Celebrity Series of Boston and GrubStreet celebrated the launch of their new app, ArtsCard Boston, on April 23. Designed with art lovers under age 35 in mind, the app gives access to special discounts, allows for mobile ticketing, presents a calendar of upcoming arts events and creates a platform for friends to plan outings jointly.
Developed with easy-connect mobile technology, an app development group that has worked on similar cultural platforms like the Metropolitan Opera app, ArtsCard hopes to evolve into a one-stop shop for young people interested in theater, music, performing arts, writing, visual art and more.
The collaboration developed through a cohort of Bar Foundation grantees called ArtsAmplified. The foundation put out a call to action to shake up art going demographics in Boston, where participants of cultural activities are often older and less diverse.
“We wanted to bring that sort of streamlined experience to this specific market and we thought an app was the best way to do that,” said Courtney Burke, chief marketing officer at Celebrity Series.
Both founding organizations offer programs for attendees under 35. Celebrity Series has a $35 Under 35 program that provides $35 tickets for attendees under 35 as well as mixers and artist meet-and-greets specifically available to this group. Grub Street offers an under 35 membership for a discounted $55 a year (the least expensive membership available), that includes all the same benefits and access as a regular membership such as discounts on workshop and event tickets and access to the GrubStreet Center for Creative Writing.
The ArtsCard app is about convenience, but it’s also about making the art world more accessible.
“Our mission really is to remove barriers, social, financial and cultural, to the writing world,” said Sean Van Deuren, director of marketing and communications at GrubStreet. “And we really want to ensure that writers of all backgrounds have what they need to develop their voices and share their stories.”
The group plans to offer special events and experiences that are only available to ArtsCard app users in the future as well.
ArtsCard is just beginning its journey. Currently, the app is populated only with Celebrity Series and GrubStreet events. But Burke and Van Deuren hope to attract the participation of many more cultural institutions.
Possibilities abound. The American Repertory Theater offers $30 tickets for students and theatergoers under 25. The Boston Symphony Orchestra offers $25 tickets to patrons under 40. Cultural institutions like the Museum of Fine Arts offer free admission to students and discounted and free community days throughout the year. The ArtsCard app could put all of those discounts, tickets and information in one place.
“All of our arts and culture institutions are trying to attract these same audiences in the city of Boston,” said Burke. “So, putting it all in one place really is a strategic move. I think that the more we can band together, especially in difficult times, the better off all of our institutions are.”
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