Arts at the Armory

Arts at the Armory The Center for Arts at the Armory is a non-profit organization that resides in the Somerville Armory
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The Center for Arts at the Armory (Arts at the Armory) is a non-profit organization that resides in a historic Armory building, serving Somerville and the Greater Boston community and beyond as an accessible and inclusive venue for arts, cultural and community events, exhibitions, classes, and more. The repurposed Armory opened its doors as a community arts center in 2008, and Arts at the Armory b

ecame the anchor tenant in the building, renting and operating the main hall and Cafe. The mission of Arts at the Armory is to provide free and affordably-priced space for arts, cultural and community events and programming, and thereby bring diverse audiences together, enrich and transform lives, and promote the creative economy. Arts at the Armory hosts 750+ events each year in disciplines including music, dance, theater, literary arts, visual arts, film, circus, comedy and more. If an event is free to the public, the Armory Cafe provides space at no charge to event organizers. The Armory’s Performance Hall provides an accessibly priced option to performing arts and cultural and community groups of Greater Boston. The Armory Cafe and Hall also provide a vast and inspiring panorama of arts and cultural events to audiences throughout the year. Arts at the Armory hosts dozens of markets including the Somerville Winter Farmers Market, which promote the creative economy, local businesses and community economic development. In addition, the Arts at the Armory Cafe features between 6-8 visual arts exhibitions showcasing local artists each year. The MBTA Green Line Extension to Somerville/Medford was completed in 2022. Visitors and patrons of Arts at the Armory can take the Green Line to the new Magoun Square stop. Learn more at: https://www.mbta.com/projects/green-line-extension-glx

UPDATED Cafe Hours, starting July 9, 2023:
Mondays & Tuesdays: Closed
Wednesdays-Fridays: 12:00PM - 7:30PM
Saturdays: 9:00AM-7:30PM
Sundays: 9:00AM-5:00PM

Want to hold your next event at the Center for Arts at the Armory? Fill out the Event Contact Form to get started: https://artsatthearmory.org/spaces/event-contact-form/

The Armory was built in 1903 by George A. Moore to house the Somerville Light Infantry of the Massachusetts Volunteer Militia. For nearly seventy years after it was built, the Armory also housed the Massachusetts National Guard. During the last quarter of the 20th century, the building was used for some community events but largely sat vacant until the State of Massachusetts decided to sell the building in 2004. The historic Armory was purchased by Joseph and Nabil Sater, in collaboration with Highland Armory Realty Trust (HART), in April 2004 from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts for $2.6 million. The building was acquired by the City of Somerville through eminent domain in June 2021. Sign up for our newsletter here: https://artsatthearmory.org/about/monthly-newsletter/

On Friday, January 9th at 7:00 pm, join us for Amplified: Yeemz & A Far Cry! More info and tickets available here: https...
01/04/2026

On Friday, January 9th at 7:00 pm, join us for Amplified: Yeemz & A Far Cry! More info and tickets available here: https://afarcryorchestra.my.salesforce-sites.com/ticket/ #/instances/a0FQU000004hz7Z2AQ

Amplified is where classical and contemporary music meet on equal terms. A Far Cry joins forces with Yeemz (Yi-Mei Templeman), a singer-songwriter, cellist, and composer whose music blends indie folk intimacy with classical depth. Known for her signature style — singing while playing the cello like a guitar — Yeemz crafts songs that are poetic, emotionally resonant, and completely her own.

Amplified is relaxed and informal. Audiences are encouraged to move freely and grab a drink while they experience the music.

Original voices amplified by strings, and made to move you.
Curated by Crier Francesca McNeeley & Yeemz

www.afarcry.org/all-concerts/amplified-somerville-yeemz

On Thursday, January 8, Thursday, January 15, and Wednesday, January 21 at 6:30 pm, join us in the B5 Lavender Room for ...
01/03/2026

On Thursday, January 8, Thursday, January 15, and Wednesday, January 21 at 6:30 pm, join us in the B5 Lavender Room for the Somerville Poetry Workshop series! More info available on our website: https://artsatthearmory.org/events/somerville-poetry-workshop-6/

Somerville is a great town for poets and writers, of all levels. This discussion-based workshop aims to provide a forum for poets who have never stopped writing to new poets or poets who need to get back into writing and hearing new ideas.

Each session will begin with two city poets or winter poems, and classes will end with twenty-minute readings by visiting poets. Topics will include form, line, structure, generative writing, and notebooks.

Flexible pricing. Taught by local MFA faculty.

Join us for our monthly recurring music events in the ROOTED Café! Upcoming events for January include: • Songwriters in...
01/02/2026

Join us for our monthly recurring music events in the ROOTED Café! Upcoming events for January include:
• Songwriters in the Round | Wednesday, January 7th and 21st at 7:00 pm
• Pub Sing | Thursday, January 8th at 7:00 pm
• Tunefoolery Coffee House | Wednesday, January 14th at 7:00 pm
• Strummerville Ukelele Club | Wednesday, January 28th at 7:00 pm

More info available for each event on our website! https://artsatthearmory.org/upcoming-events/

Join us for our monthly recurring Café events this January! Upcoming events include: • WYRD Comedy | Friday, January 2nd...
01/01/2026

