A Matter of Light
A Matter of Light
A Documentary Film by Anne Continelli on the Founding of Vernon Street Studios
Can a small group of artists transform a former industrial city into a culturally rich, vibrant community? In Somerville, MA, 1974, a handful of artists rolled up their sleeves and converted one floor of a run-down warehouse into artist studios. Composed mostly of women, this group had to learn construction and renovation. The subsequent studio space, known as Vernon Street Studios, started an artist migration into the formerly industrial city that recast it into a multicultural, desirable greater Boston community. Today, artists are facing displacement due to skyrocketing costs. Interviews with some of the original artists and current artists tell the story, combined with verité footage of Open Studios today, stock footage, and Creative Commons archival educational videos used to recreate past events. Anne Continelli is a freelance video producer and editor whose documentaries include the rescue of Brookline’s beloved Coolidge Corner Theater. Learn more here: annemcontinelli.com
For tickets: https://AMatterofLight.eventbrite.com
One Night Art School
Did you ever want to go to art school but accidentally went to law school instead? Somerville is a city full of artists–become one of them for a night!
High above Union Square, a different kind of school is in session. For one night only, a collective of Somerville’s arts organizations and businesses that call themselves Somerville Arts Engine is transforming 10 Prospect Street into a One Night Art School!
Patterns from the Collection
Create a hand-painted bowl for your tiny treasures, inspired by patterns from the Somerville Museum's collection.
Register on Eventbrite
Arts Community Meeting: Cultural Land Trust 101
Arts Community Meeting: Cultural Land Trust 101
August 12, 6-8pm
Join planning experts from Metropolitan Area Planning Council (MAPC), MASSCreative, Somerville Art Council, and #ARTSTAYSHERE for an arts community meeting exploring the benefits of Somerville starting its own municipal Cultural Land Trust.
Reserve your spot on Eventbrite
Milk Row Cemetery: History Unlocked Drop-In Chats
HISTORY UNLOCKED: DROP-IN CHATS
Select THURSDAYS 6-8 pm
Select SATURDAYS 10 am-12 pm
THE POWDER HOUSE, MILK ROW CEMETERY & PROSPECT HILL TOWER will be open to the public on select dates and times from May through October, as part of HISTORY ON THE LINE, a series of exhibitions and programs organized by the Somerville Museum and funded by the Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourism’s MA250 initiative and the City of Somerville.
Manuscripts and Mausoleums
Join the Somerville Museum for Manuscripts & Mausoleums, a relaxed drop-in writing and reading program at historic Milk Row Cemetery.
As part of History Unlocked Drop-In Chats, visitors are invited to spend time in one of Somerville’s historic burial grounds with space to sit, write, read, reflect, and explore. We’ll provide writing prompts inspired by the cemetery, local history, memory, place, and the stories held in historic landscapes. Tours and informal conversations will also be available throughout the program.
Bring a notebook, a pen, and something comfortable to sit on. Participants are welcome to come for the full program or drop in at any time.
The Powder House: History Unlocked Drop-in Chats
HISTORY UNLOCKED: DROP-IN CHATS
Select THURSDAYS 6-8 pm
Select SATURDAYS 10 am-12 pm
THE POWDER HOUSE, MILK ROW CEMETERY & PROSPECT HILL TOWER will be open to the public on select dates and times from May through October, as part of HISTORY ON THE LINE, a series of exhibitions and programs organized by the Somerville Museum and funded by the Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourism’s MA250 initiative and the City of Somerville.
Prospect Hill Tower: History Unlocked Drop-In Chats
HISTORY UNLOCKED: DROP-IN CHATS
Select THURSDAYS 6-8 pm
Select SATURDAYS 10 am-12 pm
THE POWDER HOUSE, MILK ROW CEMETERY & PROSPECT HILL TOWER will be open to the public on select dates and times from May through October, as part of HISTORY ON THE LINE, a series of exhibitions and programs organized by the Somerville Museum and funded by the Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourism’s MA250 initiative and the City of Somerville.
Milk Row Cemetery: History Unlocked Drop-In Chats
HISTORY UNLOCKED: DROP-IN CHATS
Select THURSDAYS 6-8 pm
Select SATURDAYS 10 am-12 pm
THE POWDER HOUSE, MILK ROW CEMETERY & PROSPECT HILL TOWER will be open to the public on select dates and times from May through October, as part of HISTORY ON THE LINE, a series of exhibitions and programs organized by the Somerville Museum and funded by the Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourism’s MA250 initiative and the City of Somerville.
