Arts at the Armory

Arts at the Armory The Center for Arts at the Armory is a non-profit organization that resides in the Somerville Armory
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The Center for Arts at the Armory (Arts at the Armory) is a non-profit organization that resides in a historic Armory building, serving Somerville and the Greater Boston community and beyond as an accessible and inclusive venue for arts, cultural and community events, exhibitions, classes, and more. The repurposed Armory opened its doors as a community arts center in 2008, and Arts at the Armory b

ecame the anchor tenant in the building, renting and operating the main hall and Cafe. The mission of Arts at the Armory is to provide free and affordably-priced space for arts, cultural and community events and programming, and thereby bring diverse audiences together, enrich and transform lives, and promote the creative economy. Arts at the Armory hosts 750+ events each year in disciplines including music, dance, theater, literary arts, visual arts, film, circus, comedy and more. If an event is free to the public, the Armory Cafe provides space at no charge to event organizers. The Armory’s Performance Hall provides an accessibly priced option to performing arts and cultural and community groups of Greater Boston. The Armory Cafe and Hall also provide a vast and inspiring panorama of arts and cultural events to audiences throughout the year. Arts at the Armory hosts dozens of markets including the Somerville Winter Farmers Market, which promote the creative economy, local businesses and community economic development. In addition, the Arts at the Armory Cafe features between 6-8 visual arts exhibitions showcasing local artists each year. The MBTA Green Line Extension to Somerville/Medford was completed in 2022. Visitors and patrons of Arts at the Armory can take the Green Line to the new Magoun Square stop. Learn more at: https://www.mbta.com/projects/green-line-extension-glx

UPDATED Cafe Hours, starting July 9, 2023:
Mondays & Tuesdays: Closed
Wednesdays-Fridays: 12:00PM - 7:30PM
Saturdays: 9:00AM-7:30PM
Sundays: 9:00AM-5:00PM

Want to hold your next event at the Center for Arts at the Armory? Fill out the Event Contact Form to get started: https://artsatthearmory.org/spaces/event-contact-form/

The Armory was built in 1903 by George A. Moore to house the Somerville Light Infantry of the Massachusetts Volunteer Militia. For nearly seventy years after it was built, the Armory also housed the Massachusetts National Guard. During the last quarter of the 20th century, the building was used for some community events but largely sat vacant until the State of Massachusetts decided to sell the building in 2004. The historic Armory was purchased by Joseph and Nabil Sater, in collaboration with Highland Armory Realty Trust (HART), in April 2004 from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts for $2.6 million. The building was acquired by the City of Somerville through eminent domain in June 2021. Sign up for our newsletter here: https://artsatthearmory.org/about/monthly-newsletter/

On Sunday, August 30th at 6:00 pm, BB Presents: Therapy Gecko! Comedian and unlicensed therapist Therapy Gecko (also kno...
08/27/2026

On Sunday, August 30th at 6:00 pm, BB Presents: Therapy Gecko! Comedian and unlicensed therapist Therapy Gecko (also known as Lyle Forever or simply just “Geck”) is hitting the road again in 2026 for his 4th tour of Therapy Gecko live. More info and tickets available on Ticketmaster: https://www.ticketmaster.com/event/0100644CE7836DE2

Doors at 6:00 pm, show at 7:00 pm.

The audience will get the chance to converse with the gecko live on stage as they share their problems, dreams, and any other weird stuff in the recesses of their mind. Mixed in with personal stories from Lyle’s experience as a world trotting reptile, it will be a beautiful, interactive, and unpredictable journey into the unknown.

On Saturday, August 29th at 6:30 pm, join us in the ROOTED Cafe for an Open Mic Night with Boston Summer Opera & Little ...
08/26/2026

On Saturday, August 29th at 6:30 pm, join us in the ROOTED Cafe for an Open Mic Night with Boston Summer Opera & Little Songbook Opera! Little Songbook Opera and Boston Summer Opera are excited to invite you to our Open Mic Night! Join us for an evening of music and community featuring music, a meet-and-greet with fellow opera lovers, raffle baskets, food, and more. Limited Seating – RSVP is required: https://givebutter.com/openmicnight

Interested in singing? Bring your own sheet music and our accompanist will play for you. Whether you’re trying out new repertoire, dusting off a piece you rarely get to perform, or sharing a favorite, we’d love to hear you. Just sign up when you arrive for a chance to perform.

