💡 About the Project

Our interactive public art project, Give & Take: Swap Boxes for Allston-Brighton is presented in partnership with Harvard EdPortal. On view at 224 Western Ave, Allston, MA, through April 2026.

Give & Take is a community project featuring three themed swap boxes—outdoor public boxes, each roughly the size of a microwave– where anyone can give or take free items. Think Little Free Library, but for more than just books: swap plants, toys, art, handmade goods, and more. Each box has a rotating theme, shaped by community input. At its core, Give & Take is a community-powered circular economy experiment that fosters generosity, sustainability, and joy by keeping items out of landfills, and transforming public space into a site of shared care.

Interested in Adopting a Swap Box?

As we look towards Spring ‘26 we’re seeking future homes for the swap boxes! As planned, the mural and 3 boxes will be de-installed on March 31, 2026 from the Harvard EdPortal. We’ve enjoyed seeing the community engage with the swap boxes and would love to see them live on and evolve elsewhere!

Does your place of work, community center, library, or front stoop need a cheerful little free library? Do you have a place in mind where the full installation could live next? Drop us a line, we’d love to chat.

Because extensive time, materials, and care went into building the boxes and mural, we’re asking interested hosts for a fee to help us offset those costs. Fill out the contact form so we can learn more about your interest!

🔄 Visit + Engage

Stop by the Harvard EdPortal at 224 Western Ave, Allston, MA to take or leave items in the outdoor swap boxes. Additionally, through quarterly workshops, participants can learn new skills, craft items to share, and deepen their connection to the neighborhood.

Current Box Themes (January-March 2026)

🕯️ Comfort Corner – wellness and self-care items like candles, face masks, tea, affirmations, etc.

🎁 Treasure Box – playful and curious items like card & board games, puzzles, stickers, lucky charms, toys, etc.

🫖 Pottery Exchange – mugs, cups, bowls, vases, vessels— anything ceramic is welcome, including handmade or commercially made items

Previous Box Themes have included:

🥄 Little Kitchen Cupboard
🖼️ Tiny Art Gallery
🌱 Little Free Greenhouse
🎨 Maker Box
🫖 Pottery Exchange – this theme will remain throughout the year thanks to our partners, the Ceramics Program at the Office for the Arts at Harvard and Create in Roslindale for generously contributing artisan-made pottery.

✏️ Take the Survey

Spend time in Allston–Brighton? What do you want to swap? Swap Box themes will change again in August 2025. Help shape future themes by taking our 5-minute community survey!

📣 Spread the Word

Want to share the project with your community? Download and share our poster.
Want to get involved? Email us at contact.nonissue@gmail.com.

Special thanks

to Monica Chiang, Eve Alpern, Gabriella Melchiorri, Kaylynn Mayo, Mel Taing, Jordan Carr, Maureen Kavanaugh, and the generous Cranston Street neighbors for making this project possible. Additional thanks to all of the local artists and creatives who have donated pieces and wisdom to the project.