Boise City Department of Arts & History

09/14/2026

Internationally acclaimed photographer Rodrigo Valenzuela will be giving a talk on his art practice at 5 p.m. on September 21, in the Interactive Learning Center (ILC) 118 on the Boise State campus.

Valenzuela has received a Guggenheim Fellowship, a Smithsonian Artist Research Fellowship, the Joan Mitchell Award, among others. Recent solo exhibitions include the New Museum, NY; Lisa Kandlhofer Galerie, Vienna; and the Frye Art Museum, Seattle.

His visit is hosted by the Visiting Artist and Scholar Program in the Department of Art, Design, and Visual Studies with support from many community partners, including the Boise City Department of Arts & History.

Reception will follow the talk in the Center for the Visual Arts (CVA) Atrium.

This lecture is free and open to the public. Join us!

Upcoming Visiting Artists and Scholars

Oct. 15, 2026: Diana Al-Hadid
Nov. 5, 2026: Ellen Lupton

Learn more: boisestate.edu/art/visiting-artist-and-scholar-program

We are hosting internationally acclaimed artist Rodrigo Valenzuela on Monday, September 21. He will be giving a free, public talk about his art practice at 5PM in the Interactive Learning Center (ILC) 118. A reception will follow the talk in the Center for the Visual Arts Atrium. Come join us!

09/11/2026

Today, we pause to reflect on the 25th anniversary of 9/11 and to recognize and honor those who paid the ultimate sacrifice. In remembrance, we have enhanced and made accessibility upgrades to the World Trade Center Memorial (2013) by Amber Klinsky located at the Idaho Fallen Firefighters Memorial Park.

Discover the origins of the memorial, which includes a 10-foot steel beam recovered from Ground Zero after the September 11, 2001 attacks. Hear firsthand reflections from the artist, project manager, and a local firefighter as they share their journey of creating this tribute, and witness the before and after.

We hope this site continues to serve as a gathering place and a quiet monument to tragedy and resilience, grief and unity. The park and memorial site are open from sunrise to sunset.

View “‘Before & After’: Boise’s World Trade Center Memorial” short film on our YouTube channel at YouTube.com/

📽️ Produced by Silver Gleam Productions for Boise City Department of Arts & History. © City of Boise

09/09/2026

09/04/2026

CALL FOR ARTISTS - Traffic Box Art 2027

The City of Boise invites artists to apply for the opportunity to create or supply artwork for the 2027 Traffic Box Program. Selected artists will be paid $1,200 to create or supply original artwork to be digitized and fabricated into a vinyl wrap. Artists may use original, existing artwork or create new, original artwork which can consist of illustration, painting, digital images, textiles, mosaic, photography, photographs of original artwork, and more.

This year's call invites artists to respond to the theme: Surprise! 🤩

A community-based selection panel will be looking for mediums, styles, content, and ideas that are surprising, unexpected, unusual, unlike anything they’ve seen before.

The panel may select up to eight (8) artists or artist teams to implement their design proposal.

📝 Info Session: Thursday, September 17 from 1-1:30 p.m. (MT) via ZOOM
🙋 Questions/Clarifications: Via email by Wednesday, October 8 at 5 p.m. (MT)
✅ Deadline: Thursday, October 15 at 1 p.m. MT (MT)

This opportunity is open to Idaho artists of all ages. Learn more and apply at boiseartsandhistory.org/Opportunities.

Image: Artist Mariel Jasso's "Galloping" (2026) is a traffic box located at the corner of 10th & Grove St. in downtown Boise. Jasso's design is inspired by one of Boise's Climate Action Roadmap priorities, Transportation.

09/04/2026

ANNOUNCING… the recipients of grant funding for fiscal year 2027!

We’re thrilled to share that 38 recipients will receive a total of $150,000 in grant funding to support projects taking place throughout Boise between October 1, 2026, and September 30, 2027.

These projects will bring arts, culture, and community connection to Boise residents throughout the year.

The recipients are (*indicates first-time recipients):

Ballet Idaho
Basque Museum & Cultural Center
Boise Chordsmen
The Boise Bard Players
Idaho Blues Society
Boise Chinese Traditional Dance Group
Boise Hive
Boise PhotoGrid
Serenata Orchestra
Capital City Mulligan Band
Colossal Cinematic Showcase
Gemma Arts Music
Global Gardens
Idaho Film Foundation
Idaho Japanese Association
Idaho Office for Refugees
Idaho Shakespeare Festival
Idaho Regional Ballet
Kartoflanie Folk Dance Ensemble
Lala’s Jazz
LED
Lenses & Brushes
MING Studios
Off Center Dance Project
Open Arms Dance Project
Opera Idaho
Pink Pony Project
Project Flux
Rebecca Evans and Hannah Rodabaugh
Rubicon Studios
Starbelly School of Dance
Story Story Night
Surel's Place
The Luminary
Treasure Valley Children's Theater
TRICA Children's Arts
Wassmuth Center for Human Rights
Winter Wildlands Alliance

Congratulations to everyone! Learn more about their projects by heading to boiseartsandhistory.org/Grants.

Image: "Perspectives," a project by FY26 Arts & History Grant Recipient Project Flux. Pictured Katelyn Hagel. Photography by Gretchen LeMay.

