Since you’re already paying for streaming services and probably have limited time on your hands, it can be tempting to stay at home and consume art with a side of takeout on your couch. There’s certainly a time for that, but there’s local art you can see for free or on the cheap, too.
Take a Walk!
These new tours from the City of Boise Department of Arts and History prompted this segment, so they get the first nod. There are only a few of these guided tours left (including one today at 6 p.m.), and they’re $10 each. Think of it this way: Once you go on this tour, you can guide it for other people yourself!
Check out the other upcoming tours from the city.
For a free option, the city also offers this map of public art, archives, and more to visit and tour yourself.
And if you’re a local or have lived here long enough to sort of forget Freak Alley exists, don’t sleep on it. Grab a friend and take a stroll to look at the art with some intention, and you’ll be surprised by what you notice.
Local Arts Organizations
A number of arts groups offer free or sliding scale events, with frequent exceptions for larger, ticketed events. Here are a few of my favorites:
This artist-in-residence incubator and gallery churns out events especially at the end of their residency programs. Many are free, but there’s also art for sale.
Garden City more than pulls its weight in the arts department, and Surel’s Place is a cornerstone of the community. They’ve got a free reading coming up next week, followed by a fundraiser — and just keep an eye out, because they’re part of plenty of initiatives.
I’ll admit I’m biased because I’m part of this group, but I promise we do cool stuff! Our next event is July 6, and it’s the release of volume 2 of Paper Plane Press at the Idaho Botanical Gardens.
Museums & Sites
Sure, we lack the museums of larger cities. But are you supporting the ones we do have so they can grow?
When people list Boise museums, this usually doesn’t make the list because it’s on campus and it typically showcases Boise State University students. But some of my favorite exhibits I’ve ever seen have been here, and it’s always free entry.
Don’t mind the construction on Capitol Boulevard, BAM is open! Each exhibit at this mostly contemporary museum is worth visiting for the price of admission ($9 for adults or free with a membership), and they offer free admission on First Thursdays (July 3 is upcoming).
The state’s museum has a little bit of everything, from art to historical exhibits and archives. The museum is operated in tandem with the Old Idaho Penitentiary, which is also worth a visit if you’ve never been or if it’s been a while.
Visit the Basque Block before Jaialdi to brush up before the big festival at the end of July. Adults can get in for $7, and they have a ton of resources online to learn more.
