The LAVA Center

The LAVA Center Where ideas erupt, and creativity flows, community grows. Our mission is to create opportunities and build community in and through the arts and humanities.

a community arts & humanities space, arts incubator, and black box theater in downtown Greenfield, Mass
cafe/gallery hours, recurring events, free programming, community, inspiration! The LAVA Center is a community arts space, arts incubator, and black box theater in downtown Greenfield, MA. We are a place where all, including marginalized communities and individuals, can have their voices heard.

An arts incubator, providing many opportunities for creatives and their work to be nourished. Our humanities programming centers on local history, and social and environmental justice themes. The LAVA Center is located at 324 Main St., between TD Bank and the Pushkin Gallery. NOTE: Our staff is part-time, and we cannot always respond to comments quickly. You may get a faster response if you contact us using this form - https://thelavacenter.org/contact-us/ - or text us at 413-376-8118. Thank you.

Smack Dab Q***r Open MicSunday, June 7, 7pmThe LAVA Center: 324 Main St, GreenfieldSmack Dab Q***r Open Mic is a free 18...
06/06/2026

Smack Dab Q***r Open Mic
Sunday, June 7, 7pm
The LAVA Center: 324 Main St, Greenfield

Smack Dab Q***r Open Mic is a free 18+ LGBTQIA community open mic in Greenfield, MA with the slogan “All genders, all the time.” Your hosts are Jules and Avery.

Smack Dab was founded in San Francisco in 2003 by writer Kirk Read and queercore historian Larry-Bob Roberts. Smack Dab stopped in San Francisco during the start of the pandemic in 2021, but Smack Dab was resurrected by Avery and Jules in Western Massachusetts last year! Q***r joy and creativity is resistance at its finest!

Comics, poets, musicians, dirty stories, journal musings, puppeteers… bring it on! Five minute limit.

Questions? Contact Jules and Avery at [email protected]

https://www.facebook.com/events/932528949287248/

First Sunday WordSunday, June 7, 1pmThe LAVA Center: 324 Main St, GreenfieldPoetry, Stories, Spoken WordDoors open at 1:...
06/05/2026

First Sunday Word
Sunday, June 7, 1pm
The LAVA Center: 324 Main St, Greenfield

Poetry, Stories, Spoken Word
Doors open at 1:00
1:20 is Open Mic
5 minute slots

2:30 Features this month

Eileen P. Kennedy
Linda Wlodyka

$1 to $5 sliding scale donation

Books will be for sale

Link on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/share/1BPDHVwkdh/

On the Boards: “After the Whales Spoke”Saturday, June 6, 7pmThe LAVA Center: 324 Main St, GreenfieldLAVA’s 4th annual fe...
06/04/2026

On the Boards: “After the Whales Spoke”
Saturday, June 6, 7pm
The LAVA Center: 324 Main St, Greenfield

LAVA’s 4th annual festival of new plays by local playwrights. This year’s festival will include new and developmental works by thirteen Massachusetts-based playwrights. Explore the world of theater by experiencing new works coming to life every night in this festival of readings of new works in several stages of development. This year, a different play is performed every evening, ensuring a variety of captivating experiences for audiences, actors, and creatives.

“After the Whales Spoke” - written & directed by Molly Brennan
starring Ash Richardson-White, Foster Finch Schrader, Birdy Elliot, Drum Fernandez, Asa Rowan, Soe Noire, Nancy Brennan

MASKS REQUIRED and provided for the reading.
ACCESS TOOLS: captioning, audio description, space and content description here: https://after-the-whales.mmm.page/

Street medics have found a solution to the problem of anti-abortion, anti-trans legislators in a post-plague world where some people received instructions from whales.

https://www.facebook.com/events/979516155023429/

On the Boards: “A Rare Sight” + “Phoenix”Friday, June 5, 7pmThe LAVA Center: 324 Main St, GreenfieldLAVA’s 4th annual fe...
06/03/2026

On the Boards: “A Rare Sight” + “Phoenix”
Friday, June 5, 7pm
The LAVA Center: 324 Main St, Greenfield

LAVA’s 4th annual festival of new plays by local playwrights. This year’s festival will include new and developmental works by thirteen Massachusetts-based playwrights. Explore the world of theater by experiencing new works coming to life every night in this festival of readings of new works in several stages of development. This year, a different play is performed every evening, ensuring a variety of captivating experiences for audiences, actors, and creatives.

