Cambridge Arts Stands with the Dance Community
10/9/2019 • 4 years ago
The information on this page may be outdated as it was published 4 years ago.
CONcept ARTists perform during the "Green Street Studios: Inside Out" showcase at the Cambridge Arts River Festival, June 1, 2019.
Cambridge Arts Stands With The Dance Community
Like so many of you, we at Cambridge Arts were heartbroken to learn last week that Green Street Studios plans to close after 28 years of operation. Green Street is a longtime anchor of Cambridge’s dance and performing arts community—and a place of so many fond memories for us.
We have been honored to work closely with Green Street Studios and the community it has served since the beginning, serving in key roles like programming partner, presenter, and funder. Given our longtime partnership with Green Street Studios, we stand in solidarity with the local dance community, particularly at this challenging time.
Since hearing the news, Cambridge Arts has worked to identify existing rehearsal and presentation spaces where dance makers who will be displaced from Green Street Studios can continue to carry on their work. In addition, we are committed to identifying new opportunities and spaces where the dance community can create work and connect with local and regional audiences.
In collaboration with the City Manager office, Mayor’s office, City Council, and school leaders, we have reached out to the Dance Complex, José Mateo Ballet Theater, and the Multicultural Arts Center to determine availability for displaced dance makers in those facilities. We have also been in communication with the Central Square Business Improvement District to work towards identifying privately-owned spaces that might be made available for both short and longer-term use by the dance community.
The crunch that the regional real estate boom has put on creative spaces is a huge challenge for our community. Beginning in 2018, Cambridge Arts helped launch a conversation with the Massachusetts Cultural Council, Somerville Arts Council and the City of Boston’s Office of Arts and Culture to explore regional responses to the issue of secure work and presentation spaces for artists and makers.
The City of Cambridge has long supported and served as a champion for art spaces based in Cambridge—including helping secure locations and funding for organizations such as The Dance Complex, Multicultural Arts Center, Maud Morgan Arts, Cambridge Art Association, New School of Music, and Gallery 344, among others. The City of Cambridge and Cambridge Redevelopment Authority are currently transforming the Foundry Building at 101 Rogers St. into a community center for visual and performing arts, entrepreneurship, technology, and workforce development and education.
During this challenging time for the arts and non-profit sector, Cambridge Arts is committed to supporting our community of dancers and dance makers here in Cambridge. Let us know how we can help.
Jason Weeks
Executive Director
Cambridge Arts
cambridgeartscouncil.org
617.349.4380
cambridgearts@cambridgema.gov
Ruckus Dance performs during the "Green Street Studios: Inside Out" showcase at the Cambridge Arts River Festival, June 1, 2019.