On Thursday the Boston Redevelopment Authority and UDR, developer of 100 Pier 4 on the South Boston Waterfront, announced that the locally-based Society of Arts and Crafts will be taking over the building’s 20,000-square feet of interior and exterior arts and culture space.
Earlier this month SAC joined Celebrity Series of Boston as well as the Steinway Society of Massachusetts at District Hall, just a stone’s throw from Pier 4, to pitch those in attendance as to why they should set up shop in the space.
It comes as no surprise, really, that SAC won the BRA and UDR over. Its proposal was arguably the most comprehensive, but also, most who packed into District Hall that day were staunchly in support of its bid. A majority of the people raised their hands when Executive Director Fabio Fernández asked who was in favor of SAC.
He brought another 97 letters from various other organizations and individuals to bolster his case.
But SAC’s victory is no poor reflection on the other two candidates. Any could’ve provided a lively atmosphere to the space though SAC was most convincing.
Not to mention, Fernández emphasized the fact that SAC has been priced out of its current Newbury Street digs and will technically be homeless come February.
“The Society of Arts and Crafts has a proud past and visionary future,” said Fernández in a statement. “We are thrilled to move to the Seaport District, a neighborhood that is as ambitious and forward-looking as we are.”
If all three proposals shared a common thread, it was dexterity. All banked on using the sweeping space at Pier 4 in flexible ways, offering such ideas as movable seating and adaptable exhibitions, built on the ability to scale to various audience sizes.
For its part, SAC put forth a retail gallery featuring work from over 150 various artists and craftspeople that reflect on contemporary social issues. A craft library is also in consideration.
SAC’s bread and butter is melding craft with the modernity and also history of its waterfront location to best serve students, locals and tourists alike who express an interest in arts, crafts and design.
“The Seaport is a creative hub of industry and technology,” said Fernández at the time. “We’re imagining the potential to transform the neighborhood through craft and education.”
Fernández added further that SAC’s full slate of event programming both indoors and outdoors will be free of charge, from educational series to hands-on experiences.
According to the BRA, SAC has already settled on an inaugural exhibition, hitting the ground running with a show of support and vision for the surrounding neighborhood. It’s to be titled Radius, “highlighting the talented makers located within a 5-mile radius of 100 Pier 4 who work in clay, metal, wood, glass, and fiber.”
With so many other surrounding cultural institutions such as the Institute of Contemporary Art, Boston Tea Party Museum, Artists For Humanity and the collective creativity of Fort Point, a celebrated artist haven, it surely won’t be long before the Innovation District sheds its reputation as a cold, unwelcoming, identity-lacking locale.
“The Society of Arts and Crafts is a homegrown Boston institution that has promoted local art and artists for over a century,” added Mayor Walsh in a statement. “This new location will allow this incredible gallery to grow in a modern, energized environment that will better showcase local talent, and draw even more activity to the waterfront.”
It’s unclear at this time as to when SAC will be able to move into its new home in South Boston but a spokesperson for the BRA said they’ll update us as soon as it’s solidified.
