FORT POINT ARTS COMMUNITY, INCORPORATED (FPAC)

ABOUT: Fort Point Arts Community (FPAC) 

Mission: The Fort Point Arts Community (FPAC), a non-profit founded in 1980, plays a significant role in promoting arts and culture in the Fort Point and Seaport neighborhoods. We support a diverse community of artists from Fort Point and beyond by organizing exhibitions, performances and speaker series, often addressing societal and environmental themes. 

Additionally, FPAC hosts an annual open studios every fall, facilitates corporate art lending, and advocates for affordable housing for artists. 

FPAC Manages 8-10 exhibitions per year at two galleries: the FPAC Art Space, 70A Sleeper Street, and the Gallery at Atlantic Wharf, 290 Congress Street in partnership with Boston Properties.

Impact: As one of New England's largest and most historic artist communities, FPAC engages hundreds of multi-disciplinary artists each year who work in varied media. FPAC has been instrumental in preserving affordable housing for artists in Fort Point and continues to advocate for equitable access to creative spaces. In 2025, FPAC estimates it had over 5,000 visitors to its two galleries and events.

Our Story of Survival Since 1980!

In the mid-1970’s hundreds of artists moved to the largely abandoned warehouse buildings of Fort Point in the South Boston Waterfront. In 1980, the neighborhood held its first Open Studios and formed the Fort Point Arts Community (FPAC) non-profit to preserve studio space in the district. 

In the 1980s and 1990s, FPAC was a leader in preserving affordable housing for artists in Fort Point. It developed several limited-equity artist co-ops, including 249 A Street (the first limited-equity artist co-op in Massachusetts) and The Artist Building at 300 Summer. FPAC was instrumental in securing Midway Studios and other spaces in Fort Point buildings as live/work rentals. These efforts ensure that artists can live and work sustainably in an increasingly expensive area. Today, FPAC continues to advocate for equitable access to creative spaces while enriching Boston’s cultural landscape through its programming and community-building initiatives.

Free programming for the public to enjoy!

1. Exhibitions: 10 exhibitions with receptions per year at two galleries
2. Events: 25-35 events per year at the FPAC Art Space (film, spoken word, receptions, dance, comedy, theatre, creative speaker series, music series).
3. Fort Point Open Studios: 150+ artists/performers open their doors to the public every October---children’s workshops too!