Mayor Katjana Ballantyne, in partnership with the Somerville Arts Council and an extensive network of artists, cultural workers, and community members, is proud to announce the release of the Somerville Cultural Capacity Plan (SCCP), the city’s first-ever comprehensive plan to strengthen, support, and sustain Somerville’s vibrant arts and culture ecosystem.

“This plan is a commitment to our artists, our cultural spaces, and our identity as a city that values creativity and inclusion for all,” said Mayor Katjana Ballantyne. “Fostering our vibrant arts and culture scene is essential to Somerville’s civic, economic, and creative vitality. With this plan, we are striving to ensure that we’re not only protecting what we have but also building long-term support structures so our creative community can thrive for generations to come.”

Years in the making, the plan is the result of deep community collaboration and inclusive leadership, ensuring that Somerville’s artists, performers, and cultural organizations–particularly those from historically underrepresented backgrounds–have a seat at the table in shaping the city’s creative future. 

Through extensive engagement, the SCCP identifies the challenges facing the arts community and lays out a bold, actionable strategy to preserve affordability, expand support, and foster cultural connections across the city.

The SCCP focuses on five core objectives:

• Preserving and developing affordable spaces for artistic and cultural production.
• Increasing funding and support for the arts sector.
• Strengthening connections and amplifying voices within the arts community.
• Catalyzing new initiatives led by artists and cultural leaders.
• Embedding arts and culture priorities into City policy and planning.

Putting these objectives into immediate action, the city is inviting Somerville musicians to two community meetings in March 2025, designed to specifically address challenges and opportunities within our local music ecosystem. Whether your priority is securing performance venues, affordable rehearsal spaces, recording facilities, or building stronger support networks, your voice matters. Meeting details will be shared as soon as possible.

“The SCCP is the culmination of years of listening, learning, and collaborating with our city’s creative voices,” said Gregory Jenkins, Executive Director of the Somerville Arts Council. “It is a reflection of the passion and dedication of our artists and cultural workers, and a tool to ensure that Somerville remains a place where the arts can flourish.”

The Somerville Cultural Capacity Plan is now available online at: somervilleartscouncil.org/culturalcapacity and voice.somervillema.gov/cultural-capacity-plan 

The plan was informed by extensive public engagement. Outreach included community conversations led by Cultural Capacity Ambassadors, a group of artists and cultural leaders dedicated to ensuring an inclusive process. Their experiences and insights were critical in shaping the final plan.

Cultural Ambassador Catherine Nakato shared:

“Being a Cultural Ambassador for the Somerville Cultural Capacity Plan has been an incredibly rewarding experience. The process was not only inclusive but also deeply intentional in ensuring that artists and cultural workers from diverse backgrounds had a voice. Through this initiative, I’ve seen firsthand how collaboration and thoughtful planning can lead to actionable change. I’m hopeful that this plan will not just serve as a roadmap but as a catalyst for empowering artists, fostering community connections, and preserving the cultural identity of Somerville.”

Cultural Ambassador Ajda Snyder, shared:

“As a Somerville resident, I am thankful to live in a city that is forward-thinking and proactively supportive of the arts enough to create something like the Somerville Cultural Capacity Plan. As a musician/artist, the plan and its creation process have made me feel seen, valued, and included. It is detailed, thorough, and nuanced yet dynamic and nimble, providing a roadmap for a successful partnership between city and community to preserve, protect, and bolster arts and culture in Somerville.”

Participant and local business owner Ethan Dussault, added:

“The creation of the Fabrication District and the Arts and Creative Enterprise requirements in the City’s zoning ordinance along with the Somerville Arts Space Risk Assessment document have proven to be invaluable tools for me as an arts advocate and as an owner/operator of a creative small business. Without them, folks like me may have already been displaced from the metro area. The new Cultural Capacity Plan is a welcome addition to this toolkit and it further exemplifies Somerville’s leadership in the preservation and expansion of arts and cultural space.

For more information about the SCCP and upcoming opportunities for engagement, visit: somervilleartscouncil.org