The Powder House: History Unlocked Drop-in Chats
HISTORY UNLOCKED: DROP-IN CHATS
Select THURSDAYS 6-8 pm
Select SATURDAYS 10 am-12 pm
THE POWDER HOUSE, MILK ROW CEMETERY & PROSPECT HILL TOWER will be open to the public on select dates and times from May through October, as part of HISTORY ON THE LINE, a series of exhibitions and programs organized by the Somerville Museum and funded by the Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourism’s MA250 initiative and the City of Somerville.
Prospect Hill Tower: History Unlocked Drop-In Chats
HISTORY UNLOCKED: DROP-IN CHATS
Select THURSDAYS 6-8 pm
Select SATURDAYS 10 am-12 pm
THE POWDER HOUSE, MILK ROW CEMETERY & PROSPECT HILL TOWER will be open to the public on select dates and times from May through October, as part of HISTORY ON THE LINE, a series of exhibitions and programs organized by the Somerville Museum and funded by the Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourism’s MA250 initiative and the City of Somerville.
Milk Row Cemetery: History Unlocked Drop-In Chats
HISTORY UNLOCKED: DROP-IN CHATS
Select THURSDAYS 6-8 pm
Select SATURDAYS 10 am-12 pm
THE POWDER HOUSE, MILK ROW CEMETERY & PROSPECT HILL TOWER will be open to the public on select dates and times from May through October, as part of HISTORY ON THE LINE, a series of exhibitions and programs organized by the Somerville Museum and funded by the Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourism’s MA250 initiative and the City of Somerville.
The Powder House: History Unlocked Drop-in Chats
HISTORY UNLOCKED: DROP-IN CHATS
Select THURSDAYS 6-8 pm
Select SATURDAYS 10 am-12 pm
THE POWDER HOUSE, MILK ROW CEMETERY & PROSPECT HILL TOWER will be open to the public on select dates and times from May through October, as part of HISTORY ON THE LINE, a series of exhibitions and programs organized by the Somerville Museum and funded by the Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourism’s MA250 initiative and the City of Somerville.
Prospect Hill Tower: History Unlocked Drop-In Chats
HISTORY UNLOCKED: DROP-IN CHATS
Select THURSDAYS 6-8 pm
Select SATURDAYS 10 am-12 pm
THE POWDER HOUSE, MILK ROW CEMETERY & PROSPECT HILL TOWER will be open to the public on select dates and times from May through October, as part of HISTORY ON THE LINE, a series of exhibitions and programs organized by the Somerville Museum and funded by the Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourism’s MA250 initiative and the City of Somerville.
Prospect Hill Tower: History Unlocked Drop-In Chats
HISTORY UNLOCKED: DROP-IN CHATS
Select THURSDAYS 6-8 pm
Select SATURDAYS 10 am-12 pm
THE POWDER HOUSE, MILK ROW CEMETERY & PROSPECT HILL TOWER will be open to the public on select dates and times from May through October, as part of HISTORY ON THE LINE, a series of exhibitions and programs organized by the Somerville Museum and funded by the Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourism’s MA250 initiative and the City of Somerville.
The Powder House: History Unlocked Drop-in Chats
HISTORY UNLOCKED: DROP-IN CHATS
Select THURSDAYS 6-8 pm
Select SATURDAYS 10 am-12 pm
THE POWDER HOUSE, MILK ROW CEMETERY & PROSPECT HILL TOWER will be open to the public on select dates and times from May through October, as part of HISTORY ON THE LINE, a series of exhibitions and programs organized by the Somerville Museum and funded by the Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourism’s MA250 initiative and the City of Somerville.
Collage from the Collection
Create a mixed-media collage inspired by Somerville Museum collections. All materials provided; no experience needed.
Take home a piece of the museum when you create a collage inspired by the Somerville Museum’s collections!
In this hands-on workshop, participants will explore images, patterns, textures, and stories from the collection, then use them as inspiration to create their own mixed-media collage. Look closely at historic materials, experiment with paper, color, shape, and composition, and make something uniquely your own.
No art experience is needed, and all materials will be provided. Come ready to cut, layer, arrange, and create in a relaxed museum setting.
Limited seats are available, so bring a friend or come meet someone new!
Recommended for teens and up. Younger children are welcome to participate with an adult, as scissors will be used.
Tickets via Eventbrite.
ARTBEAT Revolution!
The Somerville Museum is partnering with the Somerville Arts Council on this year’s Artbeat festival appropriately themed REVolution for the 250th! Come see our outdoor museum consisting of a vintage interactive “phone booth” where you can hear fellow Somervillians reflecting on Revolution and Freedom, see the Davis Square statues dressed up as historical characters and hear live Revolutionary speeches! Visit our booth on the Somerville Theatre block at Dover Street to say hello and pick up some “Spark of the Revolution Som250 merch!”
