The Center for Arts at the Armory’s signature Performance Opportunity Program (POP) seeks to serve local individuals and groups involved in arts, culture and community building, and for whom our regular rental rates for the Performance Hall are too great a financial burden. We believe that arts and culture play an essential role in strengthening the local community we serve, and we know that access to performance and event spaces are one of the most challenging issues facing local artists and cultural workers. Performing arts events that showcase diverse voices promote mental health, well-being and understanding within the wider community. By opening our Performance Hall to arts groups who would not otherwise have access to a large performance venue, we are seeking to provide a welcoming and healing space for local artists and audiences to flourish within the rich multicultural communities of Somerville, Greater Boston, and beyond.
Once per month, skipping July and August, Arts at the Armory will select an individual or group to host a POP event in our Performance Hall on an off-peak night of Monday-Wednesday. Applicants will be accepted on a rolling basis, and will be chosen based on how well they reflect our values of community, creativity, and inclusivity. Events must be open to the public, and feature music, theater, dance, circus, film, media arts or spoken word/literary arts. Arts at the Armory will support production costs and also assist with marketing and promotion. Please click here to download a POP Application Form and click here to download a Budget Worksheet (both forms are required for a POP submission).
Funding support for POP generously provided by Cambridge Trust, Mass Cultural Council and Somerville Arts Council.
Photo by Wayne Lake courtesy of Jean Appolon Expressions