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The Center for Arts at the Armory has crossed a significant milestone in the organization’s history. On July 30th, we will be hosting our first major fundraising event and virtual gala as we celebrate the organization’s ten-year anniversary as a home for the arts in Somerville.

We are so grateful for our community’s ongoing support. With a $50,000 goal, this gala is another important piece of our COVID-19 recovery plan. We are relying on your continued assistance to help us “make it to the other side,” and get up and running again. Our virtual gala platform is a powerful grassroots fundraising tool that allows you to start your own fundraiser for Arts at the Armory (with the simplicity of walkathon-style fundraising). Thank you for helping us flex this muscle by reaching out to your own network and letting your contacts know why Arts at the Armory is important to you and your community.  

Program will include performances by Puerto Rican cuatro player Fabiola Mendez, Haitian contemporary dance company Jean Appolon Expressions, and Esh Circus Arts; a culinary immersion with Fork on a Road Founder Suman Shah, and a short film by Karen Aqua. Event will honor U.S. Representative Ayanna Pressley MA-07 and State Representative Denise Provost.

Click here to learn more, purchase a ticket or a sponsorship, make a donation, or start your own peer-to-peer fundraiser to benefit Arts at the Armory. We invite local businesses and institutions to play an important role in this momentous occasion by becoming an event sponsor or donating an auction item, granting your business direct access to Arts at the Armory’s audience through various partnership levels detailed in the Sponsorship and Advertising Opportunities packet that can be downloaded here. Please contact Stephanie at director@artsatthearmory for more info about sponsorship and advertising opportunities. 

Exciting news–we will be reopening our Cafe on July 21st with a new concept–ROOTED: Armory Cafe & Farmstand! ROOTED will build on relationships we have with local farms and vendors that participate in our Somerville Winter Farmers Market. ROOTED’s mission is to source locally as much as possible, supporting our local farms and businesses and also providing our community with access to farm fresh produce and delicious grocery products. We will also accept SNAP (food stamps) payments and offer outdoor seating for up to 20 people in accordance with our zoning. Check out ROOTED’s new menu here, which will initially be available for takeout and online ordering, and feature our locally sourced products. ROOTED will be open everyday from 8am – 8pm. Please complete this online survey to guide us on which items you would most like to see available at ROOTED. 

We remain committed to being able to return to indoor arts, cultural and community events and programming when it is safe to do so. ROOTED is focused more on the community and creative economy aspects of our mission, and it will allow us to generate much-needed revenue so that we can operate in the short-term. Thank you in advance for supporting Arts at the Armory via ROOTED. We welcome your feedback as to how we can best serve you, our valued community.

We’re excited to share that Emily Totten is our Blue Ribbon Recipient of the Month. The Blue Ribbon recognizes a staff member, volunteer or intern who has demonstrated great dedication and outstanding performance at Arts at the Armory.

Getting ready to launch ROOTED has been a team effort but Emily has been leading the charge related to getting our physical space ready for this next chapter. She has accompanied the team at every turn with great insight and expertise, and tremendous research on best products.

Emily Totten is a Rhode Island-based interior designer with a passion for unique projects that support the community. With her architectural background and experience in residential and commercial design, she uses a flexible approach to solve problems and create beautiful spaces. One of her favorite projects was a local recording studio that was designed to help new musicians get started. In her free time she enjoys cooking, gardening, and traveling. Have a project idea but not sure where to start? Get in touch at etotten330@gmail.com.

What do you do at Arts at the Armory? I am working on the interior design for the new ROOTED space, which includes the renovated cafe, local grocery offerings, and outdoor seating.

How long have you been volunteering at Arts at the Armory? I’ve been volunteering for three months now.

Why do you volunteer at Arts at the Armory? I volunteer because I believe that supporting the arts is critical, and I want to help Arts at the Armory survive and thrive through difficult times. One of the best uses of design skills is in enabling businesses like this one to adapt to changing circumstances and continue to support their communities. 

What do you like best about Arts at the Armory? I love the sense of community! Throughout the project I’ve been able to see the Armory’s deep connections with Somerville and the local artists/creators. It’s really wonderful to see those relationships celebrated. From working with Union Press in creating the logo/branding to offering local food options, the Armory makes every effort to support its community.

What is something you would like our community to know about you? I’ve been a professional interior designer for 4 years. I’m always eager to start new projects, and I love helping people realize their vision.