Anticipated opening mid October 2023
The Hive is not available for rehearsal/60 day bookings at this time. Please fill out our contact form at the bottom of the page to receive updates about opening, walkthrough, and open house. All bookings will require a walkthrough before you are able to book in the schedule.
the Hive – 651 Windsor Street Suite 401a, Somerville (in the “Taza” building)
SomArt Space @ the Hive is a movement-enabled space which nurtures professional performing artists to create new work.
Amenities/Space Description: 2,800 sf mostly open space with 3 support columns offset to the right. The space has 13′-14’ ceilings, natural light/windows along the far wall, elevator access, bathrooms and showers, sound system, lighting system, projection system, changing area, office, and guest seating. The building is directly across the street from the Union Square T stop (Green line). (2 hour) Parking is limited, but public transportation is readily available.
MOVING FORWARD/VISIONING THE FUTURE
VISION
This space project supports artists with programming that supports the excellence of creation, education, and experimentation in creating new work in performance with a priority in movement-focused modalities.
MISSION
To this end, this project’s foundation is built upon equity, diversity, and inclusion in its ethos, designing and incorporating a balance of best practices in developing frameworks and curation which aims to dissolve barriers of access while maintaining excellence in artistry and craft.
This space is envisioned to support professional working performing artists for use of rehearsal, professional-level classes, laboratories, performances, showings, community gatherings, and professional development opportunities. Focusing on a very specialized artist population allows for prosperity for that population to create their work, which ultimately serves a larger population through public performances and community workshops. This strategic investment in Somerville’s cultural capital has a ripple effect throughout the surrounding communities, spanning across demographics and sectors.
TEACH
We are looking for classes that contribute to the training, exploration, and community building for creating new work in performance. This can include traditional techniques, creative labs, emergent techniques, style classes, choreography classes, somatics, and anything else that cultivates curiosity, establishes rigor, and invites the professional artist and community in. We currently are not supporting rentals for non-artist targeted fitness classes.
Rates: $35/hr. minimum 2 hour blocks
Currently, we are building programming for our Morning Class Series M-F 10am – 12am. The Morning Class Series is designed to be a drop-in training program for professional-level dancers. If you would like to be considered to offer a class for this series, please fill out the RFP (coming soon).
Contract Types Available:
Weekdays
12pm – 2pm
2pm – 5pm
Mon-Wed Only Seasonal and Yearly Contracts
5pm – 7pm
7pm – 9pm
Weekends
9am – 12pm
12pm – 2pm
Sun Only
2pm – 4pm
5pm – 7pm
Contract Lengths Available
Yearly
1 Calendar year
Seasonal
Fall/Winter Sept 1 through Dec 30
Winter/Spring Jan 1 through April 30
Spring/Summer May 1 through Aug 31
Workshop/Series
Available no sooner than 60 days in advance during the following days/times:
Weekdays
2pm – 5pm
Fridays and Saturdays
5pm – 7pm
7pm – 9pm
Sundays
5pm – 7pm
7pm – 9pm
Seasonal Contracts Review
Fall/Winter proposals are reviewed July 1*
Winter/Spring proposals are reviewed Nov 1
Spring/Summer proposals are reviewed March 1
Yearly Contracts
proposals are reviewed July 1
all yearly contracts start Sept. 1 and are pro-rated if started after that date
Notifications for all proposals will be sent the 15th of the month they are reviewed.
* Given this is our inaugural season and we are expected to open in Aug/Sept, we are playing catchup for our first year and will review proposals as they come in for our Fall/Winter season.
REHEARSE
In aligning with our mission, we are prioritizing artists that are creating new work.
Rate: $17/hr.
Contract Types Available
Weekdays
12pm – 2pm
2pm – 5pm
5pm – 7pm
7pm – 9pm
Weekends
9am – 12pm
12pm – 2pm
Sun Only
2pm – 4pm
5pm – 7pm
Contract Lengths Available
Yearly
1 Calendar year
Seasonal
Fall/Winter Sept 1 through Dec 30
Winter/Spring Jan 1 through April 30
Spring/Summer May 1 through Aug 31
Short-term, non-contract rehearsals are bookable up to 60 days in advance. Link to booking system coming soon.
Proposals are rolling. Seasonal contracts will be reviewed typically the 1st of the month, two months prior to season contract start date.
Seasonal Contracts Review
Fall/Winter proposals are reviewed July 1*
Winter/Spring proposals are reviewed Nov 1
Spring/Summer proposals are reviewed March 1
Yearly Contracts
proposals are reviewed July 1
all yearly contracts start Sept. 1 and are pro-rated if started after that date
Notifications for all proposals will be sent the 15th of the month they are reviewed.
* Given this is our inaugural season and we are expected to open in Aug/Sept, we are playing catchup for our first year and will review proposals as they come in for our Fall/Winter season.
