Boise City Department of Arts & History

Boise City Department of Arts & History Providing leadership, education, services, and support for Boise art, history, and culture. Home of the James Castle House and the Erma Hayman House. Follow us!

Terms of Use: www.cityofboise.org/social-media-terms-of-use/ The City of Boise’s Department of Arts & History (A&H) was established by Mayor David Bieter and Boise City Council in March 2008, solidifying public commitment to serving and promoting Boise’s rich cultural diversity. More at www.boiseartsandhistory.org. Instagram: boiseartsandhistory
Twitter:

06/12/2026

Boise artist Chris Binion recently visited the Erma Hayman House where his Valentine’s Day paintings, each one created for his husband, John Roberts, over the span of 43 years, are currently on view.

Shown publicly for the first time, this collection of paintings forms an intimate archive of a shared life shaped by love, aging, cultural change, and the evolving landscape of gay rights in America.

View “Love Language” at the Erma Hayman House (617 Ash St., Boise) through December 2026 during open hours and by appointment.

Learn more at ErmaHaymanHouse.org

This June, we're shining a spotlight on some exciting events by our Recipients!Brown Like Me: Idaho's Woven Tapestry C...
06/11/2026

This June, we're shining a spotlight on some exciting events by our Recipients!

Brown Like Me: Idaho's Woven Tapestry Community Dinner
Fri., June 12, 6 p.m.
📍Mountain View Community Fellowship (3000 N Esquire Dr.)

As part of Brown Like Me's Juneteenth celebrations, join for a dinner and community discussion of fabric and fiber and the threads that bind us all together featuring local quilters, fabric artists and historians. Admission is $30.

Brown Like Me: Idaho's Woven Tapestry Quilting Bee
Sat., June 13, 4 p.m.
📍Mountain View Community Fellowship (3000 N Esquire Dr.)

Join us at Christian Fellowship Ministry for a good ol' fashioned quilting bee featuring blocks made by Brown Like Me children and local quilters and artisans. Free admission.

West Bench Farmers Market: West Bench Farmers Market
Thursdays, 5:00 p.m
📍Spaulding Ranch (3805 N Cole Rd.)

At the West Bench Farmers Market, you'll find farmers, artists, artisans, and cooks from around the world, offering a unique opportunity to shop locally with a global perspective.

Q***r & Femme Comedy Collective: Seasons of Love
Sat., June 13, 11:00 a.m.
📍Erma Hayman House (617 Ash St.)

Join us for "Seasons of Love," a late(ish) morning of storytelling celebrating LGBTQIA+ voices at the historic Erma Hayman House in Boise on Saturday, June 13, 11 a.m. - 1 p.m. Drawing inspiration from the site's current "Love Language" exhibition, our storytellers remind us that through it all, love wins. Featured storytellers include Cole LeFavour, Micheal Zabel, and Mitch Kuhn. Music by Jean Cardeño and Jesse Rundle. Mini astrology readings from Val St. Claire. General admission is $20 and $10 for students, teachers, and artists.

More at boiseartsandhistory.org/Calendar

06/02/2026

Join us this Thursday, June 4th, at 6:30 p.m. at JUMP Boise for 'We the People: Becoming American' in partnership with Idaho Office for Refugees. Hear firsthand accounts from storytellers born and raised in some of the top countries of origin for Idaho’s refugee resettlement program, including Ukraine, Democratic Republic of Congo, Afghanistan, as well as Uganda and Rwanda.

Free and open to everyone! Learn more at cityofboise.org/AM250.

Meet Alla Aguilar and her son Tom Kanon, featured storytellers at our June 4th live storytelling event, America 250: Fir...
06/02/2026

Meet Alla Aguilar and her son Tom Kanon, featured storytellers at our June 4th live storytelling event, America 250: First Thursdays at JUMP — We the People: Becoming American, in partnership with Idaho Office for Refugees.

Alla Aguilar is a case manager at the Agency for New Americans in Boise. Born and raised in Ukraine, Alla was 25 when she resettled in the U.S. with her young son and then-husband, who was escaping persecution based on his Jewish heritage.

Alla had an engineering degree but started over as a cleaner while she learned English and made friends. It was embarrassing to ask for help, but the safety nets helped Alla get back on her feet. She went on to receive her U.S. citizenship and continues to help refugees and immigrants navigate a new system in Idaho.

Her son, Tom Kanon, who was two when his family resettled in 1992, will also share perspectives from his life experiences.

Thank you, Alla and Tom!

Join us on Thursday, June 4 at 6:30 p.m. at JUMP Boise to learn more about Alla and Tom's journey, hear from fellow storytellers representing Afghanistan, Democratic Republic of Congo, and Uganda, and learn about the cultures they continue to share and shape in the U.S. Come early (doors open at 5 p.m.) to explore Boise Public Library's Excitetrike for books, games, and activities!

Free and open to everyone. Registration encouraged. For a full schedule of city-sponsored America 250 events, visit cityofboise.org/America250.

