2019 In Arts And Culture

The ARTery critics reflect on the year's best books, music, movies, theater and art.

Claire Saffitz prepares to make Sour Patch Kids. (YouTube)

The Existential Anguish Of Claire Saffitz, Host Of Bon Appétit’s ‘Gourmet Makes’ YouTube Series

The pastry chef undertakes the often Sisyphean task of recreating popular snack foods, a struggle that threatens to destroy her every time.

Local Coverage

Dec 30, 2019

This image released by Netflix shows Beyonce in a scene from her documentary "Homecoming: A Film by Beyoncé." (Parkwood Entertainment/Netflix via AP)

In 2019, Music Made Black Women Feel Free

For black women, music this year embodied an unapologetic, authentic claim to ourselves and what makes us beautiful -- an exuberant celebration made for us, writes Paris Alston.

Local Coverage

Dec 26, 2019

Gustavo Dudamel conducts the Los Angeles Philharmonic. (Courtesy)

The Year In Boston's Classical Music Scene

From Gustavo Dudamel's performance of Stravinsky’s “Rite of Spring” to the Boston Lyric Opera's "Handmaid's Tale," critic Lloyd Schwartz recounts his year in classical music.

Local Coverage

Dec 23, 2019

Critic Sean Burns reviews his favorite films of the year, including "Once Upon A Time… In Hollywood," "The Irishman," "Ash Is Purest White" and "Little Women." (Courtesy)

The 10 Best Films Of 2019

With films from Quentin Tarantino, Martin Scorsese, Greta Gerwig and more, this year proved there’s still plenty of magic to be found in movies, no matter what kind of screen...

Local Coverage

Dec 23, 2019

Notable visual art installations in the Boston area this year.

10 Visual Art Installations In Boston That Made Us Think In 2019

In 2019, a lot of what we saw in the Boston area reacted to our political moment, recontextualized artists that were overlooked in the canon, and reflected a booming Boston...

Local Coverage

Dec 23, 2019

10 Best Books From 2019 That Present The Body As A Radical Act

The tumult of 2019 has made the year feel as long as the decade it’s concluding, and the books published this year certainly reflect that.

Local Coverage

Dec 23, 2019

Nick Cave leads the parade through the South End. (OJ Slaughter for WBUR)

2019 In Boston Arts: A Year Of Convening

"It seemed to me, that everywhere I turned in the creative world, there was a hunger, or at least a confrontation with, the idea of convening," writes senior editor Maria...

Local Coverage

06:24Dec 23, 2019

The best local albums of 2019. (Courtesy of the artists)

The 15 Best Albums Out Of Boston This Year

A number of the records on this list stood out due to their treatment of political topics, writes critic Karen Muller. Others fly against expected genre conventions to powerful effect.

Local Coverage

Dec 23, 2019

12 Plays And Musicals That Mattered In Boston This Year

From "Cambodian Rock Band" at Merrimack Rep to "Dragon Cycle" at the A.R.T., critics Carolyn Clay and Ed Siegel take a look at the year in theater.

Local Coverage

Dec 23, 2019

The Best Poetry Boston Gave Us In 2019

The poetry world in and around Boston is one of the richest in the country — so many good writers, so much variety and depth. Here are a few of...

Local Coverage

Dec 23, 2019

Sections

Radio

Podcasts

CitySpace

Support

2019 In Arts And Culture

The Existential Anguish Of Claire Saffitz, Host Of Bon Appétit’s ‘Gourmet Makes’ YouTube Series

Local Coverage

In 2019, Music Made Black Women Feel Free

Local Coverage

The Year In Boston's Classical Music Scene

Local Coverage

The 10 Best Films Of 2019

Local Coverage

10 Visual Art Installations In Boston That Made Us Think In 2019

Local Coverage

10 Best Books From 2019 That Present The Body As A Radical Act

Local Coverage

2019 In Boston Arts: A Year Of Convening

Local Coverage

The 15 Best Albums Out Of Boston This Year

Local Coverage

12 Plays And Musicals That Mattered In Boston This Year

Local Coverage

The Best Poetry Boston Gave Us In 2019

Local Coverage

Sections

Radio

Podcasts

CitySpace

Support

Subscribe to our weekday newsletter

The Existential Anguish Of Claire Saffitz, Host Of Bon Appétit’s ‘Gourmet Makes’ YouTube Series

In 2019, Music Made Black Women Feel Free

The Year In Boston's Classical Music Scene

The 10 Best Films Of 2019

10 Visual Art Installations In Boston That Made Us Think In 2019

10 Best Books From 2019 That Present The Body As A Radical Act

2019 In Boston Arts: A Year Of Convening

The 15 Best Albums Out Of Boston This Year

12 Plays And Musicals That Mattered In Boston This Year

The Best Poetry Boston Gave Us In 2019