News
December 4
One of the major factors allowing Boston to be classified as one of the great cities in the nation is the amount of culture that is rooted in the area. Boston simply has culture coursing through its veins _ the Pops, the Boylston Theater District, the Museum of Fine Arts _ all are prime examples of the stimulating artistic community that exists within our fair city of Boston.
But when we elevate ourselves to a higher, more intellectual level to explore the vast artistic world that Boston has to offer, we often allow ourselves to forget that art can exist on so many different levels. It is always nice to know that there are places like the Wang Center, MFA or the Boston Symphony Orchestra that provide venues for so many of America's most well known artists, musicians and actors to showcase their abilities. Yet, there are so many other artists out there _ thousands of people with statements to make, visions to share, messages to convey.
This is where the Boston Center for the Arts (BCA) steps in. Their role in promoting arts in the city of Boston is a truly significant one, because they help to cultivate so much of the wonderful talent that makes a visit to Boston a rich cultural experience.
The self-stated mission of the BCA is "to support the work of local artists in all disciplines, to serve diverse audiences and to enhance the quality of life for those who live, and work in Boston." It only stands to reason that the people who live in Boston should help to form its cultural backbone, and that residents of the city should be able to benefit from this.
But as all artists know, people never choose a career in music or theater for the money _ they do it for the love of the art. Sadly, incredibly high production costs stifle so much of the creative potential of up and coming artists. Small theater companies often don't have enough money to rent out spaces for rehearsal and performances.
It is difficult for aspiring artists to put together gallery shows of their work, because the cost is simply too great. However, the BCA believes that no obstacle _ especially not today's incredible financial hurdles _ should impede the growth of art and culture in Boston.
The BCA is located in Boston's South End, occupying a four-acre panel of land that is bordered by Tremont Street, Clarendon Street, Warren Avenue and Berkley Street. The properly was acquired by the Boston Redevelopment Association (BRA) in the late 1960's, and they proceeded to set in motion the changes that would transform this area _ the former headquarters of the Boston Flower Exchange _ into a cultural fixture in Boston. With the community of Boston backing them, the BRA designated the land a cultural center, and named the BCA the developer.
The BCA is composed of several different buildings, each with its own specific cultural purpose, some of which date back much further than the 1960's. The centerpiece of the BCA is the Cyclorama, so named for its cyclical shape. The Cyclorama, originally contracted to be built for a Chicago Businessman by the name of Charles F. Willoughby, first opened its doors in 1884. In the late 19th century, Cycloramas were popular forms of entertainment. They often housed murals that depicted famous battle scenes, and thus were used to evoke a sense of national or regional pride. The BCA's Cyclorama was originally home to a mural that depicted a scene from the Battle of Gettysburg, one of the key turning points in the Civil War. The fa?§ade of the Cyclorama was almost fortress-like, featuring prominent towers and battlements.
Starting in 1890, the Cyclorama went through many ownership changes that transformed its function time and time again. It evolved into a roller skating rink, to a boxing arena, to an industrial factory. Finally, in 1923, it was purchased by the Boston Flower Exchange, and operated as its headquarters.
Since its acquisition by the BRA in 1970, the Cyclorama has served many cultural purposes. It has housed hundreds of exhibitions, performances and community gatherings, along with three small theaters, and the community music center. A major highlight of the Cyclorama's recent history was the 1990 exhibit "Massachusarts," which featured over 100 artists from all across the Commonwealth.
Truly, such exhibits capture the spirit of the BCA _ providing affordable, accessible performance and exhibition space to any artist who wants to make their voice heard.
The Tremont Estates Building was erected in 1865, as the warehouse and manufactory of the Smith Organ Company. During that period, Boston's South End was the center of piano and organ manufacturing in the entire United States. But since being taken over by the BCA in the early '70s, the Tremont Estates Building has served as a studio and rehearsal space for artists. Artists working there today include painters, sculptors, playwrights, photographers, novelists and dancers.