Milk Row Cemetery: History Unlocked Drop-In Chats
HISTORY UNLOCKED: DROP-IN CHATS
Select THURSDAYS 6-8 pm
Select SATURDAYS 10 am-12 pm
THE POWDER HOUSE, MILK ROW CEMETERY & PROSPECT HILL TOWER will be open to the public on select dates and times from May through October, as part of HISTORY ON THE LINE, a series of exhibitions and programs organized by the Somerville Museum and funded by the Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourism’s MA250 initiative and the City of Somerville.
A Narrative History of Somerville’s Brickbottom Neighborhood
Brickbottom resident Randal Thurston shares the history of Somerville’s Brickbottom neighborhood including changes in geography, the ebb and flow of industry, the change in character from a neighborhood to an industrial zone, the impact of railroad, the building of the McGrath/Obrien highway, and the proposed inner belt on the neighborhood and the forming of the Brickbottom Artist Building.
The Indigenous American Revolution
Historian Kristofer Ray explores how Native Nations shaped the American Revolution and how the Revolution reshaped Indigenous futures.
As we mark the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution, join the Somerville Museum for a Tavern Talk with historian Kristofer Ray exploring a part of the Revolutionary story too often left out: the role of Indigenous peoples and Native Nations.
Popular narratives of the American Revolution often center the conflict between British colonists and the Crown, leaving Indigenous communities pushed to the margins or erased entirely. This presentation will place the Revolution within a broader Indigenous context, focusing on the critical years between 1763 and 1785. Ray will examine the events leading up to the Revolution and the ways Native Nations shaped, resisted, and responded to the conflict.
The talk will also take a closer look at George Rogers Clark’s expeditions to Vincennes and Kaskaskia in the Ohio River Valley, an often misunderstood military campaign with major implications for Indigenous sovereignty and the future of the continent.
Together, we will consider two essential questions: What impact did the Revolution have on Native Nations? And perhaps more fundamentally, what impact did Native Nations have on the Revolution?
This Tavern Talk invites audiences to reconsider familiar Revolutionary history through a wider and more accurate lens.
Tickets available on Eventbrite.
Be an ARTivist! Hands-on Art-making Advocacy Workshops
For all ages, families too! Make your own advocacy postcards and campaign signs promoting the value of arts in Somerville. Work with artists from Humphreys Street Studios and Central Street Studios to express your creative ideas and support artists and artist workspaces. All materials supplied. No registration necessary, just drop in!
Prospect Hill Tower: History Unlocked Drop-In Chats
HISTORY UNLOCKED: DROP-IN CHATS
Select THURSDAYS 6-8 pm
Select SATURDAYS 10 am-12 pm
THE POWDER HOUSE, MILK ROW CEMETERY & PROSPECT HILL TOWER will be open to the public on select dates and times from May through October, as part of HISTORY ON THE LINE, a series of exhibitions and programs organized by the Somerville Museum and funded by the Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourism’s MA250 initiative and the City of Somerville.
Reading Frederick Douglass Together
Join the Somerville Museum, the Somerville Arts Council, and the Departmtent of Racial and Social Justice at Premiere on Broadway "Reading Frederick Douglass Together", an annual community reading of Frederick Douglass' famous address, "What to the Slave is the Fourth of July" led by Christian Walkes. Followed by discussion and Black Out poetry. Then head across to Trum Field to view "Switchboard", an interactive art piece by Sophie Tachibana Miller featuring the Declaration of Independence and Douglass' speech, while waiting for Independence Day fireworks!
The Secret Quarries of Somerville: A Walking Tour of the City's Geological and Industrial Past
Join Somerville resident Robin Hazard Ray on a walk through Somerville’s deep past, beginning and ending at the Somerville Museum. The rocks underlying our city date to a time before the dinosaurs. We will explore the forgotten traces of rock quarries and look at how our handsome bedrock – the Cambridge Argillite – was extracted, shaped, and used in the city’s 19th-century fabric. Please wear sturdy walking shoes and bring some water!
Robin Hazard Ray, a 30-year resident of Somerville, studied geology at Brown University before pursuing a career in publishing. She gives tours at Mount Auburn Cemetery, which provides the setting for her crime-fiction novels The Strangers’ Tomb and The Soldiers’ Rest.
Meet at the Somerville Museum.
Tickets available on Eventbrite.