Don’t want to sing? No worries, come celebrate great music and connection!

We hope you will join us!

About Little Songbook Opera

Little Songbook Opera is dedicated to making music fun and accessible for ALL AGES. We specialize in bringing small-scale musical productions that engage, educate, and excite communities like yours! Music is a powerful form of storytelling, that sparks our inner imagination and creates lasting connections through interactive performances. Our mission is to provide free and low-cost classical programs into our community, while simultaneously offering paid opportunities for emerging artists.

About Boston Summer Opera

Boston Summer Opera is joyfully building a summertime operatic hub for musicians and audiences alike, filling a unique space in the Commonwealth’s musical landscape. We are committed to producing high-quality performances that uplift local emerging artists while making opera accessible, engaging, and community-centered. Our mission is to celebrate Boston’s flourishing musical community, foster deep engagement with diverse audiences, and ensure that opera can be enjoyed by everyone in the city year-round, barrier-free.

We are run by young artists for young artists.

On Saturday, August 29th from 12:30 pm - 4:00 pm, Cosmodio Instruments and Stompbox Sonic Present: SBS XVII! More info a...
08/25/2026

On Saturday, August 29th from 12:30 pm - 4:00 pm, Cosmodio Instruments and Stompbox Sonic Present: SBS XVII! More info and tickets available on Eventbrite: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/cosmodio-instruments-and-stompbox-sonic-present-sbs-xvii-tickets-1991481241001

The event will feature presentations and live demos, and plenty of space for creative conversations and exchanging ideas. More than a tradeshow, SBS XVII will bring the pedal industry and Boston’s musicians and pedal enthusiasts together for a day of gear, community, art and fun.

The event will be held at the Arts at the Armory in Somerville, MA. A historic venue in the heart of Somerville with easy access to lively cultural neighborhoods and transit throughout Boston.

Demos & Presentations from:

Jamie Stillman and Julie Robbins from EarthQuaker Devices
Courtney Swain (Composer, Bent Knee, and demo artist)
Confirmed vendors:
Cosmodio Instruments
Stompbox Sonic
EarthQuaker Devices
Black Mass Electronics
CopperSound Pedals
Dead Air
Electronic Audio Experiments
Enduring Audio
Healy Guitars
Mask Audio Electronics
Monger Pedals
Nocturnal Amplification
Red Panda
Reflective Digital
Summer School Electronics
WPI Rat Lab
Aviate Audio
Adam McGrath
Source Audio
with more TBA

On Thursday, August 27th at 7:00 pm, join us in the ROOTED Cafe for Introducing the Tofanas! The Tofanas are a gang of 1...
08/24/2026

On Thursday, August 27th at 7:00 pm, join us in the ROOTED Cafe for Introducing the Tofanas! The Tofanas are a gang of 17th Century Roman poisoners occasionally inhabited by contemporary folk punkers Heather Snider & Danielle Leone. Drummer Snider (Zmrzlina) & Ukulelist Leone (Ed’s Redeeming Qualities) have taken a sabbatical from their more current band Sister Exister to develop a show inspired by the actual transcripts of the actual interrogation of 6 resourceful, somewhat witchy women, 5 of whom were hung in the summer of 1659, and the 6th of whom lived to tell their stories … according to the Tofanas, who, here and now — in our own regressively dark times — retell those stories in song and in poetry. And wigs. It’s a punk rock opera! What could go wrong?

Join us tomorrow, Saturday, August 22nd from 3-5 pm in the ROOTED Cafe for an Opening Reception for this month's Cafe Ex...
08/21/2026

Join us tomorrow, Saturday, August 22nd from 3-5 pm in the ROOTED Cafe for an Opening Reception for this month's Cafe Exhibit from Alisa Boyko! The exhibit is on display from August 13th to September 21st.

