West End Museum Launches Spring & Summer Programs Celebrating Public Space ‘Democracy’s Front Porch’

Boston, MA— The newly reopened West End Museum is launching an exciting schedule of spring and summer programs, which will be offered both in-person and online.

Beginning April 29, Wentworth University Professor Emeritus Lois Ascher will lead a free, three-part webinar on the importance of urban public space, exploring four of Boston’s most treasured spots.

“Public space is democracy’s front porch,” Ascher said. “It promotes the interaction of diverse people who might not otherwise encounter each other. When you interact in public space and with other people, a comfort level begins to emerge. Suddenly, you’re all part of the same community.”

● Public Space/Common Good examines the role of public space in our daily lives and its importance as a foundation of democratic principles. April 29 at 6:30 p.m.
● Palaces for the People looks at Boston’s Public Library and Public Garden. May 13 at 6:30 p.m.
● The Color of Water: A Civil Discourse explores Boston’s role in providing public access to clean water. The discussion includes a look at Chestnut Hill’s Waterworks Museum and its original role as a pumping station. May 27 at 6:30 p.m.

In addition, the Museum will offer a series of in-person programs with West End Museum
President Duane Lucia.

● Jane’s Walk: On the annual celebration of the urbanist Jane Jacobs, Lucia will lead a free walking tour exploring the remainders of the old West End, including the West Church, Massachusetts General Hospital, West End House, Winchell School, and Beacon Hill’s North Slope. Discussion will focus on Jacobs’ writing and work as an activist fighting urban renewal projects like the one that demolished the West End. May 8 at 1:00 p.m.
● Tidal Power in Colonial Boston: Lucia will explore Boston’s first industrialized power source, the Tidal Mills, in a talk that also examines early efforts to dam parts of the Charles River. May 21 at 6:30 p.m. with a walking tour on June 5 at 11:00 a.m.

For more information on the West End Museum and all its upcoming programs, visit  www.thewestendmuseum.org.

Media Note: Photos of several popular Boston public spaces can be downloaded here.

The Public Space webinar is sponsored by MassHumanities Bridge Street Fund

About the West End Museum:
The West End Museum is dedicated to the collection, preservation and interpretation of the history and culture of the West End  neighborhood. The Museum’s permanent exhibit, “The Last Tenement,” highlights the immigrant history of the neighborhood through its decimation under Urban Renewal in 1959; two additional galleries feature rotating exhibits. The Museum is located  near North Station at 150 Staniford St. Suite 7. Hours: Tuesday – Friday 12:00pm – 5:00pm; Saturday 11:00am – 4:00pm. Admission is free.