Brookline Seeks Cultural District Distinction

Brookline is lucky to be bursting with vibrant arts organizations and artists. But who does what and when can it become a little confusing? BrooklineHub sat down with Amy Emmert and Gillian Jackson, both involved in ArtsBrookline and the Brookline Commission for the Arts, to talk about how each organization functions and their upcoming bid for a Brookline cultural district. Emmert serves as the vice president of ArtsBrookline and a BCA Commissioner. Jackson serves as an administrator for the BCA and the treasurer of ArtsBrookline.

The Brookline Commission for the Arts primarily serves to distribute grant funds from the Massachusetts Cultural Council to local ventures and organizations. They also run their own projects. ArtsBrookline is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that can execute plans with individual donations as well as grant funds. “They work hand-in-hand to apply for grants and help with the planning and utilization of those funds,” says Emmert. Effectively, the organizations work together to make sure that as many local arts projects as possible get funded and executed.

“The original thinking in setting up ArtsBrookline was to create a springtime focus on the arts in Brookline. ArtsBrookline runs a calendar that covers that period,” says Jackson. That calendar is one of many initiatives ArtsBrookline operates. They also run Brookline PorchFest, which will be celebrating its fourth year in 2019. Jackson says that’s one of their most popular programs because locals can walk to new neighborhoods and meet new people all over town.

Fence Art is another ArtsBrookline program. It replaces the green fabric that’s wrapped around construction site barriers with printed artwork. For the Fence Art piece at the corner of Brookline Ave and Route 9, Jackson went around to local schools and photographed children’s artwork. It was then printed onto fabric and wrapped around the development site. The cost of printing the artwork doesn’t differ much from the value of the original construction material, and it creates beauty in an ordinary and unexpected place.
Another popular project is the gallery program. Rotating exhibits are shown at the Brookline Bank in Coolidge Corner, Putterham Grille in Chestnut Hill, and the Hammond office on Route 9. Artists can apply online to exhibit at these locations.

Even with all these exciting projects, Jackson and Emmert have their sights set on something bigger. “Our most intense project coming up is our effort to create a cultural district in Brookline,” says Emmert. This requires an area of Brookline that is walkable and pedestrian-centric, with a good number of existing cultural assets and room for new assets. Once a cultural district is established, the state allocated funds to it for things like benches, lighting, walking paths, and building refurbishment.

“We think Brookline’s an overlooked opportunity for this. We think it’s a perfect cultural district in many ways,” says Emmert. “Its situated just outside of Boston, with public transportation and its walkability. We have a lot of artists living in Brookline. We’re trying to engage them” In fact, Emmert and Jackson are both artists themselves, tying them even closer to the Brookline creative community.

At this stage, the organizations are looking to identify current and potential future cultural assets. Brookliners are encouraged to reach out with ideas and recommendations. “People who have an empty ground floor might think ‘oh this could be a good gallery.’ Any ideas like that would be gratefully accepted,” says Jackson.
They’re especially looking for music venues, even for small performances or open mic nights. “One of the requests that come from the community over and over again is that Brookline doesn’t have enough venues for live performance,” says Emmert. The town is in talks with Boston University about holding a few performances a year in their new campus theater. But this won’t solve the lack of venues around Brookline. Jackson and Emmert hope a cultural district designation will inspire local business owners to think of new ways to incorporate the arts into their space.

The arts have always been essential to Brookline. With the joint work of ArtsBrookline and the Brookline Commission for the Arts, a cultural district could be possible as early as Spring 2019. Emmert says, “It creates the opportunity for people to tell stories in a way that’s safe. It allows them to communicate creatively. It allows for diverse views to be expressed. And it does improve local economies. To invest in the arts always kicks back more dollars.” Jackson adds, “In a nutshell, it brings a community together.”

By Celina Colby

BrooklineHub.com is a 501C3 non-profit dedicated to reporting and commenting on life, culture and community in Brookline. As part of our mission, we advocate for non-profits vital in making this a better place to live, and by sponsoring and supporting events that promote community-building. We hold the belief that as a community, we should foster the well-being of all, remaining mindful of our young people, seniors, and underprivileged.