2025 SOMERVILLE Mayoral Forum on Arts & Culture Recap
2025 Somerville Mayoral Forum on Arts & Culture Host Committee members at Warehouse XI.
WATCH THE FORUM RECORDING:
On Monday, August 25, 2025, 130 artists, cultural leaders, and community members in Somerville participated in a mayoral forum on arts and culture at Warehouse XI to learn how candidates are planning for the city's creative future. Organized by the Create the Vote Somerville Coalition and MASSCreative, this forum featured candidates Katjana Ballantyne, Willie Burnley Jr., and Jake Wilson, who responded to questions that were submitted in advance by members of the audience. The evening was moderated by Amelia Mason, Senior Arts & Culture Reporter at WBUR.
YOUR QUESTIONS FOR THE CANDIDATES
Attendees submitted questions ahead of the forum through the online registration form. We did not take live questions from the audience. The themes of the questions revolved around vision and leadership, affordable space and anti-displacement policies, and funding and economic support. Each of the candidates were asked to start the dialogue by explaining how they would define a thriving arts and culture sector, and what metrics they would use to assess Somerville’s progress.
Residents had a specific interest in understanding the candidates’ plans for implementing recommendations released by the Anti-Displacement Task Force (ADTF) Creative Displacement Committee and the Somerville Cultural Capacity Plan (SCCP). They also wanted to know about the candidates’ visions for the sector’s long-term growth, how they would reignite nightlife after the COVID-19 pandemic, and how they will advocate for increased state and local funding to make up for recent federal funding cuts.
The Steering and Host Committee submitted the following questions to the candidates in preparation for the forum:
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From loss of creative workspaces to issues related to affordability and federal threats to creative expression, the next four years will require a Mayor dedicated to preserving and strengthening Somerville’s creative sector. How will you engage the creative community to address pressing challenges, and what is your plan for transparency and accountability with this constituency?
In 2025, the City of Somerville released the Somerville Cultural Capacity Plan with a series of strategies and recommendations to support and protect Somerville’s creative community. How will you implement this plan over the next four years?
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In January 2025, the City of Somerville released its Anti-Displacement Task Force findings and recommendations, including specific recommendations to address creative displacement. What are the top three recommendations from the Creative Displacement Committee report that you will pursue first, and why?
Making space in Somerville for the artistic and creative work has a lot in common with other placemaking priorities, such as expanded recreational space, spaces for youth activities, and so on. As Mayor, do you see any opportunities for new, coordinated efforts to address these multiple needs with the limited community spaces and resources available?
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Somerville’s arts and cultural sector requires public investment to deliver the economic and community benefits that residents enjoy. What is your plan for investing in the long-term growth of the sector, including support for cultural non-profits and artists?
Neighborhoods including Union Square and Davis Square have struggled to reignite nightlife following the pandemic. What strategies will you employ to bolster this important creative enterprise economic sector?
The cost of operating in Somerville is excessive, and city arts organizations struggle to pay rent and make creative opportunities accessible to the community. If elected mayor, will the candidate commit to finding room in the budget to offer organizational support for arts and cultural organizations in the city so that they can afford to stay here?
Federal funding cuts to the arts and humanities are already threatening access to arts, culture and creativity for residents of the Commonwealth and Somerville. How will you advocate for increased state and local funding to make up for federal funding losses?
HOW THE CANDIDATES RESPONDED
HOW THEY COMPARE:
The candidates provided the following summarized responses to questions from the audience. Notably, the candidates all expressed a common belief that the arts are vital and not luxuries.
To listen to their full responses, please watch the forum recording.
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Ballantyne:
A thriving creative sector is a place where artists can live, work, and show their art. It’s where there are many opportunities for different kinds of art.
Burnley Jr:
A thriving arts ecosystem would be something you could experience on a daily basis. It’s about having a density and abundance of arts in the community. Supports directing $200K in short-term rental community impact fees towards local art.
Wilson:
You have to be able to live here to make art here. Protecting and expanding affordable housing and arts spaces is part of what defines a thriving creative sector. Wilson is calling for a census or survey of creatives so we better understand displacement metrics.
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Ballantyne:
Has addressed the artist displacement crisis by establishing a Creative Displacement Committee in Somerville.
Directed $1.3 million to support artists and groups emerging from the COVID-19 pandemic.
Created a BIPOC initiative with specific funding and programs for space support.
Burnley Jr:
Served on the anti-displacement task force in Somerville. Reiterated that $200K could go directly into the hands of artists annually by implementing a short-term rentals fee. Suggested the City website should have a portal where they are connecting local artists with small businesses.
