‘Boston In 100 Words’ Exhibit On Display At Bentley University

WALTHAM, MA — The RSM Gallery at Bentley University is displaying the illustrated posters of the winning stories from 2020 and 2021 “Boston in 100 words” contests.

"Boston in 100 Words" is an annual community-based writing contest that invites anyone living, working, or attending school in Boston and some surrounding towns to write stories of 100 words or fewer that depict everyday life in their communities.

A team of local, renowned writers select winning stories, which are made available to the public for free in the form of large, illustrated posters installed throughout the city.

The goal of the contest is to impact the largest number of Bostonians possible, and to increase accessibility for the project, organizers have been translating the stories into some of the many languages spoken in Boston communities.

For instance, posters for the 2020 first place story “Freedom Trail” were printed in Spanish and English, while posters for the second place story “Finding home in Chinatown” were printed in Chinese and English.

"Boston in 100 Words" is modeled on a highly successful project, "Santiago in 100 Words," that has run annually in Santiago, Chile, since 2001. After years of success in Chile, the contest expanded to cities in Mexico, Colombia, Poland, The Czech Republic, Hungary, and Slovakia.

Bentley faculty member and Interim Dean of Arts and Sciences Jane De Leon Griffin founded the nonprofit Inspired Masses to bring the project to Boston, the first American city to become part of this transnational urban writing project.

The exhibition will be on display at Bentley from March 22 through May 3, with an Author and Illustrator Talk and Opening Reception on March 22 at 5 p.m.

The 2022 "Boston in 100 Words" contest will begin accepting submissions in late summer. For more information, click here.