#ARTSTAYSHERE's Culture Crisis Conversations

Episode 33: Preserving Somerville’s Central Street Studios: It Takes A Village

#ARTSTAYSHERE talks with artists & musicians from Somerville’s Central Street Studios about the preservation of their affordable artist workspaces. The Arts & Business Council of Greater Boston, with financial support from the City of Somerville, plans to become the next steward of this special creative community. The artists do their part by launching their own preservation fundraiser to help bridge the gap in funding. Recorded by Ethan Dussault at New Alliance Audio in Somerville. Edited by Nick Zampiello at New Alliance East in Somerville.

Episode 32: MASSCreative: 2025-26 Legislative Agenda, Art Advocacy Week, Create the Vote, & More

#ARTSTAYSHERE talks with team MASSCreative about their 2025-26 legislative agenda, ongoing advocacy to unlock financial resources for the arts sector in MA, the 2025 Create the Vote initiative, the upcoming Arts Advocacy Week & more. Recorded at The Record Co. by Dan Moffat. Edited by Nicholas Zampiello at New Alliance East in Somerville.

Over the recent years, much work has moved forward regarding Rafi Property's Somernova development in Union Square, Somerville. The joint committee of Somerville's planning board & City Council's land use committee will hold a public hearing on Thursday, March 20 at 6:30pm on 3 zoning text amendments (ZTA) impacting this project: revised ACE (arts & creative enterprise) definitions, a new research & development (R&D) base zoning & a new Arts & Innovation Sub-Area zoning overlay.

#ARTSTAYSHERE's Ami Bennitt & Ethan Dussault give a contextual overview of where this project started, how it's improved, how it's beneficial to the community & Somerville's arts/creative sector -- assuming Somernova & the Union Square Neighborhood Council (USNC) agree on the CBA (community benefits agreement).

#ARTSTAYSHERE will offer more information closer to March 20 on giving public testimony at the hearing. To learn more & register for the meeting:

https://www.somervillema.gov/events/2025/03/20/land-use-committee-joint-session-planning-board

Episode 31: Mass Cultural Council’s Michael Bobbitt & Jay Pagett on the Cultural Facilities Fund

#ARTSTAYSHERE talks with MCC’s Executive Director Michael Bobbitt & Cultural Facilities Fund Program Director Jay Pagett about arts advocacy, various cultural space efforts state-wide & more. Recorded at The Record Co. by Dan Moffat. Edited by Nicholas Zampiello at New Alliance East in Somerville

Episode 30: Charlestown Rehearsal Studios Part 2: 95 Music Rehearsal Studios Here to Stay!

#ARTSTAYSHERE talks with Jesse Vengrove, Daniel Sussman & Emily Doran, the Steering Committee of the Charlestown Rehearsal Studios Tenants Association about their 2-year advocacy campaign resulting in preserving the 95 music rehearsal studios in Boston. They discuss the nuance and challenge of organizing, how the state of music rehearsal has evolved over time, and the importance of participating in the process.

Recorded at The Record Co. by Dan Moffat. Edited by Nicholas Zampiello at New Alliance East in Somerville.

Episode 29: Post-Preservation Growing Pains at Humphreys Street Studios

#ARTSTAYSHERE talks with Cristina Todesco, Franklin Marval & Josh Rosewood from Humphreys Street Studios about post-preservation growing pains once becoming majority artist owned/operated, including group dynamics, whether to keep the tenants association, property management, neighbor disputes, tenant evictions & more. Recorded by Dan Moffat at The Record Co. Edited by Nicholas Zampiello at New Alliance East in Somerville.

Episode 28: 50 Year Anniversary of Somerville’s Vernon Street Studios’ Open Studios

#ARTSTAYSHERE talks with Vernon Street Studios artist Heather Balchunas & documentary filmmaker Anne Continelli about the upcoming 50th Anniversary of Vernon Street Open Studios, its origin story, the value of community spaces, and synchrony.

#ARTSTAYSHERE talks with the MassCreative team about their Advocacy & Organizing Fellowship, recent arts & culture Legislative Package, upcoming plans for Advocacy Week, their Advocacy Institute & ways to speak up for the arts & creative sector across Massachusetts.

Episode 26: The Record Co.'s New Executive Director, Boston Waves & Extension to Monthly Music Rehearsal

#ARTSTAYSHERE talks with The Record Co.’s new executive director, Bobby Boyd, who talks about what The Record Co. (TRC) has accomplished & goals for the future. Boyd also announces their upcoming BOSON WAVES free, live music concert on 9/20 and a two-year extension to their monthly music rehearsal in Dorchester.

Episode 25: Artist Displacement Can Cause Trauma

#ARTSTAYSHERE talks with different creatives about how multiple displacements have impacted their work, creative practice, livelihoods, and their mental health. This “roundtable” interview features JJ Gonson (ONCE Somerville), Wayne Strattman (119 Braintree Street, Allston), Nicholas Zampiello (New Alliance East), and Ethan Dussault (New Alliance Audio).

*Note: since the recording of this interview, the development at 119 Braintree Street has paused & artist/tenants have been invited back. However, the city approval for this development remains active.