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About

The Mosesian Center for the Arts is a vibrant multi-disciplinary arts organization in Watertown, Massachusetts. The 30,000 square foot arts center, located within a former United States Army arsenal, houses a 340-seat main stage theater, a 100-seat black box theater, exhibition galleries, classrooms, a rehearsal hall, and resident artist studios.

Mosesian Arts is located six miles from downtown Boston, borders the Charles River and the Brighton neighborhood of Boston, and is easily accessible from surrounding suburbs and Metro West. Programming includes professional theatrical and musical performances, gallery exhibitions, literary and art discussions, and performing and visual arts classes and workshops for all ages. Watertown Children’s Theatre is Mosesian Arts’ flagship performing arts education program, providing exceptional theater arts classes and performances for youth and families. The venue also hosts celebrated and cutting-edge performing arts companies in the Greater Boston region, such as New Repertory Theatre, Flat Earth Theatre, Improv Asylum, Guerilla Opera, and Boston Midsummer Opera.

Mission

The Mosesian Center for the Arts enriches the lives of diverse audiences and participants by providing exceptional experiences in theater, visual, and literary art.

History

OUR HISTORIC PAST

In 1816, the U.S. Army purchased forty acres on the northern banks of the Charles River for a new arsenal. The Army chose Watertown for its proximity to Boston and its easy accessibility by land and water.

Over the following decades, the Watertown Arsenal grew from military storage to a major manufacturing facility. In 1894, a new machine shop—our Building 312—was constructed to assemble larger modern weapons. Built at a cost of $35,000, and recalling earlier Federal architecture, the structure was a tall, single story with a large open floorplan and floor-to-ceiling windows to illuminate the interior for intricate assembly work.

In 1995, decades after research and testing had replaced manufacturing at the Arsenal, the Army closed the facility. Original windows and doors had been covered over and several other buildings had been demolished. Building 312, however, still stood when the Arsenal was finally designated a National Historic District.

In a redevelopment plan for commercial use, the Town of Watertown purchased the Arsenal and resold it to a developer. An architectural restoration returned windows and doorways to their original designs, and tree-lined green spaces became reminiscent of early Arsenal parade grounds.

OUR REIMAGINED FUTURE

In 1997, a group of Watertown citizens dedicated themselves to creating an arts center at the former Arsenal. In 2001, the Town signed a 99-year lease for the front half of Building 312, ensuring that an arts center would be a long-term tenant.

Thanks to the tireless efforts of volunteers, donors, and our community, the Arsenal Center for the Arts opened in 2005. The Center was renamed The Dorothy and Charles Mosesian Center for the Arts in 2016. Watertown Children’s Theatre was an original tenant (later merging with the arts center), and New Repertory Theatre became the professional company in residence.

In the three-story, 30,000 square foot design, the centerpiece of the lobby was an expansive staircase with wide landings intended for concerts, exhibitions, and public gatherings. Some visitors have seen the staircase and landings as an obstacle, both physically overwhelming and visually imposing. Safety concerns have kept us from using the landings for performances. In 2020, new floorplans drafted by Sasaki architects proposed to open the entrance and second floor lobby to be more spacious, accessible, and welcoming. That renovation was completed in 2021.

For over 125 years, Building 312 has served this community as we have navigated a path from armaments to arts. Stemming from recent grassroots efforts, MCA is poised to become a regional destination for the arts.

The Dorothy and Charles Mosesian Center for the Arts

info@mosesianarts.org
617-923-0100

321 Arsenal Street, Watertown, MA 02472

Administrative Hours:
Monday-Friday,
10:00 AM-6:00 PM

Gallery Hours:
Wednesday-Saturday,
1:00-8:00 PM

Box Office Hours:
Wednesday-Saturday,
3:00-8:00 PM

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