Join us for our monthly recurring Café events this January! Upcoming events include:
• WYRD Comedy | Friday, January 2nd and 23rd at 7:00 pm
• Somerville Winter Farmer's Market | Saturday, January 3rd, 10th, 17th, 24th, and 31st from 9:30 AM – 1:30 PM
• West Coast Swing Training | Monday, January 5th, 12th, 19th, and 26th at 7:00 pm
• S**t Slam | Tuesday, January 6th at 7:30 pm
• Nova Comedy Collective's Nebula Night | Friday, January 9th at 8:00 pm
• Atomic Comedy Indie Improv Night | Thursday, January 15th at 7:00 pm
• Improv Comedy: An Evening Of | Friday, January 16th at 7:30 pm
• GottaBal! Balboa Dance | Sunday, January 18th at 4:00 pm

More info available for each event on our website! https://artsatthearmory.org/upcoming-events

On Friday January 2nd at 7:00 pm, join us for this New Year’s Masquerade Vortex Ecstatic Dance with DJ Tara Ma! Bring yo...
12/30/2025

On Friday January 2nd at 7:00 pm, join us for this New Year’s Masquerade Vortex Ecstatic Dance with DJ Tara Ma! Bring your dreamy costume and mask or borrow ours. Get ready for a New Year’s ritual and Biodanza Warm-Up with Yaw Tutu. DJ Tara Ma will rock the night to tune us up for 2026. Closing soundscape with Ankati Day. What dreams are ready to be born this year? Embodiment, Beats and Community. Bring your friends and see you on the dance floor! This is a sober event.

Biodanza Warm-Up with Yaw Tutu (FL)
Ecstatic Dance Dreamwave with DJ Tara Ma (RI)
Soundscape by Ankati Day (NH)
7 pm ~ Door opens
7:15 pm ~ Opening Circle / New Year’s Ritual
7:30 pm ~ Biodanza Warm-Up with Yaw Tutu
8:00 pm ~ Ecstatic Dance – DJ Tara Ma
9:40 pm – Soundscape by Ankati Day

Learn more at ecstaticdancema.com

Two powerful musical experiences 🎶 Spotlight Series Announce!This coming March, Arts at the Armory welcomes artists who ...
12/22/2025

Two powerful musical experiences 🎶 Spotlight Series Announce!

This coming March, Arts at the Armory welcomes artists who celebrate tradition, connection, and storytelling through sound to the Spotlight stage.

Djékady with Balla Kouyaté & Mike Block ✨ March 1, 2026
A fiery six-piece band led by Grammy-winning musicians Balla Kouyaté and Mike Block, Djékady brings Malian music into vibrant conversation with American folk and contemporary styles. Rooted in an 800-year griot tradition, their music moves feet, lifts spirits, and celebrates global connection.
Tickets: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/1978430988344?aff=oddtdtcreator

We Black Folk Showcase: An Invitation to Listen ✨ March 20, 2026
A special Spotlight Series evening celebrating the depth and diversity of Black folk and roots music. Featuring Cliff Notez, Grace Givertz, Tim Hall, Gabriella Simpkins, Dzidzor, and one more artist to be announced, this curated showcase treats folk as a living practice shaped by memory, place, and community.
Tickets: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/1977930384023?aff=oddtdtcreator

Arts at the Armory | Somerville, MA | $35 General Admission for each show
Tickets available now 🎟 join us for two fantastic nights of music and connection.

Images: Outdoor photograph of Djékady with Balla Kouyaté & Mike Block; We Black Folk in concert 3/20/26 at Arts at the Armory

✨✨While we continue to seek underwriting for our Spotlight Series, we rely on generous donors like you to purchase ticke...
12/22/2025

✨✨While we continue to seek underwriting for our Spotlight Series, we rely on generous donors like you to purchase tickets to these performances and donate to our year-end fundraiser to make shows like these possible. https://secure.qgiv.com/for/thecenterforartsatthearmory
https://artsatthearmory.org/our-programs/spotlight-series/

Since we became part of Mass Cultural Council's Card to Culture program earlier this year, we have given away 65 free tickets to Spotlight Series shows this year. Your support makes these types of giveaways possible. Beyond Card to Culture, we are frequently partnering with youth and community groups to provide free tickets to our programming.

We have been building our Spotlight Series for four years now. We curate, produce, promote and present these shows ourselves with a mission to celebrate the diversity and culture of our community by bringing world-renowned performers, always paired with a local opening act, into our historic and intimate setting. We put the spotlight on local, national and international artists from diverse communities, and provide platforms that amplify these voices. In 2025, we presented Rufus Wainwright, 10,000 Maniacs, Shawn Colvin & Rodney Crowell, Janeane Garofalo, Leyla McCalla, Michelle Azar, Laura Sanchez, and Lane Moore. It was an incredible year for Spotlight Series artists!

We created our Spotlight Series because it is another way in which we create impact for our community. Experiencing a live performance by a favorite artist, or a newly discovered artist, in community with others can be transformative. Give today BECAUSE ART CHANGES EVERYTHING.

Thank you in advance for your support and generosity.

Wishing you a warm & restful holiday season from all of us at Arts at the Armory.Our team will be on winter break from D...
12/20/2025

Wishing you a warm & restful holiday season from all of us at Arts at the Armory.

Our team will be on winter break from Dec 24, 2025 to Jan 1, 2026, with the exception of an NYE Disco Dance Party on Dec 31! Find tickets on artsatthearmory.org

Support Arts at the Armory's BECAUSE ART CHANGES EVERYTHING 2025 Year-End Campaign! Help us get to our $30,000 goal by D...
12/18/2025

Support Arts at the Armory's BECAUSE ART CHANGES EVERYTHING 2025 Year-End Campaign! Help us get to our $30,000 goal by December 31st to sustain arts, culture and community throughout the year. Thank you in advance for your ongoing generosity.

Address

191 Highland Avenue
Somerville, MA
02143

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