The arts community in Malden has been advocating for new space to support arts and culture in the city for the last few years. This project will build off those conversations and begin new ones to make this vision a reality.  

The City of Malden is working with the Malden Legislative Delegation to file legislation designating the Malden District Courthouse, located at 89 Summer Street, as surplus property and directing its transfer from the Commonwealth to the City. The City’s goal is to convert the courthouse into the Malden Center for Arts & Culture.

In addition to pursuing the transfer of property, the City is developing a concept plan for the arts center, guided by a 10-member Steering Committee that includes a diverse representation of cultural organizations and artistic disciplines in addition to City leaders.

To create a plan for the center, the City must resolve questions regarding its programming, design, and operations. The full plan will identify the uses and users of the space, develop a concept design for renovations, build a sustainable operational model, and identify funding sources for construction and operations.

In partnership with the Steering Committee, the project team will:

• Conduct an extensive community engagement process to understand what artists and creators need, as well as what the public would like to engage with
  
• Conduct an architectural feasibility analysis and assess the types of spaces that are appropriate for the building and what uses can be accommodated
• Research successful examples of arts and culture centers that include the uses desired by the Steering Committee and broader community 
• Propose a business model for operation of the building as an arts and culture center