Photo by Annas-Lee Design Group of their production Origami Night. Watch a video of more ASA Fund grantees!
As local artists struggle to access affordable performance and studio space in Cambridge, the Cambridge Community Foundation has granted three arts organizations a total of $10,000 from its Arrow Street Arts Fund, bringing the Fund’s impact to date to $65,658 across 11 organizations.
This is the third round of grants distributed by the Arrow Street Arts Fund since it opened to applications last fall, wrapping up the first year of a partnership with Arrow Street Arts to give broader access to a new performing arts space at 2 Arrow Street in Harvard Square.
The Arrow Street Arts Fund was created in 2023 to help strengthen the local arts ecosystem by increasing access to affordable, welcoming, multiuse arts spaces in Cambridge. In addition to lessening the gap between the needs of artists and the availability of performance spaces, grants from the Arrow Street Arts Fund aim to support artists from historically underserved groups and diverse backgrounds. The Fund will open to grant applications again in Fall 2024.
“The Arrow Street Arts Fund has given 11 outstanding, local cultural organizations an opportunity to enliven 2 Arrow Street and build a vibrant community within it and we’re incredibly thankful for the partnership with Arrow Street Arts that has helped make this happen,” said Christina Turner, the Foundation’s vice president of programs and grantmaking. “The opening of the ASA space has been a bright spot for the Cambridge arts community, and we look forward to continuing to help bridge the gap between artists and affordable space through this Fund in the year to come.”
Choreographer, performer, and movement educator Jessica Roseman rehearsed at Arrow Street Arts for six months, creating two solo performances in the space in June 2024.
“The Arrow Street Arts fund allowed me time to think expansively in my creative process to develop my first evening length solo dance concert,” said Jessica. “Testing my work-in-process in lunchtime Community Showings allowed me to experiment while generating public interest and feedback. Arrow Street’s generous commitment to providing full technical and production support really helped me to develop an even richer show than I originally envisioned.”
At Arrow Street Arts, Jessica got to work with another ASA Fund grant recipient, Midday Movement Series, through their “Rough Drafts” program, which supported a group of largely BIPOC and female choreographers.
“It’s been so satisfying to share process with fellow dancemakers in the Rough Drafts cohort. Midday Director Marissa Molinar is fulfilling a deep need for artists of color to practice liberating, inclusive choreographic and teaching strategies,” said Jessica. “Building a mutually supportive dance community that takes risks is essential to our future.”
New grant recipients:
Annas-Lee Design Group: $5,000
This new choreo-poem, based on Pamela Annas’ poetry, depicts a woman’s journey from navy brat to radical feminist to mother, it will offer “Pay What You Wish” tickets, supported by a space grant from Arrow Street Arts.
Arlekin Players Theatre: $3,500
Arlekin is a theater company of immigrants from the former Soviet Union, known for its innovative in-person and virtual productions. Their latest work, OUR CLASS, which explores antisemitism and community, will premiere at Arrow Street Arts with accompanying events and dialogues to foster connection.
Boston Dance Theater: $1,500
This event emphasizes BDT’s dedication to making contemporary dance accessible to underrepresented groups, featuring work from their diverse Trainee Program and fostering community engagement through accessible, high-quality dance experiences.
Previous grant recipients:
ANIKAYA: $15,250
Boston Opera Collaborative: $7,465
The Dance Complex: $6,100
Janelle Gilchrist Dance Troupe: $3,893
Jessica Roseman Dance: $8,410
Jo-Mé Dance: $2,800
Midday Movement Series: $8,680
VLA Dance: $3,060
