About the United South End Artists
The USEA is a nonprofit member-based organization run by volunteers and comprised of artists and art enthusiasts.
Our History
In 1986 a group of artists at the Boston Center for the Arts invited friends and neighbors into their studios to view their work. As other artists in the area became interested in the event, the United South End Artists (USEA) was formed, and the South End Open Studios (SEOS) weekend came into being. Today the event encompasses all corners of the neighborhood, attracting thousands of visitors from in and around greater Boston. SEOS invites visitors to see the art, where it’s made, and meet the artists who made it.
Our Mission
The mission of the United South End Artists Boston (USEA) is to cultivate a community that promotes art and artistic development in Boston’s South End. We believe that an informed artist is a creative artist, and that an informed audience is an engaged audience. We also believe that art is meant to be seen, shared, and something to be experienced.
We are dedicated to creating opportunities for artists to increase their visibility, and to meet and learn from each other through art and business presentations, creative activities, and networking events. The USEA promotes member art and news through social media and newsletters, and USEA is the producer of the annual South End Open Studios, a premier event for showcasing the works of South End artists. As an independent non-profit 501(c)(3) organization, we bring together artists, volunteers, local businesses, and public agencies to uplift and celebrate all things art in the South End.
USEA Board of Directors:
Board President, Jessica Burko, Artist, curator, educator, writer
Board Treasurer, Anne Smart, South End Branch Librarian, 1996 to 2021
Board Clerk, Marie Zack Nolan, Artist, teacher at the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum
Board Director, Michael Eder, Artist, teacher at Boston Collegiate Charter School
Board Director, Sarah Sharpe, Special Projects Manager, Mayor's Office