09/02/2026

Recipient events are in full swing this September!

Global Gardens: West Bench Farmers Market
Thursdays, 5 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.

Gemma Arts Music: Party at the Warehouse
Wed., Sept. 2, 6 p.m.
📍The Warehouse Food Hall (370 S 8th St.)

Party at the Warehouse is part concert, part party, and fully Boise—showcasing regional musicians while encouraging community engagement and creative exploration. Free event!

Starbelly School of Dance: Boise Raks
📍Thu., Sept. 3 at West Bench Farmers Market
📍Sat., Sept. 19 at Hyde Park Street Fair
📍Sun., Sept 27 at Open Streets Boise in the Collister Neighborhood

Join us for Boise Raks—a FREE, high-energy celebration of dance, music, and community! Experience the vibrant rhythms of Raks Sharki (Middle Eastern dance) alongside today’s popular music, followed by a beginner-friendly mini dance class and open dance party. No experience needed—just bring your energy and join the fun! Free event!

Stephen Aifegha: Highfairgaa Empire
Wed., Sept. 9
📍Stage Coach Theatre (4802 W Emerald St.)

Through expressive portraits created with African textiles, paint, and collage, Aifegha's exhibition "Culture & Identity" is presented alongside a performance of "Dear Evan Hansen" as an exploration of being seen, finding hope, and building meaningful connections across cultures and communities. Admission ranges from $20-25.

Boise Little Theater: Rock of Ages
Showtimes through Sept. 12
📍 Boise Little Theater (100 E. Fort St.)

A tribute to American rock music and how the American Dream is possible. Admission ranges from $20-25. Ages 14+.

Idaho Japanese Association: Japan Day
Sun., Sept. 27
📍Julia Davis Park Gene Harris Bandshell (700 S Capitol Blvd.)

Join the Idaho Japanese Association for a free, family-friendly event and experience Japanese culture through performances, booths, and vendors. Free event!

More at boiseartsandhistory.org/Calendar

09/02/2026

As we prepare for the 25th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, we were honored to join Mayor McLean, Boise City Council, Boise Fire Department Chief Hummel and project partners to celebrate the improvements and accessibility upgrades to the World Trade Center Memorial (2013) by J. Amber Klinsky located at the Idaho Fallen Firefighters Memorial Park.

In addition to cleaning the memorial, we installed new lighting, flowerbeds, and a pathway to access the 10-foot steel beam recovered from Ground Zero. We also updated the signage to include more historical information.

We hope this site continues to serve as a gathering place and a quiet monument to tragedy and resilience, grief and unity. The park and memorial site are open from sunrise to sunset.

Photography by Wytske van Keulen

City of Boise Boise Parks and Recreation Boise Fire Department Boise Police Department

08/13/2026

A new season of City Steps begins, with two tours ENHANCED!

Learn about Boise’s Chinese history with "Remembering Chinatown – Boise’s Vanished Neighborhood," now with oral history audio clips featuring members of Boise's Chinese community!

Explore how Boise’s rich immigration history has evolved into the modern day with "'We The People' Who Built Boise," now with viewfinders featuring historic photos!

Tours are offered on Wednesdays and Saturdays at 10 a.m. Each tour covers 1.5 miles in about 90 minutes. Space is limited to 15 participants per tour. Tickets are $10 for residents and $15 for non-residents. Pay What You Can tours are August 29 and October 3 (min. $1).

Registration closes 30 minutes before the tour's start time and/or if the tour is full. To register and for Air Quality Programming Information, please visit boiseartsandhistory.org/Tours.

08/06/2026

ANNOUNCING…Clementine Zenner is the selected artist for the Erma Hayman House Sunroom Public Art opportunity. Coming January 2027, Zenner’s work will feature garment and fabric elements printed with domestic and historical images of the River Street neighborhood using cyanotype techniques.

As part of the opportunity, Clementine is seeking donations of antique materials, including plain white colored garments or fabric remnants from the 1940’s-1960’s. The artist is also open to donations of sewing notions, ballet shoes, sheet music or musical instruments, and embroidery hoops from the era.

Materials can be dropped off with the Boise City Department of Arts & History located at City Hall (150 N. Capitol Blvd.), Monday through Thursday, 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. until September 15. Donors should expect to complete a short contact and narrative form on-site during drop off. The artist may contact donors for additional information. Donated materials are not guaranteed to be used in the installation.

Congratulations to Clementine Zenner and we can’t wait to see the finalized work!

08/05/2026

We're pleased to announce the appointments of Aiden VanderStouwe and Astri Snodgrass to the Arts & History Commission.

Aiden VanderStouwe earned his Ph.D. in Linguistics from the University of California, Santa Barbara. He is a performing artist and producer as well as an Assistant Teaching Professor in Linguistics and Affiliated Faculty in Gender Studies at Boise State University.

Astri Snodgrass earned her MFA from the University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa. She is a practicing visual artist and an Associate Professor of Drawing and Painting at Boise State University.

We also wish to extend our sincere gratitude to outgoing Commissioners Amanda Ashley and Kris Clegg who through their work on the commission and deep knowledge of and connections with the community contributed immensely to our work. Thank you for your service!

Read the full announcement to learn more about Aiden and Astri!

https://shorturl.at/sOu5H