After an intensive community engagement process, the City of Somerville has now released its Master Plan for establishing its Armory building as a public community arts center, which would place Somerville among only a handful of communities nationwide with a public-owned arts and culture center. The plan comes at a time when private arts spaces and studio costs are under increasing pressure in the Boston region and in Somerville. This cultural investment is fitting for a city known for its high concentration of artists, creative festivals, and steadfast support of the arts.

 

Ultimately, the community’s vision is for a thriving, publicly secured arts hub offering performances, workshops, talks, and civic events as well as rehearsal, studio, gallery space – and more. To begin making this vision a reality, the City has issued a call for a community-based Armory Advisory Board and will soon post a call for arts tenants (via RFP and open to current and new tenants.)

 

“The community made their wishes clear: preserve and build on the great work and programming we have at the Armory now under the private model, and expand the mission to serve the full community under a public model. This plan delivers on those goals,” said Mayor Katjana Ballantyne. “It adds the security of public stewardship; establishes a mission to serve our full community of artists and residents equitably, accessibly and innovatively; and creates a governance model that is both by and for Somervillians with a community-based board to guide the center’s mission. This plan now paves the way for a sustainable, inclusive, exciting arts center for all in our community, for years to come.”

 

Established as a cultural arts center by a private owner in 2008, the Armory has consistently faced financial challenges common to arts centers. The pandemic worsened matters. In 2021, the private arts center faced imminent closure. This, despite the former owner’s commitment, an active anchor tenant Arts at the Armory, and sizable City Covid recovery grants. To prevent this loss, the City stepped in to acquire the Armory through eminent domain, preserving the space for the singular purpose of serving the community with arts, culture, and civic uses into the future.

 

Public ownership does, however, introduce new legal requirements for access, management, and fairness. For one, state procurement law demands public owners follow a regulated and open process for identifying tenants. To do so in a way that addressed past financial challenges, the City launched a process to establish a Master Plan for the site in 2022.

 

Somerville’s Economic Development Division and the City’s Somerville Arts Council conducted an extensive and inclusive community process to develop the Master Plan. The goal of the planning effort was twofold:

 “The community really stepped up here to undertake a thoughtful process to create the Master Plan,” said Somerville Arts Council Director Gregory Jenkins. “As a diverse community with a longstanding history of welcoming artists of all types, it’s inspiring to see artists and residents come together to work to preserve the Armory as our community hub for the arts. We want to thank the community for putting in many hours to ensure we have a bedrock commitment to meeting diverse community needs in this building.”

 

The Armory Master Plan directly reflects public feedback provided during multiple meetings, open feedback sessions, and direct outreach, to help ensure that diverse voices shaped the plan. As a roadmap it sets up: clear priorities for use; a governance and programming structure that ensures community accountability; measures to protect community interests; a fair and transparent process for selecting tenants and partners; and a financial model that best lays a foundation for long-term sustainability.

 

This Master Plan recognizes that there is likely to be a phased approach to establishing a successful future for the Armory. The first phase focuses on stabilizing the property by filling the building with tenants under multi-year leases and making continued improvements to the building and management. Read the Master Plan at voice.somervillema.gov.

 

 

As a first step in realizing the Master Plan, the City is calling for applicants to apply to serve on a community-based Somerville Armory Advisory Board. The Board will advise the Mayor and City Council on tenant selection and building investments as well as overall mission. Applications are open and can be found at voice.somervillema.gov and somervillema.gov/besomerville along with more information. The application period will remain open until end of day Monday, July 14.

To establish a vibrant mix of arts tenants and abide by legal requirements for leasing public spaces fairly, the building will leased through a new, open application process available to both current and new tenants. Tenants will be selected by the community-based Advisory Board and submitted for approval to the City Council and Mayor.

 

For interested artisans and arts organizations, the City will issue a Request for Proposal (RFP) process in the coming weeks. This will allow the City to work with the arts community to determine how best to utilize the Armory space and maximize its potential for both artisans and the community while preserving the Armory’s place in Somerville. Any current tenants who choose not to apply, are not arts entities, or that are not selected will be offered comprehensive relocation supports.

 

Always with an eye to the long-term mission, The Advisory Board will review building needs and develop a plan for building investments to be carried out by the City.

 

 

Somerville is known for its very high concentration of artists, oft touted as more artists per square foot than anywhere but New York City. Numerous artist buildings and arts organizations are found in the city. A highly active Somerville Arts Council, which is part of the City government, distributes grants and produces programing including popular arts festivals, events, and activities as well as an innovative culinary arts entrepreneur initiative and restaurant jointly called Nibble. As the Arts policy arm of the Administration, the Arts Council also actively develops initiatives to prevent artist displacement and grow resources for the arts including via zoning initiatives with arts carve outs.    

                                                       

 

New board will support the community’s public arts center at the Armory;  Apply by Monday, July 14, 2025  

 

With the Armory Master Plan now complete, the City is embarking on an important first step in the community-driven plan. Community members are invited to apply to join the new volunteer Somerville Armory Advisory Board. This opportunity is for arts professionals and residents. If you’re passionate about arts and culture for all, this is a great opportunity to make an impact. The deadline to apply is Monday, July 14. 

 

What is the Somerville Armory Advisory Board (AAB)? 

The Somerville Armory is the city-owned 34,000-square-foot public arts center located at 191 Highland Avenue. The AAB is dedicated to supporting the Armory’s mission to serve as a thriving arts and cultural center for the full community. Board members will honor the goals of the Master Plan while providing recommendations to the Mayor. They will advise on selecting Armory tenants, as well as on investment priorities for revenues and funds raised for building improvements and service upgrades.   

 

Who Can Join? 

The city is seeking three professional members of the local arts community and two residents, including one resident who resides in the Armory area.  

Who is not eligible for this board? 

 

What knowledge would be helpful to the board? 

All are welcome to apply. The City seeks diverse perspectives. Any of the following knowledge would be helpful to the board’s work, but is not required: 

 

What is the Time Commitment? 

The Armory Advisory Board shall meet not less than quarterly. Meetings may need to be as frequent as weekly at times to efficiently make decisions when required. Meetings may be held in person or remotely via video conference or teleconference, but in all cases all members must be able to participate in discussions and vote on agenda items.     

 

What is the Appointment Process? 

Members are volunteers appointed to a three-year term. Members will be appointed by the Mayor based on recommendations submitted by a review panel. The panel will include, but not be limited to, one member of the City Council and representatives of the Somerville Arts Council and Office of Strategic Planning and Community Development. Members may reapply to be reappointed at the end of their term.  

 

What is the Deadline to Apply? 

Applications are due by end of day on Monday, July 14th 2025.  

 

How Do I Apply? 

 

Questions? 

 

The City of Somerville does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, age, national origin, disability, or any other protected category. Auxiliary aids and services, written materials in alternative formats, and reasonable modifications in policies and procedures will be provided to qualified applicants and employees with disabilities free of charge, upon request. 

  

Persons with disabilities who need auxiliary aids and services for effective communication (i.e., CART, ASL), written materials in alternative formats, or reasonable modifications in policies and procedures in order to access the programs, activities, and meetings of the City of Somerville should please contact Adrienne Pomeroy at 617-625-6600 x 2059 or ADA@somervillema.gov.