grantees to their Science on Screen series). Those events have featured presentations by hundreds of scientists, doctors, teachers & professors, farmers, journalists, and more, including at least five Nobel laureates, three Pulitzer Prize winners, ten astronauts, and other luminaries including autism activist Temple Grandin; outed CIA operative Valerie Plame Wilson; surgeon and writer Dr. Atul Gawande; environmentalist Bill McKibben; geneticist George Church; and trailblazing molecular biologist Dr. Nancy Hopkins.

Highlights from the most recent season include:

 

• At Ragtag Cinema (Columbia, MO), Dr. Jennifer First, PhD, MSW, Assistant Professor in the College of Health Sciences, University of Missouri—Columbia, introduced a screening of Spike Lee’s Do the Right Thing. Drawing on research from the Midwest and Southeast U.S., Dr. First discussed the intersection of heat exposure, social vulnerability, and adaptive capacity, grounded in the lived experiences of communities on the frontlines of climate change.

• Amherst Cinema (Amherst, MA) explored the “science of the lambs,” probing what Hollywood’s most famous crime thriller (The Silence of The Lambs) tells us about serial killers, psychopathy, and the birth of forensic psychology. Introduced by Erik Cheries, Ph.D. Senior Lecturer, Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, UMass Amherst.

• At Marquee Arts (Ann Arbor, MI), Dr. Mosharaf Chowdhury, Associate Professor of Computer Science and Engineering at University of Michigan, introduced the Sloan Award–winning film Love Me. Dr. Chowdury’s talk explored the implications of AI on climate change, and whether AI will outlive us long after our extinction.

• Before a screening of Shakespeare in Love at the Coolidge Corner Theatre (Brookline, MA), physician and Harvard Medical School assistant professor Dr. John Ross (author of Shakespeare's Tremor and Orwell's Cough) gave an overview of Shakespeare's social background and the public health disaster that was early modern London. Ross addressed contemporary gossip about Shakespeare, including his involvement in a love triangle that was rumored to have genitourinary consequences.

• The lead character in Insomnia isn’t the only person who could use a nap: a recent study by One Earth found Americans are losing an average of 44 hours of sleep per year. Before a screening at the Gene Siskel Film Center (Chicago, IL), Rush University Medical Center’s Dr. Upneet Chawla explored how sleep deprivation impacts our lives in small and big ways, and considers how much sleep you really need to properly solve a murder.

“We are thrilled to continue our seminal partnership with the Coolidge Corner Theatre to support the nationwide Science on Screen program,” said Doron Weber, Vice President and Program Director at the Sloan Foundation. "These events, which pair expert speakers in over 40 states with popular titles such as Sloan-winning films Oppenheimer, Twisters and Hidden Figures, demonstrate that science can illuminate films just as films can illuminate science. We’re also proud that theaters can select recent Sloan-supported documentaries such as John Lilly and the Earth Coincidence Control Office, Sally, and The Cancer Detectives, and bring attention to urgent contemporary issues and inspirational scientific figures.”

Science on Screen was initially conceived and established in 2005 for Coolidge Corner Theatre audiences in greater Boston, which boasts one of the nation’s largest populations of life and physical scientists. In 2011, the Sloan Foundation partnered with the theatre to take Science on Screen nationwide and to make it an integral part of its coast-to-coast film program. To date, the Sloan Foundation has awarded the Coolidge more than $4.5 million to support the program, including the creation of a website (scienceonscreen.org) where information on these programs and archived videos of the speakers’ presentations are available to the public.

 

Science on Screen grant recipients are chosen based on the need for science-related programming in their community, the strength of their proposed Science on Screen programs, the success of past Science on Screen programs (for returning grantees), and their location.

 

All of these grant recipients play a significant role in the cultural life of their communities, with successful track records of building strong community partnerships and producing creative, thought-provoking film programs that both educate and entertain audiences. 

