Move4ART

Does our want for space simultaneously fill a need for which there is a market demand ? The question is complicated by the fact that Mattapan families clearly want out-of-school time arts programming now ; adding to our pressure for space to work and play.   Of course this is all just anecdotal.  So we're struggling to figure out how we can quantify it.  Thoughts?  Advice?

Although it's doubtful that our pursuit of #MakingArt space in Mattapan will be our "final frontier," we were heartened (at least) by a recent site visit to AS220 .  Its founder,  Umberto Crenca acknowledged "audacity" was the initial driving force behind this organization; especially its use of the arts to redevelop downtown Providence, RI. When African Repertory Troupe, Inc. established Mattapan Cultural Arts Development to build a mixed-use, arts facility in Mattapan audacity was (and remains) a key factor in the "heavy lift" this project will require.   Space is critical to our current push to build capacity so we are in a position to not only fulfill our mission , but to forward Mattapan as a cultural arts district .  Just imagine.  We have the audacity to believe we can; and AS220 provides a model of success in this regard.

When African Repertory Troupe, Inc. aka the Other  ART was formed (15 years ago), its founders held out hope that it would find support for stage works written by playwrights, poets, and storytellers of African descent.  Even as the company worked its way through the morass of paperwork associated with organizing a non-profit corporation, it faced space constraints.  Space to build capacity; space to hold auditions, rehearsals, and staged readings; space to meet, to write, to play.  Finding space (of all varieties) has always required a great deal of creativity.  Although  the  Other  ART  found a temporary home from time to time, it was too short-lived to stabilize our operations. So we adapted: we've presented works in all kinds of 'flexible' spaces.   In 2004 we established Mattapan Cultural Arts Development to explore the feasibility of establishing an arts center in Mattapan.   The purpose being, not only to provide...