Boston News Today - CURTAIN CALL: ALLSTON'S ARCH GALLERY SHUTS DOWN

In an e-mail sent late on Tuesday night, Allston’s ARCH Gallery, a multi-purpose space for local artists and musicians, announced that, after a protracted battle with city licensing boards over permits, they are shutting down operations effective immediately after less than a year in existence.

In the statement, of which you can read the full text below, the Gallery alluded to the ongoing struggle to fully realize the space’s potential in the face of seemingly endless red tape.

It states: “Months before the March opening and ever since, ARCH has battled for permitting to allow larger parties to enjoy our space, musicians to fill the air, and more guests to gather and enjoy local art. This week, after over a year of effort from all possible angles from the ARCH team, management has decided this quest has become too extensive and difficult, and will shut off the lights and close ARCH Gallery’s 52 Everett Street location*.”

While not completely closing the book, this move would seem to mark the end for Allston Rock City Hall, the new live music venue and function space which property owners CRE Management had originally hoped to open in the warehouse space on Everett St. which also houses Studio 52.

Back in September, we reported that, while continuing to seek permits for playing amplified music and hosting events with over 49-person capacity, the space would be shifting focus toward developing themselves as a multi-purpose art gallery space. But after a few short months, that appears to be over as well.

Despite that, the ARCH team is still “trying to relocate as many of our 2015 shows as possible and find like-minded backing support.” While they will not have any future affiliation with CRE Management or Studio 52, they will be seeking a new location and staying active in the meantime: you can see a small showcase of their artists this month at the Out of the Blue Gallery Too, 541 Mass Ave in Cambridge.

You can read the full statement below, and we’ll have more on this story as it develops.

“ALLSTON, MA – January 6, 2015 – ARCH Gallery opened to the public on March 29th with a group show consisting of 9 amazing local visual artists, and plans to try and connect Boston art, music, and community in every way possible within the boundaries the city gave our location at 52 Everett Street in Allston. We had a clear mission, but many hurdles. Over the last 9 months ARCH hosted over 35 visual artists, 15 receptions, a community auction, a movie premiere, a classical multi-art collaborative concert, created our very own Holiday Bizarre, and launched an acoustic series of rare, stripped down performances by local bands throughout December, all enjoyed by hundreds of members of the community.

Months before the March opening and ever since, ARCH has battled for permitting to allow larger parties to enjoy our space, musicians to fill the air, and more guests to gather and enjoy local art. This week, after over a year of effort from all possible angles from the ARCH team, management has decided this quest has become too extensive and difficult, and will shut off the lights and close ARCH Gallery’s 52 Everett Street location.

We are so grateful to have hosted so many talented artists and musical acts and we want to thank everyone who has written about us, visited us, played for us, allowed us to include their art in our installations, and everyone who supported us in any way, so very much, for being part of the movement we started here.

We have no intention of letting that movement die. If anything, this city needs more access to art of all kinds, andmore people willing to take risks and never give up on elevating the amazing talent we have here. Even though our operation at 52 Everett is closing immediately, the ARCH Team is fast at work trying to relocate as many of our 2015 shows as possible and find like-minded backing support.

We want to continue promoting our artists to the best of our abilities, and greatly appreciate any help in this regard. Please reach out to us directly, we are open to all advice and possibilities.

Though we will be leaving our home at 52, the ARCH Gallery team also has plans to continue with direct sales, launch a series of outside events and pop-up shows, as well as seek out a new permanent location in 2015. We are currently taking requests for consultations, as well as inquiries as to how the ARCH Gallery team can bring an artistic touch to any space, concert or occasion. We want to keep supporting and promoting high quality artists and performers and creating unique events.”

To get in touch directly, contact Nicole Dessingue at [email protected]