Move4ART

An interesting thing happened on the way back from NYC:  a phone call alerting me about an info session the following day. Despite the late notice, here's  what I learned: Dudley Street Neighborhood Initiative (DNSI) has issued a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) on behalf of "a broad range of community-based partners" to commission a public art installation in the Upham's Corner neighborhood. Although the "call" has gone out "for artists," facilitators of the info session stressed that the artist label is broadly defined to privilege: "local, cultural markets;"  "elevat[ing] the richness" that resides at the local level. Any and all "creative practitioners" are welcome to apply; especially those who have demonstrated leadership engaging communities in "participatory processes." Answering a few key questions in a three- to five-minute video is all that's required to start the application pro...

Since you asked, our twin taglines point to two distinct operational tracks for  Mattapan Cultural Arts Development:  on one hand, " Climbing as we build " relates to our push to build a cultural arts center where art can happen in Mattapan; on the other hand, " Making Art Happen in Mattapan " presents a constant reminder of our ultimate goal. We'll spend the next few months cultivating a community of stakeholders:  from the inside out--inviting Mattapan residents, public officials, property owners and businesses into a conversation about what it would mean if Mattapan were an arts destination; and  from the outside in--importing the necessary skill sets and expertise to design and develop a complex, mixed-use, LEED-certified building as a focal point for the arts in Mattapan.  In the meantime we're surveying Mattapan youth and families to assess the need for what kinds of art, while cultivating a network of artists and arts organizations interest...

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...