PERFORM/PRESENT
Present your work in our space! We are looking for local, national, and international artists who are creating new work to present in our modular blackbox-type space. More specs coming soon, but we are anticipating designing the space with an audio system, lighting system, and video projection system which supports new thoughts around performance. Currently our capacity is 49 max (including performers). We are working to accommodate more in the future.
Opening Rates: $250-$1000/performance (based off yearly budget)
Contract Types Available
Seasonal Performance
Fall/Winter Sept 1 through Dec 30
Winter/Spring Jan 1 through April 30
Spring/Summer May 1 through Aug 31
Seasonal performance contracts are available 2 seasons prior up until 2 weeks before.
Proposals are rolling and will be reviewed typically the 1st of the month, two months prior, two seasons before contract start date.
Proposals are rolling. Seasonal contracts will be reviewed typically the 1st of the month, two months prior two seasons before contract start date.
Fall/Winter proposals are reviewed Feb 1*
Winter/Spring proposals are reviewed June 1*
Spring/Summer proposals are reviewed Oct 1.
* Given this is our inaugural season and we are expected to open in Aug/Sept, we are playing catchup for our first year and will review proposals as they come in for our Fall/Winter and Winter/Spring seasons.
EXPERIMENT
Have something different to propose? That’s what we are here for, to push boundaries!
Please send us your proposal (link coming soon)
Request for Proposals are slated to launch mid-June/early July 2023
To Request Space:
“Register” through our booking software. Required fields include: name, email, and credit card information. There is no cost to join.
Schedule a walkthrough through our scheduling app for each space you want access too book. Each space requires a separate walk through to be approved to book it. It is anticipated the Hive will be available for walkthroughs mid-October.
After the walkthrough, you would be approved to book space up to 30 days in advance, but no less than 24 hours in advance through our automated booking system. This function will not be enabled until we approve you after your walkthrough.
- Rate for rehearsal is $8/hr for Armory. $17/hr for the new Hive space
- Rates for classes/paid labs is $20/hr for Armory and Assembly Spaces. $35/hr for the new Hive space.
- Rate for performance (with paid ticketing) is $50 for 4 hours for Armory Space. $250-$1000 for the new Hive space.
- Rate for informal showing (no tech time) is $100 for a 4 hour block on a Friday or Saturday
- Classes and Performances in Armory require a special space request (see form below). The Hive has a RFP process for all seasonal or yearly contracts. Pop-ups/workshops or series classes can be booked via the scheduling system directly with 60 days notice.
Our Policy:
- All artists using the space must be able to “leave no trace” after their time in the space.
- No disposal of food food/drink or containers in the spaces.
- Dance floor policy includes no outside shoes. If you have worn your shoes outside, they are outside shoes. Barefeet, socks, dance shoes, etc. are permitted on the floors.
- Artists will have a maximum of 6 hours per week of rental to create equitable booking availability for all. (if you need more, use our special space request form.)
- Each new artist must attend a space tour and policy overview before booking space. Tours are available 2x/week and scheduled through our scheduling system (see step 2 above).
- Artists will have up to 60 days to book the space without a yearly or seasonal contract.
- Hours of operation are 9am-9pm 7 days a week.
- Doors must be locked during use of the space.
- Key must be left in the lockbox at all times.
- Each space has a checkout procedure accessible through a scannable QR code in the space.
| Non-Contract Rehearsals/Creation | Contract Rehearsals/Creation | Labs | Showings | Performances | Ongoing Classes | |
| How to Book | Directly through the booking system | Special Request Form for Armory or RFP for the Hive | Directly through the booking system with approval | Special Request Form for Armory or RFP for the Hive | Special Request Form for Armory or RFP for the Hive | Special Request Form for Armory or RFP for the Hive |
| Max Days Advance Booking | 60 days | Seasonal or Yearly | 2 Seasons before | 2 Seasons before | 2 Seasons before | Yearly Sept start, Seasonal, or 60 Days |
| Min Days Advance Booking | no sooner than 24 hours | Yearly – September start date Seasonal – Sept, Jan, May start dates | no sooner than 48 hours | no sooner than 7 days | no sooner than 7 days | no sooner than 48 hours |
| Max Hours per Week | 6 | 6 | 6 | min 3 | min 4 | 6 |
| Cancellation | no later than 48 hours | no later than 14 days. Must have 90% use of contract dates | no later than 48 hours | no later than 7 days | no later than 7 days | no later than 48 hours |
| Cost | $8-$17/hr | $8-$17/hr | $8-$17/hr no pay participants – $20-$35/hr pay participants | $8-$17/hr no pay participants – $20-$35/hr pay participants | $100-$1000 depending on yearly budget and location | $20-$35/hr |
| Space Availability | Hive or Armory | Hive or Armory | Hive or Armory | Hive or Armory | Hive Only | Hive or Armory |
If you are seeking space time/date usage that falls outside of our existing policy, please fill out this request form: