About

The Joshua Bates Art Center Is…

An extraordinary place
The art center is housed in a unique historic building. Built of brick and stone in 1884, the Joshua Bates Elementary School was designed by Boston architect Arthur H. Vinal, in Richardsonian Romanesque style (H.H. Richardson was the celebrated designer of Copley Square’s landmark Trinity Church). Featuring massive arches and picturesque round-topped windows, the Bates School shares distinct similarities with such well regarded surviving examples of Vinal’s public design as Chestnut Hill Water Works Pumping Station (1887; restored 2006) and Back Bay Fire Station (1886; home from 1976-2007 of the Institute of Contemporary Art; now a part of Boston Architectural College). Named after Joshua Bates, founding private benefactor of the Boston Public Library, the lavishly designed ordinary public school exemplified the spirit of philanthropy and civic responsibility prevailing in the social thought of its time, and embodied the belief that public buildings should represent society’s highest artistic ideals to the teeming masses. Step through its doors into a lofty, paneled foyer painted in its original gold-and-caramel color scheme, and, if you squint hard, you might envision the golden light of reason falling by careful design upon the hopeful immigrant children of the old factory neighborhood like a gift from the late, great J. B. himself.

Part of a vibrant community of the arts
Today, talented artists use the high-ceilinged antique classrooms as working studios, maximizing their special light and space. Here, painters, sculptors, photographers, multi-media and new-media artists pursue creative work in a supportive environment at affordable rent. When the Bates had outlived its usefulness as a school after some eighty years, the Boston Redevelopment Authority assigned it to providing studio workspace for artists at below-market rent, and in 2003 initiated its rehabilitation as the historic centerpiece (and sole rental component) of an innovative neighborhood redevelopment plan that in 2006, with the completion of two modern residential towers on land surrounding the Bates, contributed 26 affordable live/work loft units to Boston’s shrinking pool of artist housing. The residences, adjoining gallery, and the Bates together comprise ArtBlock, an arts-oriented neighborhood in the heart of Boston’s culturally diverse South End.

A small group of creative people with big ideas
Now designated in charter and deed as permanent, affordable, non live-in artist workspace, the Bates provides studio space for sixteen artists in twelve renovated schoolrooms. Building upon the collective experience of its longtime tenants who remained in their studios onsite from construction planning through completion, the art center’s organizational structure is designed to support the Bates without profit, and govern it with strong tenant participation. The great challenge faced today is to preserve affordability in this great place, for the artists of tomorrow.

Directions
The Bates Art Center is at 731 Harrison Avenue, Boston, MA 02118 near the intersection with E. Newton St, directly across from the Doctors’ Office Building at Boston Medical Center, and is wheelchair accessible.

Subway

Red Line: Change to the Silver Line bus at Downtown Crossing and follow the directions below.

Green Line: Change to the Silver Line bus at Boylston and follow the directions below.

Bus

Silver Line: Get off at the corner of Washington and W. Newton St. Walk south on W. Newton to Harrison Ave. Turn left onto Harrison and look for 731 on your left.

Check the MBTA web site for other bus routes. Many buses travel through this area, including the 1, 8, 10, 47, CT1 and CT3.

Car

From the North or South: From Route 93, take the Massachusetts Ave. exit. At Mass. Ave. turn right, go 2 blocks to Harrison Ave. Turn right on Harrison, 4 blocks to 731 Harrison, which is midblock between E. Newton and E. Brookline streets.

From the West: Mass. Turnpike to Copley Square exit. Stay to the right following signs to Copley. First right onto Dartmouth St., seven blocks to Harrison Ave. Right on Harrison. 731 Harrison is midblock between E. Newton and E. Brookline Streets.

Copyright Notice
Copyright of this site’s content is held by each individual artist. All rights are reserved and no unauthorised use of images or text is permitted without written authorization. Thank you!