However, not all of the parts of the BCA are hold-overs from the 19th century. The Mills Gallery was built in 1972, and was built and run by artists who had studios in the Tremont Estates Building. In 1991, the Boston Ballet Building was built, which provided more studios for the dancers to rehearse in. The grand studio on the fourth floor allowed the entire Boston Ballet Company to rehearse as a single group for the first time.
The mission of the company is truly an admirable one _ it has dedicated itself to improving Boston's artistic community, and assisting the careers of up and coming artists in the Boston area. One of the most important fields that the BCA has had a significant impact on is Boston's theatrical community.
The BCA is recognized throughout Boston as "the nexus" for the best of small theater productions. The BCA is supportive of an incredibly diverse group of artists, which contributes to the center's vitality. Each year, over 20 companies present more than 45 productions, ranging from comedies, to dramas, to modern dance to musicals.
The works put on reflect the edgy, contemporary minds of the diverse cultural, social, and economic backgrounds found throughout the New England Region. This is one of the BCA's strengths _ there is always something new, something exciting, something fresh to be found in one, or all, of its three theatres.
The BCA is home to four very different, unique in-residence companies, which helps to stretch the appeal of the theater to people of many varying tastes. The Sugan Company is Boston's only professional theater company dedicated to the production of contemporary plays that draw from Irish and Celtic heritage. The highly acclaimed company has presented works by established playwrights such as Brian Friel and Tom Murphy, and they are proud to call the BCA their home.
On a completely different note, the Theater Offensive company is dedicated to providing the Boston area with some of the most audacious, thought-provoking gay, lesbian, and transgender theater around. The Theater Offensive certainly has different goals and represents a different culture than the Sugan Company, yet their cohabitance at the BCA proves just how diverse the tastes are that are served by the BCA.
Having personally attended the Theater Offensive's recent production of Resident Alien at the BCA, I had the opportunity to encounter the space first-hand. The production was of an extremely high caliber, and the facility was truly beautiful _ it had the warm, welcoming feeling that was necessary to capture the BCA's nurturing spirit. If all the work at the BCA is as good as Resident Alien, it isn't hard to see why the facility has become a vital part of Boston's artistic community.
The Pilgrim Theater Company, which first arrived in Boston from Poland in 1989, has also made its residence the BCA. The Pilgrim Company is an explorational theater company, which has dubbed itself a "theater research and performance collaborative," and has been recognized for its unique, innovative theatrical vision, consistently drawing audiences who are seeking "journeys into the unknown."
The SpeakEasy Stage is the BCA's fourth resident company, which produces vital, cutting-edge shows that might otherwise never have been seen in Boston. Its plays and musicals explore a large range of public issues, and they are dedicated to showcasing local actors and actresses. Each year, it presents many cabarets that feature the works of local writers, singers and performers. This year, they will be staging the Boston premieres of the hit musicals Bat Boy and A Class Act.
A sampling from the works of these four totally diverse resident companies of the BCA give an impression of how truly important the BCA is in satiating the artistic appetites of people of many different groups throughout the Boston area. This is because the BCA is a very unique type of art center _ both in its mission, and its work.
It is always inspirational to see a company which recognizes the difficulty of finding success in the world of art, theater, and dance, and actually does something about it. By providing up and coming artists with a place to rehearse and showcase their talents, the BCA helps to foster hundreds of young talents that might have otherwise fallen away, unknown.
And the BCA's influence expands far beyond just the theatrical area _ it has impacted every area of the artistic community, be it dance, music, drama or literature. Artists with backgrounds in all of these mediums have found common ground at the BCA _ a place to come together to work and to play, sometimes to collaborate, but always to create.
Places like the BCA are where art is seen for what it really is _ a form of expression that is meant to be shared with, and interpreted by, many different groups of people. The BCA not only helps artist discover and nurture their talents, but also helps them put them on display, to be seen by a truly appreciative artistic community. This is what helps art flourish in the world, and what allows a city like Boston to remain one of the most cultural cities in the country.
In a world where art seems to be determined by and reserved for only the upper-crust of society, it is truly a relief to find an institution like the BCA that helps to keep the true spirit of art alive.
