The following announcement was provided by the Mosesian Center for the Arts:
Closed since March 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Mosesian Center for the Arts has had to reimagine its programming. In the past year, the nonprofit has kept its virtual doors open, however, for programs like Watertown Children’s Theatre, providing exceptional online production opportunities and classes, and for free online content, including an Annual Meeting, on its website and social media. The MCA has even reimagined itself with a new Executive Director, Darren Farrington, who joined the arts center last August.
“In this year of upending change for the arts and all of our community,” Farrington said in an announcement to the center’s membership, “the MCA is embracing the opportunity for more change. We’ve been reimagining the look and functionality of our building itself.”
Since last summer, the MCA has quietly been conducting a feasibility study with architects from Sasaki Associates for a renovation of lobby and gallery spaces, classrooms, and administrative offices. The study was funded in part by Alexandria Real Estate, which purchased the Arsenal on the Charles campus in December 2019. The arts center now has concept designs for opening up the lobby to be better suited to events, exhibits, and socializing (and to allow for more social distancing in that space). “We may have the opportunity to make the changes this spring and summer,” Farrington added.
Given the potential construction schedule, the MCA is also reimagining how its K-12 summer program for children and teens will look. Hybrid in-person and virtual offerings are likely, with the first in-person programming since March 2020 to be held at a nearby offsite location due to the renovation.
The MCA is also making its annual spring benefit virtual this year, with the theme, of course, of REIMAGINE—to recognize and celebrate that in the past year the arts center has reimagined its programming, its physical space, and the organization itself. Video segments will celebrate the history of the 1894 arsenal building, will feature entertainment from popular events and performances, and will honor Sasaki Associates, in part with a conversation about the renovation moderated by Jared Bowen, GBH Arts Editor and host of Open Studio. “What we’re most excited to share,” Farrington added, “are the concept designs for the new lobby. We hope all of our community will save the date for Friday, May 21, to join us for this event.”
For more information on current programming, spring and summer classes and productions, and the benefit event, visit www.mosesianarts.org.
About Mosesian Center for the Arts
The Mosesian Center for the Arts is a vibrant multi-disciplinary arts organization in Watertown, Massachusetts, six miles from downtown Boston. The 30,000 square foot Center, located within a former United States Army arsenal, houses a 340-seat main stage theater, a 100-seat black box theater, exhibition galleries, rehearsal halls, classrooms, and resident artist studios. Program offerings include visual and performing arts classes and workshops for all ages, literary and art discussions, and world-class theatrical and musical performances. Regionally recognized and acclaimed, Watertown Children’s Theatre proudly serves as MCA’s flagship performing arts education program, providing exceptional theater arts classes and performances for youth and families. New Repertory Theatre is the award-winning professional theater company in residence, and the venue is rented to other outstanding performing arts companies in the Greater Boston region.
Mosesian Center for the Arts
Website: www.mosesianarts.org
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