To commemorate the 250th Anniversary of the Boston Tea Party, we’re giving the young scholars of Boston a chance to get involved with a unique creative arts project. The story of the Boston Tea Party is composed of themes centered around ideas of protest, civic engagement, representation, and commemoration. All of these concepts are valuable in helping students understand their own role in shaping the future of their community.
During the 250th Boston Tea Party Anniversary Year, students are encouraged to express their personal thoughts and connections to these important themes through creative writing projects, videography, or artistic design. The goal is to not only educate students on the iconic events that helped shape America, but also allow them to connect these ideals to their own lives.
Each quarter of the commemorative year will feature a distinct theme. View Themes >
December 16, 2022-March 16, 2023: Protest >
March 16, 2023-June 16, 2023: Representation >
June 16, 2023-September 16, 2023: Civic Engagement >
September 16, 2023-December 16, 2023: Commemoration >
December 16, 2022-March 16, 2023: Protest
The Boston Tea Party is one of the most well-known protests in world history. Throughout history, citizens have used protest as an agent of societal change in an effort to build a better community. Between the months of December 2022 and March 2023, students are encouraged to express their thoughts and connections to the concept of “protest” and what it means to them in both a historical and contemporary sense by creating an artistic sign, poster, or banner.
March 16, 2023-June 16, 2023: Representation
One of the key concepts associated with the Boston Tea Party is the idea of representation in one’s government. In the lead-up to the destruction of the tea, colonists were required to pay taxes without having a say in government policies. This “taxation without representation” led to non-importation efforts and protests, eventually culminating in the Boston Tea Party. Between March and June of 2023, students are encouraged to share their thoughts on the meaning of representation in government and their personal connection to their government on a state or national level through a collaborative essay, art, or video project with their peers.
June 16, 2023-September 16, 2023: Civic Engagement
Meetings of the “Body of the People” were a central part of the Boston Tea Party. Town meetings can trace their roots to the earliest days of New England, where gatherings of citizens would openly debate and discuss matters of importance to their community. Decisions made at these town meetings would affect all members of the community. However, it should be noted that not all who lived in these communities were welcome and not all voices were heard or represented. Between the months of June and September 2023, students will be encouraged to participate in an act of civic engagement or civic service and write a creative essay, create artwork, or video piece inspired by that service and the impact it had on their community.
September 16, 2023-December 16, 2023: Commemoration
In the years immediately following the Destruction of the Tea, the event was not celebrated as significantly as it is today. In fact, the term “Boston Tea Party” was not published until 1826. This coincided with a revival of “revolutionary spirit” sweeping across the country in the early- 1800s as a number of Boston Tea Party participants began to tell stories of their involvement. Later, as the Centenary of Boston Tea Party approached, commemorations took place across the nation. Over many years, historical reenactments and commemorations have continued as a way for us to feel a tangible connection to historic events. As we prepare to mark the 250th anniversary of the Boston Tea Party, students are encouraged to create their own commemoration of this iconic moment in history through artistic works, paintings, dioramas, creative essays, digital media, or video creation that conveys historical information related to the Boston Tea Party story.
*Please note: Student works submitted by each school will be featured in a special section of a dedicated website at BostonTeaParty250.org, and select works may be displayed in an exhibit in Boston, MA during the commemorative year. By participating, each school grants permission for student artwork to be posted on the aforementioned website and/or social media affiliated with the 250th anniversary of the Boston Tea Party.