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In celebration of its grand opening, new nonprofit arts space Arrow Street Arts in Cambridge will host ArrowFest, an 11-day festival featuring more than 40 performances and events by local artists.
ArrowFest takes place at Arrow Street Arts in Harvard Square, Sept. 5 – 15. PHOTO: SAM BREWER
Arrow Street Arts is a Harvard Square performing arts space providing accessible, multi-use performance and production spaces to local artists, with a particular emphasis on fostering a diverse creative community. ArrowFest, produced in collaboration with Cambridge-based theater company Liars and Believers (LaB), will start the new space off with a bang.
“ArrowFest is a joyful celebration of everything the Boston arts scene has to offer,” says Georgia Lyman, executive producer at LaB and lead curator of the upcoming festival. “This is a beloved venue, and it is an honor to be a part of the opportunity to uplift and explore the vibrant, multidisciplinary talents of this community.”
‘A Hip Hop Experience with Jazzmyn RED’ will feature a workshop, panel discussion and performances. PHOTO: COURTESY ARROWFEST
One of the signature events of the festival will be a panel discussion, workshop and performance of local hip-hop talent curated by Jazzmyn RED, ambassador of hip-hop and cultural exchange for the U.S. State Department’s Next Level program. The multi-layered event will feature her workshop “Roots,” exploring the origins of hip-hop, as well as a live saxophone performance by Tim Hall, interactive artmaking with graffiti artist Brian Tillett and a panel discussion with hip-hop talent homegrown in Boston.
“Hip-hop is a huge part of the arts culture here in Massachusetts. We have a really vibrant and beautiful scene,” says RED. “We have so many amazing creatives and artists who are not only making music, but they’re working to impact their communities in a positive way.”
Cakeswagg (above) will perform at Women of Boston Hip Hop Showcase along with other local talent. PHOTO: COURTESY ARROWFEST
The event will focus not only on the music, but also on the culture and community impact that make hip-hop unique. Later in the festival, RED will appear alongside Dutch Rebelle, Brandie Blaze, kei and Cakeswagg in a “Women of Boston Hip Hop Showcase” curated by BAMS Fest.
Among many other performances in the festival lineup, audiences can see the beloved Wondertwins, identical twins and dance legends Billy and Bobby McClain; a pop-up concert from saxophonist Gregory Groover; a soundbath and meditation session; and a concert of Latin rhythms from Clave & Blues, presented in association with Ágora Cultural Architects.
Latin/world music band Clave & Blues PHOTO: COURTESY ARROWFEST
ArrowFest takes place at Arrow Street Arts in Harvard Square Sept. 5-15. The full schedule can of events can be found on the organization’s website, www.arrowstarts.org. Ticket prices per event vary from free to $50. Proceeds benefit Arrow Street Arts and the performing artists.
After the festival, artists, nonprofits, individuals and organizations will be able to apply to rent space in the new Harvard Square hub, which features a large black-box theater and a front-facing studio space, both supported with restrooms, a lobby, dressing rooms and a greenroom.
RED says, “I hope that when folks attend ArrowFest that they walk away with a newer, newfound or refreshed sense of how important the arts are to the human experience, and how much we need to continue to invest in our creative community here in Boston.”