The Powder House: History Unlocked Drop-in Chats
HISTORY UNLOCKED: DROP-IN CHATS
Select THURSDAYS 6-8 pm
Select SATURDAYS 10 am-12 pm
THE POWDER HOUSE, MILK ROW CEMETERY & PROSPECT HILL TOWER will be open to the public on select dates and times from May through October, as part of HISTORY ON THE LINE, a series of exhibitions and programs organized by the Somerville Museum and funded by the Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourism’s MA250 initiative and the City of Somerville.
Be an ARTivist! Hands-on Art-making Advocacy Workshops
For all ages, families too! Make your own advocacy postcards and campaign signs promoting the value of arts in Somerville. Work with artists from Humphreys Street Studios and Central Street Studios to express your creative ideas and support artists and artist workspaces. All materials supplied. No registration necessary, just drop in!
PATTERNS from the f COLLECTION MINI BOWL PAINTING WORKSHOP
PATTERNS from the COLLECTION
Mini Bowl Painting Workshop
Create a hand-painted bowl for your tiny treasures, inspired by patterns from the Somerville Museum's collection.
Get inspired by patterns and motifs from the Somerville Museum's collection and paint a one-of-a-kind 3-inch ceramic bowl.
Tickets available on Eventbrite.
Preservation Celebration - Central Street Studios
Join Somerville Mayor Jake Wilson, #ARTSTAYSHERE, the Arts & Business Council of Greater Boston, community leaders, artists and musicians for a ribbon cutting celebrating the preservation of Central Street Studios, as affordable artist workspaces long-term. Reception to follow at the Somerville Museum.
Ribbon Cutting is from 3:00pm - 3:30pm follow up a reception at the Somerville Museum from 3:30pm - 5:00pm
Land/Mark: A Symposium on Enslavement, Enrichment & the Revolution
This symposium explores the story of Mark, Phillis and Phebe, three enslaved people punished in 1755 for fatally poisoning their en-slaver, John Codman, in order to break free from slavery. The case was so well known that 40 years later, Paul Revere used the location of one of their bodies as a landmark when describing his famous 1775 ride. How should we remember Mark, Phillis and Phebe today? And how are scholars,artists, activists, and community members working to reclaim the stories of Black life, resistance, and rebellion that have been erased?
Milk Row Cemetery: History Unlocked Drop-In Chats
HISTORY UNLOCKED: DROP-IN CHATS
Select THURSDAYS 6-8 pm
Select SATURDAYS 10 am-12 pm
THE POWDER HOUSE, MILK ROW CEMETERY & PROSPECT HILL TOWER will be open to the public on select dates and times from May through October, as part of HISTORY ON THE LINE, a series of exhibitions and programs organized by the Somerville Museum and funded by the Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourism’s MA250 initiative and the City of Somerville.
Blessing of the Bay
Join the Somerville Museum for a day of song, dance, and music.
Experience a unique celebration that intertwines the rich histories of three distinct cultures. The Blessing of the Bay honors the legacy of the innovative Blessing of the Bay ship and Massachusetts's first Governor, John Winthrop, while acknowledging the complex narratives of Indigenous peoples and Black Africans impacted by historical events. Enjoy captivating performances by:
Morning Star Singers: An Indigenous drum group that brings the cultural significance of the area's first peoples to life.
Anna-Celestrya Carr: an Indigenous Dancer.
De Ama Battle's African Music and Dance Group: an arts educator and the founder of the Art of Black Dance and Music, Inc. (ABDM). Since 1975, her company has sought to unify people of African descent “through the study of African-rooted dance, music, and folklore” to highlight “cultural similarities within the African Diaspora.”
Through art, music, and dance, we aim to tell the story of Ten Hillsfrom multiple perspectives, reflecting our shared past and celebratingour collective journey.
Don't miss this powerful event—join us as we honor and celebrate our community's diverse History!
Free Admission. For more information, visit the Somerville Museum.
Let's come together to recognize and embrace our shared History!
Faces, Spaces & Places Opening Reception
Faces, Spaces & Places is a visual exhibition exploring the causes, impact, and potential solutions to end artist displacement, offers a spatial justice view of the overlooked value of affordable artist workspaces across Massachusetts. Through photographs, maps, testimony, and community engagements, The #ARTSTAYSHERE Coalition shares insights into what's caused artist displacement over time and how their volunteer advocacy organization, in partnership with community and other stakeholders, has turned the displacement trajectory around. Admission is free but please reserve HERE.
Jane's Walk: Assembly Row - A Historical Perspective
This free event is part of May Preservation Month. Presented by the Somerville Museum in collaboration with Assembly Connect.