Wilson:
Believes we underutilize advisory bodies on policy decisions. Wilson would like to see the creation of a creative advisory council. Believes there needs to be transparency and the City needs to communicate about goals, plans, and opportunities.
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Ballantyne:
The City needs to use every tool at its disposal, including the municipal voucher program, universal basic income, and the land acquisition fund. Stated that her administration has 974 new affordable housing units in the development pipeline and $250 million for the affordable housing trust fund and jobs trust fund. Cited her administration’s work around zoning reforms that have supported projects such as Somernova, Brickbottom Artists Association, and Assembly Square.
Burnley Jr:
Spoke about there being opportunities with increased affordable housing to include artist studios.
Wilson:
Stated that he would work with the state to bring more housing online in the City.
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Ballantyne:
Spearheaded the Cultural Capacity Plan and her administration is working on implementing the plan. Working on zoning reforms and launched an ambassador program. Committed to using community benefits agreements to get resources for creatives.
Burnley Jr:
Gave credit to community organizers for working to ensure artists stay in the community. Stated the catalyst for the Cultural Capacity Plan began at the grassroots level. Committed to creating a liaison position within the City that will work directly with artists and arts venues.
Wilson:
Spoke about his frustration over lack of implementation of recommendations from these reports. Reiterated his belief that the City should do a census of creatives and cultural assets. Mentioned anxiety in the community over the long-term future of the Armory.
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Ballantyne:
Was on the city council in 2021 when the City took the Armory by eminent domain and she supported the move. Protecting the creative community was the most important thing to her during the pandemic. There will be a governance committee and building committee for the Armory. Stated that decisions made about the Armory were transparent and they are putting more systems in place.
Burnley Jr:Has been working on this issue since he joined the city council. Stated that the City has been terrible landlords with respect to the Armory. Would make sure there is co-governance of the Armory as mayor.
Wilson:
Agreed that the City has not been a good landlord. He stated that he would ensure RFPs are administered in a way that maximizes good outcomes.
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Ballantyne:
Wants to support existing venues and support new venues. She will continue to support events like PorchFest, HONK!, and open studios. The future might include new spaces like Bow Market.
Burnley Jr:
Somerville has great venues and events. He is disappointed when he hears that people would rather go to Boston or Cambridge for nightlife. He is the chair of the licenses and permits committee and in his time as a city councilor, they have never refused extensions on hours.
Wilson:
Stated that it is a good thing that the MBTA is bringing back some late night services and he would love to see Somerville have a genuine nightlife. Interested in exploring how we can make late night T services permanent and work with local businesses to make sure they expand their hours.
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Ballantyne:
The focus in her office is making sure that artists have space and are not displaced. They are working with the Metropolitan Area Planning Council to gain a cultural trust. They are working with the state delegation to accomplish this and expressed needed advocacy for the Mass Cultural Council’s budget.
Burnley Jr:
Cited that other cities have nonprofits that are born out of those cities. Claimed that Somerville as a city has not built up the policy infrastructure that other cities have.
Wilson:
Shared that the City will need to be creative about how they increase investments, given difficult economic times. Cited the Municipal Empowerment Act, short-term rental fees, and leveraging excise taxes from rooms and meals as potential options. Cited the need to streamline permitting to support creativity.
FINAL REFLECTIONS
Each candidate offered a distinct vision for how the city could support its cultural workers, institutions, and storytellers. The creative community in Somerville demonstrated its political and electoral power by filling Warehouse XI and setting a precedent for what they expect from the next Mayor of Somerville. As MASSCreative’s Executive Director, Emily Ruddock, stated:
“We know that the creative sector has always been a powerful vehicle for driving voter engagement and turnout and this is a moment where we need everyone off the bench doing that work. Voters have a real opportunity to get the attention of candidates and influence cultural policies before elections. We’re seeing the residents of Somerville do that right now”
This forum was the first step towards engaging with Somerville’s next mayor about arts and culture policy and deepening the existing partnership between the creative community and City Hall.
The Somerville Mayoral Forum was organized by host committee members from the #ARTSTAYSHERE Coalition, Central Street Studios, CultureHouse, Dara Capley, David Jubinsky, Esh Circus Arts, Joy Street Artist, MASSCreative, Metropolitan Area Planning Council, Milk Row Studios Tenants Association, Mudflat Studio, Restoring the Feeling, The Nave Gallery, Union Square Neighborhood Council, and Vernon Street Studios.