 

The 2025−26 Science on Screen grantees include nine first-time participants:

 

• Campus Theatre, Lewisburg, PA

• Comic-Con Museum, San Diego, CA

• Georgia Southern Museum, Statesboro, GA

• Insights Science Discovery, El Paso, TX

• Manship Theatre, Baton Rouge, LA

• North Bend Theatre, North Bend, WA

• Opelika Auburn Film Arts Collective / Boxcar, Auburn, AL

• Palm Theatre / SLO Film Center, San Luis Obispo, CA

• Wild and Scenic Film Festival, Nevada City, CA

 

Grantees returning to Science on Screen in 2025−26 are:

 

• Amherst Cinema, Amherst, MA

• a/perture cinema, Winston-Salem, NC

• Athena Cinema, Athens, OH

• Athens Ciné, Athens, GA

• Austin Film Society, Austin, TX

• The Avalon Theatre, Washington, DC

• Belcourt Theatre, Nashville, TN

• Block Cinema, Evanston, IL

• Cinema Arts Centre, Huntington, NY

• Colonial Theatre, Phoenixville, PA

• Cornell Cinema, Ithaca, NY

• Dairy Arts Center, Boulder, CO

• Enzian Theater, Maitland, FL

• Gene Siskel Film Center, Chicago, IL

• The Grand Cinema, Tacoma, WA

• Jacob Burns Film Center, Pleasantville, NY

• Kenworthy Performing Arts Centre, Moscow, ID

• The Little Theatre, Rochester, NY

• Martha’s Vineyard Film Society, Vineyard Haven, MA

• Mesilla Valley Film Society, Mesilla, NM

• New York International Children’s Film Festival (NYICFF), New York, NY

• Nickelodeon Theatre, Columbia, SC

• Penn Theatre, Plymouth, MI

• Pickford Film Center, Bellingham, WA

• Ragtag Film Society, Columbia, MO

• Rooftop Films, Brooklyn, NY

• Sag Harbor Cinema Arts Center, Sag Harbor, NY

• Salina Art Center, Salina, KS

• Sidewalk Film Center, Birmingham, AL

• Speed Art Museum, Louisville, KY

• Stray Cat Film Center, Kansas City, MO

• Utah Film Center, Salt Lake City, UT

MAYOR MICHELLE WU AND OFFICE OF YOUTH ENGAGEMENT AND ADVANCEMENT SHARE IMPACT OF BOSTON AFTER DARK 2025

MAYOR MICHELLE WU AND OFFICE OF YOUTH ENGAGEMENT AND ADVANCEMENT SHARE IMPACT OF BOSTON AFTER DARK 2025

This summer’s Boston After Dark event series engaged over 1,500 youth at 23 events across 15 neighborhoods between June and August.

