Somerville Moves On From Arts Council Director

SOMERVILLE, MA — The Somerville Arts Council is set to have new leadership in the near future.

Greg Jenkins announced that he will not be retained by the city after serving as the Council’s Director for 25 years. However, he made it clear that his departure is anything but voluntary.

“I’m writing to let you know that the new Somerville administration has decided that the Somerville Arts Council will go in a new direction and I was asked to leave,” Jenkins said. “Although this is surprising, and not at all what I wanted, it’s been my pleasure to serve many Somerville administrations over my 25 years as Director of the Somerville Arts Council.”

Jenkins earned collegiate degrees in anthropology and folklore prior to taking on his leadership role with the Council in 2001. Throughout his career, Jenkins oversaw numerous initiatives, programs, and funding local artists. Jenkins oversaw the ArtsUnion project in Union Square, developed the city’s Arts Overlay District zoning, and played a large role in the creation of the Somerville Cultural Capacity Plan that was announced in February 2025.

Mayor Jake Wilson thanked Jenkins for his contributions to the Council and the city during his tenure, but was also excited for the Council’s new direction in the future.

“We have amazing community energy we intend to tap to do what the arts do best: seize new ideas, explore new approaches, and draw strength from the grassroots,” Wilson told Patch in a statement. “This is a step toward growth for the Arts Council made with profound respect for all of the work that got us here and steadfast support for the work ahead.”

The Somerville Arts Council was founded in 1980 as the local chapter of the Massachusetts Cultural Council.

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