Cultural Trust

More spaces for artists, a better community for all

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Shaping the Cultural Trust

September 8, 2026

6:00 pm - 7:30 pm

A working session focused on how a Municipal Cultural Trust could function. Participants will be invited to consider the trust’s structure, governance, funding priorities, and how artists and community members should participate in its decisions. Accessibility Needs: Persons with disabilities who need auxiliary aids and services for effective communication (i.e., [...]

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Art studios, theaters, galleries, and music venues are a big part of what makes Somerville special. But as rents rise and new development comes in, many of these spaces are at risk of closing or being pushed out. The City doesn’t currently have enough good tools to stop that from happening.

What’s the problem?

The Art Space Risk Assessment (2022) found that Somerville is losing creative spaces faster than current City regulations can replace them. Zoning rules, which control what can be built and where, have helped, but they’re not enough on their own to keep arts spaces affordable over time.

What is a Cultural Trust?

Somerville is exploring a new approach: a Municipal Cultural Trust. Think of it like the City’s affordable housing fund, but for arts spaces instead of homes. A Cultural Trust would be a dedicated city board with the power to:

Raise and hold money to invest in arts and creative spaces
Accept donations, grants, and contributions or fees from property development
Buy or protect properties so they stay available for arts use long-term
Make grants and investments to fight artist displacement

Importantly, the board would include both City officials and artists and community members — so the people most affected would have a real say in decisions.

Does this exist yet?

Not yet. No Massachusetts municipality has done this before, so there’s no state law that allows it. MassCreative has sponsored the Creative Space Act, a proposed state law that would make it possible. If that law doesn’t pass, Somerville is prepared to pursue its own local option — the same way it created one of Massachusetts’ first affordable housing trust in the 1990s.

Bringing the Cultural Trust to Life

The City is working with the Metropolitan Area Planning Council (MAPC) and the arts community on a two-phase planning process:

Phase 1 — Researched whether a Cultural Trust is the right tool. (Complete.)
Phase 2 — Figuring out the details: who’s on the board, where the money comes from, how decisions get made, and how artists and residents stay involved. Stay tuned for future information and community engagement.

Get Involved

The Cultural Trust is still being shaped, and community input will be an important part of the process.

To learn more, sign up below. We’ll continue to share updates, opportunities for engagement, and ways to help build a stronger future for arts and creative spaces in Somerville.