BOSTON - Tuesday, September 30, 2025 - Mayor Michelle Wu and the City of Boston’s Office of Youth Engagement (OYEA) today shared the impact of the 2025 Boston After Dark summer event series. Boston After Dark provides safe and fun opportunities for teenagers (14-18 years old) to be in community on Friday nights during the summer. During the first summer of Boston After Dark in 2024, OYEA hosted 18 events across 9 neighborhoods, serving 1,000 young people. With support from the Cummings Foundation and Boston’s Children Hospital, this summer, OYEA expanded the initiative to coordinate 23 events across 15 neighborhoods from the end of June through August. Each took place between 5 - 9 p.m. at Boston Centers for Youth and Families (BCYF) and YMCA centers, with one event hosted at the Franklin Field Boston Housing Authority (BHA) teen center. This year’s programming saw a 50 percent increase in attendance and engaged over 1,500 youth. “This summer, Boston After Dark engaged over fifteen hundred young people with opportunities to stay active in their communities, from sports tournaments to talent shows," said Mayor Michelle Wu. “I am grateful to the Office of Youth Engagement and Advancement for not only leading this successful summer safety plan but their continuous work year-round, which is a critical step in making sure Boston remains the safest city in America.” The Boston After Dark initiative commenced in 2024 as a direct response to a pattern of youth violence seen in the summer of 2023. Along with community partners, OYEA recognized that many of these instances took place among young people already connected to summer programming, and identified a lack of opportunities for engagement after program or work hours as one crucial source. OYEA launched Boston After Dark to organize fun and safe spaces for teens during evening hours throughout the summer.  The expansion of this summer’s Boston After Dark programming is supported by the recent findings of OYEA’s Youth Speaks Boston survey, a citywide needs assessment that collected responses from 1650 Boston residents between the ages of 14-25. The results indicated that Boston youth prioritize events where they can “hang out with friends” (55 percent of survey respondents) that include opportunities to meet new people (56 percent), free food (49 percent), and feelings of community, belonging, and inclusivity (49 percent).  “Boston After Dark has shown us the power of creating safe, fun, and welcoming spaces for our city’s teens during the summer months. From neighborhood basketball games to music and arts events, young people came together to connect, celebrate, and feel a sense of belonging in their communities,” said Pedro Cruz, Executive Director of the Office of Youth Engagement and Advancement. “We are excited to expand these opportunities into school vacation weeks so that more young people can thrive year-round. Our young people deserve spaces where they can feel safe, supported, and inspired—and Boston After Dark is helping to make that vision a reality.” “I am proud of the team at the Office of Youth Engagement and Advancement and grateful to our partners at Boston Centers for Youth & Families, the YMCA, and Boston Housing Authority,” said José F. Massó, Chief of Human Services. “This partnership shows that when we work together, we can make a big impact for the youth in our City.” All 23 Boston After Dark events were completely free and included food from local businesses, an ice cream truck, and exclusive merch. Every Friday night also featured a live youth DJ in partnership with Youth Options Unlimited (YOU) Boston, a photobooth, and giveaways of Sprayground backpacks and Red Sox tickets. Each Boston After Dark site hosted a different theme with a unique set of activities. Among these were roller skating, airbrush tattoos, face painting, dunk tanks, basketball tournaments, jewelry making, obstacle courses, water slides, barbecues, youth performances by 617Peak and Beat the Odds Boston, an inflatable nightclub, and a video game truck. “Boston After Dark is really important for teens because it gives me and other teens a chance to hang out and connect. A lot of us just stay inside most of the time, but events like this give us friends, comfort, and a fun way to spend time together,” said Boston After Dark attendee Mamaa Fofana, age 15. “Boston After Dark events were a huge success this summer and served as a powerful way to connect with teens who may not have previously engaged with BCYF,” said Marta E. Rivera, Commissioner of Boston Centers for Youth & Families (BCYF). “These events provided safe, welcoming spaces for young people to come together, have fun, and build meaningful relationships with our staff and with one another. We’re proud to offer these kinds of opportunities and remain deeply committed to developing programs that truly reflect and support the needs of Boston’s youth.” Boston After Dark 2025 included expanded partnerships with youth-serving collaborators both within and outside the City, a manifestation of OYEA's aim to break down the silos that exist in the youth work field. Consolidating the strengths and resources of multiple organizations under a shared vision allowed a scale of programming beyond what would be possible through any one organization.  In addition to the intended audience of 14-18-year-old youth, Boston After Dark events this year were attended by the networks of youth participants’ family members and friends, both older and younger. While Boston After Dark is first and foremost designed to meet the unique needs of teenagers, it is a program inclusive of all Boston residents.    “Hosting Boston After Dark at Gallivan Community Center has been nothing short of legendary. Every Friday night, Boston After Dark is creating a safe, high-energy space where teens can vibe, connect, and just be themselves,” said Jose Rodriguez, Site Director of BCYF Gallivan. “This ain’t just a program — it’s memories in the making, and every young person should get to feel that love." “These events offered young people a tangible way to see the commitment of the City, its leaders, and its organizations to building trust and empowerment by creating opportunities for them to take ownership of their community spaces. Teens appreciated knowing their community is invested in their well-being, and as a result, they showed great engagement and participation,” said David Shapiro, Chief Executive Officer of YMCA of Greater Boston. “We hope this is the beginning of a long tradition of Boston After Dark and we’re proud to serve as a host and partner with OYEA. It is a great new addition to our free summer memberships for all teens and expansive summer youth employment program in partnership with the City.” To learn more about Boston After Dark and see photos from this summer’s events, visit boston.gov/after-dark. To stay informed about future events from the Office of Youth Engagement and Advancement, visit boston.gov/oyea, and follow our social channels @oyeaboston Facebook and Instagram, and @oyea.boston.gov on Bluesky.