You are invited to be a part of the 2013 First Night Festival of the Arts. Through our CULTURAL PARTNERS PROGRAM, First Night provides opportunities for organizations like yours to get the attention of our diverse and engaged audiences.

Since 1976, Boston’s unique New Year’s Eve tradition has annually attracted one million people for a day-long celebration that includes: an afternoon Family Festival at the Hynes Convention Center; a Grand Procession down Boylston Street; Colossal ice sculptures that dot the city’s squares and plazas; a vast array of music, dance, and theatre performances in venues all around town; and a spectacular fireworks display over Boston Harbor at midnight.

For many years, we have partnered with arts organizations like yours to enrich our programming and showcase the best that our city’s cultural community has to offer. And because First Night falls on a Monday this year, we are rolling out a special weekend-long showcase of offerings by our cultural partners (for this year only). Choose either or both of the following opportunities, and we will promote your participation in the First Night Program Guide (75,000 copies printed) and on our website (386,679 visits last year):

• Present a free special performance/activity at your venue for button holders on December 28, 29, 30, and/or 31;
• Offer free admissions to ongoing programs at your venue for button holders on December 28, 29, 30, and/or 31.

Benefits to cultural partners include: descriptions of your free programming for button holders and representation of your venue on maps featured in the First Night Program Guide and on our website; logo placement with link on our website; and acknowledgement on Thank You Billboards in Copley Square and at the Hynes Convention Center.

If your organization is not able to provide free programming, you may also participate by offering discounted admissions at your venue for button holders — any time from December 1, 2012 through January 31, 2013. A listing of these value-added offers for button holders will be featured on the First Night website.

First Night encourages its cultural partners to sell buttons (the ticket to all indoor festival activities) throughout December. These sales help to attract First Night revelers to your venue and generate revenue for your operations. Cultural Partners can order First Night buttons at no risk for $15 each and sell them at the normal retail price of $18.

If you would like to be a Cultural Partner, simply fill out the form below and submit. Or call Tom Formicola, at (617) 542-1399.