Kindness Rocks! Indigenous Stories & Painting Stones
Join us for a creative and meaningful gathering where participants will paint small stones with messages of kindness while listening to stories shared by a local Indigenous storyteller.
Monuments, Burials & Restoration at Milk Row Cemetery
Join Art Conservator, Barbara Mangum of the Somerville Museum to learn about Civil War monuments, burials, and restoration efforts at Milk Row Cemetery.
Prospect Hill Tower: History Unlocked Drop-In Chats
HISTORY UNLOCKED: DROP-IN CHATS
Select THURSDAYS 6-8 pm
Select SATURDAYS 10 am-12 pm
THE POWDER HOUSE, MILK ROW CEMETERY & PROSPECT HILL TOWER will be open to the public on select dates and times from May through October, as part of HISTORY ON THE LINE, a series of exhibitions and programs organized by the Somerville Museum and funded by the Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourism’s MA250 initiative and the City of Somerville.
The Powder House: History Unlocked Drop-in Chats
HISTORY UNLOCKED: DROP-IN CHATS
Select THURSDAYS 6-8 pm
Select SATURDAYS 10 am-12 pm
THE POWDER HOUSE, MILK ROW CEMETERY & PROSPECT HILL TOWER will be open to the public on select dates and times from May through October, as part of HISTORY ON THE LINE, a series of exhibitions and programs organized by the Somerville Museum and funded by the Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourism’s MA250 initiative and the City of Somerville.
Duo Maresienne | The King of Denmark’s Health: Renaissance Music from Denmark-Norway
El Dorado Ensemble (Carol Lewis, Karen Burciaga, Mai-Lan Broekman, James Peretta and Alice Mroszczyk, viols; Olav Chris Henriksen, lute and orpharion) perform a Mother’s Day concert of music from the court of Christian IV, with works by Dowland, Borchgrevinck, Brade, Schop, Ørn, and Thomas Simpson.
Haus Party 003 - SOLD OUT!
Join us on May 15th for an immersive evening at the Somerville Museum, featuring a dynamic mix of visual art, live performances, and evocative sonic landscapes presented by Partridge Haus and Idle Hands Theatre Collective. This multi-sensory gathering brings together artists and audiences in a shared space of exploration and reflection. Food provided by the Fox Den and beverages will be available for purchase throughout the night.
Milk Row Cemetery: History Unlocked Drop-In Chats
HISTORY UNLOCKED: DROP-IN CHATS
Select THURSDAYS 6-8 pm
Select SATURDAYS 10 am-12 pm
THE POWDER HOUSE, MILK ROW CEMETERY & PROSPECT HILL TOWER will be open to the public on select dates and times from May through October, as part of HISTORY ON THE LINE, a series of exhibitions and programs organized by the Somerville Museum and funded by the Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourism’s MA250 initiative and the City of Somerville.
Your Home is a Museum
Your home is full of treasures! In Your Home Is a Museum, participants are invited to bring a meaningful object from home - something you were given, something you found in the floorboards or the backyard, something you inherited, or something that has always been important to you for whatever reason. An object with a full-bodied 5-10 minute story.
We’ll create a display together from all the objects and then listen to each other's stories. Think the “Moth” radio hour or “Antiques Road Show.”
Explore how personal stories become part of shared history.
No museum experience required, just curiosity and a story to tell.
An object storytelling event. Bring an object. Curate a mini exhibition. Tell its story.
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/1987287517461?aff=oddtdtcreator
"Panic on Piedmont Street: The Cocoanut Grove Disaster of 1942"
"In1942, Boston's most famous "hotspot" was the Cocoanut Grove, in the Bay Village. Everyone who was anyone went to the Cocoanut Grove; and at least 900 people were jammed into the place on the evening of Saturday, November 28--when the worst nightclub fire in U.S. history struck the Grove with terrible suddenness and ferocity. How could this have happened? And how did Bostonians turn a disaster into positive reforms that still affect us today? Come listen as we relate the incidents of recklessness and heroism that make up the story of the Cocoanut Grove."
Prospect Hill Tower: History Unlocked Drop-In Chats
HISTORY UNLOCKED: DROP-IN CHATS
Select THURSDAYS 6-8 pm
Select SATURDAYS 10 am-12 pm
THE POWDER HOUSE, MILK ROW CEMETERY & PROSPECT HILL TOWER will be open to the public on select dates and times from May through October, as part of HISTORY ON THE LINE, a series of exhibitions and programs organized by the Somerville Museum and funded by the Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourism’s MA250 initiative and the City of Somerville.