Alisa Boyko is a U.S.-based classical fine artist with over 25 years of professional art experience. Her work celebrates the beauty, character, and quiet poetry of everyday life. Working almost exclusively from life, she creates portraits, still lifes, landscapes, and figure paintings that combine technical precision with a deep appreciation for light, color, and atmosphere. Rooted in the traditions of classical realism and shaped by her training in Saint Petersburg, Russia, Alisa's paintings have been exhibited and recognized internationally and are held in private collections around the world.
In addition to her original works, Alisa creates bespoke portrait commissions, producing timeless paintings that preserve not only a subject's likeness but also their individuality and presence.

On Thursday, August 27th at 6:30 pm, Bill Blumenreich Presents FunkyFrogBait: Internet Kid (The Comedy Tour)! More info ...
08/20/2026

On Thursday, August 27th at 6:30 pm, Bill Blumenreich Presents FunkyFrogBait: Internet Kid (The Comedy Tour)! More info and tickets available on Ticketmaster: https://www.ticketmaster.com/event/010064B6CDA678C0

Doors at 6:30 pm, show at 7:30 pm.

Kal is a YouTuber and comedian who got their start making sketch comedy videos on TikTok in 2021. They’ve since expanded to long form commentary on their channel FunkyFrogBait where they post deep dives on prominent social media figures and trends. They also stream regularly on their gaming channel FunkyFrogPlays where they review and critique popular game titles.

In 2024 they brought their humor and wit to the stage in Arlington, Texas for their first comedy show “FunkyFrogBait Live.” They performed again in Los Angeles, California with their second show “My Name is Kal.” They now regularly step away from the camera to perform stand up live while still producing online content for millions of viewers.

Our friends at Silkroad are kicking off the Global Musicians Workshop (GMW) Performance Festival (Aug 18-22) starting to...
08/18/2026

Our friends at Silkroad are kicking off the Global Musicians Workshop (GMW) Performance Festival (Aug 18-22) starting tonight!

If you're looking for a night (or multiple!) of genre-defying, cross-cultural, never-before-seen musical collaborations with artists from around the globe, then come to Boston for a series of concerts in connection with the Global Musician Workshop. The series consists of three participant concerts and a special faculty showcase, each with entirely different repertoire created over the course of an intensive and inspiring week together. It's unlike anything else, and you won't want to miss it!

Learn more: https://www.silkroad.org/gmw-performance-festival

Can't make it to Boston? Check out our GMW YouTube channel to see performances from past years! Silkroad

On Thursday, August 20th at 6:00 pm, join the Somerville Bike Kitchen as they celebrate 11 years of serving the Somervil...
08/14/2026

On Thursday, August 20th at 6:00 pm, join the Somerville Bike Kitchen as they celebrate 11 years of serving the Somerville community! More info and tickets available here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/somerville-bike-kitchen-11th-anniversary-celebration-tickets-1994959620929

The Somerville Bike Kitchen (SBK) is a volunteer-run bicycle repair cooperative. They provide tools, knowledge, and a workspace for community members to repair their own bicycles and promote cycling as a safe, green, and economical means of transportation and recreation accessible to everyone. Over the past eleven years, thousands of neighbors have walked through their doors to learn new skills, share their knowledge, make new friends, and keep our community rolling. This anniversary is a chance to celebrate everything they’ve built together with the community!

Come enjoy an evening of food, music, and community at the Somerville Armory. Whether you’ve been a familiar face for years or you’re just curious to see what we’re all about, we’d love to celebrate with you!

Learn more at somervillebikekitchen.org

08/12/2026

A rare opportunity ✨ experience violinist, vocalist, and composer L. Shankar live on Thursday, September 17 at Arts at the Armory (Somerville, MA).

Tickets: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/1991410713050?aff=oddtdtcreator

Known for inventing the double violin and for collaborations with artists including Peter Gabriel, John McLaughlin, Talking Heads, and Yoko Ono, Shankar has spent decades creating music that transcends genres and borders.

On September 17, he'll bring his extraordinary artistry to Arts at the Armory alongside percussion masters Selvaganesh Vinayakram and Amit Kavthekar for an evening of Indian classical music, improvisation, and musical exploration.

Set your plans now 📅 Tickets: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/1991410713050?aff=oddtdtcreator

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191 Highland Avenue
Somerville, MA
02143

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