“A Rare Sight” - written by Jem O’Hara & directed by Lauren Stock
starring Kendra Corrie, Jim Merlin, Sandy Wang, Ryn Griffin

Strangers converge around a curiously abandoned landscaping truck while hiking in a state forest. How did it get there? Who would leave such a blemish on the landscape? Does anyone care?! The play explores the discomfort of being unable to do anything about glaring problems, the actions people take when put in these positions, and the abiding presence of the natural world.
about the artists

“Phoenix” - written by Jan Maher & directed by Liam Castellan
and starring Kendra Corrie & Jim Merlin

ALAN and JESS, sorting old photographs after their mother’s funeral, discover they hold some vastly different memories of relatives and family events, particularly in regard to JOE MAC, a friend of their parents whom they have not seen since they were children. The photos stir long-forgotten memories in JESS; ALAN’s response to her story cause each of them to re-evaluate themselves and each other.

more info—> https://thelavacenter.org/on-the-boards/

advance tickets—> https://www.tixtree.com/e/on-the-boards-a-rare-sight-phoenix-97cce268ceb0

https://www.facebook.com/events/4276801689252636/

06/03/2026

Big shout out to Deborah Petrizzi, Auburn Mass and Michael Barrett for showing up and helping me install the begining of the arc. I will be forever grateful you are part of my tribe! Much Love

We are so grateful for every one of you who has come to our events over the years. Your support of local arts and humani...
06/03/2026

We are so grateful for every one of you who has come to our events over the years. Your support of local arts and humanities, and of our creative and educational offerings has made us a proud community hub. Your participation and financial support have fueled LAVA's success.

What most of you do not know is that LAVA may be forced lay off staff and even shut our doors. Grants once relied upon are no longer available.

LAVA's operating budget is $10,000 a month, only half of which is covered by grants and subrentals. Please consider a donation at this crucial time of need. Sustaining contributions are especially valued as they help us plan our programming with confidence.

And as always, please stop by to take in a show, share a story, or see our latest exhibit during gallery hours. We hope to see you soon! Thank you for your continued support.

Donate Today—> https://thelavacenter.org/donate/

On the Boards New Play Fest: Table Read Festival KickoffThursday, June 4, 6pmThe LAVA Center: 324 Main St, GreenfieldLAV...
06/02/2026

On the Boards New Play Fest: Table Read Festival Kickoff
Thursday, June 4, 6pm
The LAVA Center: 324 Main St, Greenfield

LAVA’s 4th annual festival of new plays by local playwrights. This year’s festival will include new and developmental works by thirteen Massachusetts-based playwrights. Explore the world of theater by experiencing new works coming to life every night in this festival of readings of new works in several stages of development. This year, a different play is performed every evening, ensuring a variety of captivating experiences for audiences, actors, and creatives.

Playwrights presenting 15-minute slices of their work as table reads for targeted feedback
directed by Ash Goverman
“Dawn and Dorothy in the Afterlife” by Eva Schegulla
“Lone Wolf” by Dan Takacs
“Death by Chocolate” by Jane Denitz Smith
“more like you” by Foster Finch Schrader
“The Walk” by Lionel Audette
“Over My Dead Body” by Richard Carmelo Ballon

more info—> https://thelavacenter.org/on-the-boards/

advance tickets—> https://www.tixtree.com/e/on-the-boards-table-read-festival-kickoff-9f35e5976f79

https://www.facebook.com/events/1673484907409971/

The Elf of PlantsArt by North Star: Self-Directed Learning for TeensTomorrow! Tuesday, June 2, 6-8pmThe LAVA Center: 324...
06/02/2026

The Elf of Plants
Art by North Star: Self-Directed Learning for Teens
Tomorrow! Tuesday, June 2, 6-8pm
The LAVA Center: 324 Main St, Greenfield

Come celebrate the art work of North Star Teens at The LAVA Center on Tuesday, June 2nd from 6-8 pm. The show will feature a variety of artworks including mixed media paintings, drawings, sculptures and video/sound collage. Some of these works are inspired by Emily Dickinson poems, while others transcend this theme. All of the pieces on display blur the lines between fantasy and reality as reflected by the various perspectives of our community. Light refreshments will be served.

https://www.facebook.com/events/1258589012754146/

This week @ LAVA!🗓️ tuesday, june 2, 6-8pm - Art by North Star Teens: The Elf of Plantshttps://www.facebook.com/events/1...
06/01/2026

This week @ LAVA!

🗓️ tuesday, june 2, 6-8pm - Art by North Star Teens: The Elf of Plants
https://www.facebook.com/events/1258589012754146/

🗓️ every thursday, 11am-12:30pm - Drop in & Draw
https://www.facebook.com/events/1186306573226794/

🗓️ thursday, june 4, 6pm - On the Boards: Table Read Festival Kickoff
https://www.facebook.com/events/1673484907409971/

🗓️ friday, june 5, 7pm - On the Boards: “A Rare Sight” + “Phoenix”
https://www.facebook.com/events/4276801689252636/

🗓️ saturday, june 6, 7pm - On the Boards: “After the Whales Spoke”
https://www.facebook.com/events/979516155023429/

🗓️ sunday, june 7, 1pm - First Sunday Word
https://www.facebook.com/events/889844453571600/

🗓️ sunday, june 7, 7pm - Smack Dab Q***r Open Mic
https://www.facebook.com/events/932528949287248/

☕️ cafe/activities/gallery hours:
Mondays, 11am-2pm
Thursdays, 11am-2pm + 5-8pm
Fridays, 5-8pm
Saturdays, 11am-2pm

all happening at:
📍 324 Main St in downtown Greenfield

Address

324 Main Street
Greenfield, MA
01301

Opening Hours

Monday 11am - 2pm
Thursday 11am - 2pm
5pm - 8pm
Friday 5pm - 8pm
Saturday 11am - 2pm

Telephone

+14133768118

Website

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