Meet Yasmin Aguilar, a featured storyteller at our June 4th live storytelling event, America 250: First Thursdays at JUM...
05/30/2026

Meet Yasmin Aguilar, a featured storyteller at our June 4th live storytelling event, America 250: First Thursdays at JUMP — We the People: Becoming American, in partnership with Idaho Office for Refugees.

Yasmin Aguilar came to Idaho as a refugee from Afghanistan over 25 years ago. During this time, she has supported other refugees through her work at the Agency for New Americans in Boise, where she serves as Assistant Director.

Prior to her involvement with the Agency for New Americans, Yasmin was a physician in a refugee hospital in Quetta, Pakistan, and later a community development coordinator for Mercy Corp International.

Yasmin was a participant in the Welcoming Communities Transatlantic Exchange in Germany in 2016-2018 and has received several local and international honors over the years for her work championing refugees.

Thank you, Yasmin!

Join us on Thursday, June 4 at 6:30 p.m. at JUMP Boise to learn more about Yasmin’s journey, hear from fellow storytellers representing Ukraine, Democratic Republic of Congo, and Uganda, and learn about the cultures they continue to share and shape in the U.S. Come early (doors open at 5 p.m.) to explore Boise Public Library's Excitetrike for books, games, and activities!

Free and open to everyone. Registration encouraged. For a full schedule of city-sponsored America 250 events, visit cityofboise.org/America250.

Meet Moses Mukengezi, a featured storyteller at our June 4th live storytelling event, America 250: First Thursdays at JU...
05/28/2026

Meet Moses Mukengezi, a featured storyteller at our June 4th live storytelling event, America 250: First Thursdays at JUMP — We the People: Becoming American, in partnership with Idaho Office for Refugees.

Moses Mukengezi is a dad, husband, soccer coach, commercial real estate broker, nonprofit board member and former resettlement worker in Boise.

Originally from the Democratic Republic of Congo, Moses’ family resettled in Boise, Idaho, in 2007 when he was 13. It was through soccer that he first felt connection to the community. He went on to play for Boise State University, where he earned a bachelor’s in sociology.

Moses has enjoyed several years of coaching refugee youth through Nations United Soccer and speaks six languages; he is especially fond of French.

Thank you, Moses!

Join us on Thursday, June 4 at 6:30 p.m. at JUMP Boise to learn more about Moses’ journey, hear from fellow storytellers representing Ukraine, Afghanistan, and Uganda, and learn about the cultures they continue to share and shape in the U.S. Come early (doors open at 5 p.m.) to explore Boise Public Library’s Excitetrike for books, games, and activities!

Free and open to everyone. Registration encouraged. For a full schedule of city-sponsored America 250 events, visit cityofboise.org/America250.

Kaixo Corner update! A few blue flappers from "Skyriver" at Kaixo Corner located at the corner of 5th & Grove streets ha...
05/28/2026

Kaixo Corner update! A few blue flappers from "Skyriver" at Kaixo Corner located at the corner of 5th & Grove streets have recently fallen due to high winds. Some of the flappers are also peeling. Out of an abundance of caution, our team is temporarily removing the flappers from the public art installation. The artwork is under warranty and we are working closely with the artists to find a long-term strategy for this artwork and shade structure. Thank you for your patience and understanding as we ensure "Skyriver" remains a beloved fixture in our community!

Join us on Thursday, June 4 at 6:30 p.m. at JUMP Boise for an evening of live storytelling featuring the voices of Ameri...
05/27/2026

Join us on Thursday, June 4 at 6:30 p.m. at JUMP Boise for an evening of live storytelling featuring the voices of Americans whose journey to the U.S. started with displacement.

Explore Idaho's resettlement history, hear firsthand accounts from storytellers representing Ukraine, Afghanistan, Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda, and experience the cultural heritages they continue to carry with them as they contribute to the American experiment.

Come early to explore Boise Public Library’s Excitetrike and check out books, games, and activities! This event is free and open to everyone. Registration encouraged at cityofboise.org/America250.

This event is presented in partnership with the Idaho Office for Refugees and hosted at JUMP, part of the City of Boise's America 250 celebration. For a full schedule of city-sponsored America 250 events, visit cityofboise.org/America250.

in 2001, 59% of Boise voters passed Boise's first Foothills Levy. 🌄 But what led to the levy? Explore the rich history...
05/22/2026

in 2001, 59% of Boise voters passed Boise's first Foothills Levy. 🌄 But what led to the levy?

Explore the rich history of the Boise Foothills and the first levy with our digital exhibit! Discover the origins, conditions, and pivotal events that shaped our environment and learn about the lasting impact of the levy on Boise's open space at https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/fe2deb40a95046c08d6d26f4ff7078e2

Later this fall, join us for a guided tour and panel discussion at the Jim Halls Foothills Learning Center. Stay tuned for details coming this summer!

All images courtesy Boise City Archives

Address

150 N Capitol Boulevard
Boise, ID
83702

Opening Hours

Monday 8am - 5pm
Tuesday 8am - 5pm
Wednesday 8am - 5pm
Thursday 8am - 5pm
Friday 8am - 5pm

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Boise City Department of Arts & History posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Shortcuts

Share

Category