Calling Creatives: Leasing Opportunities at the Somerville Armory

Want to make the Somerville Armory your creative home base? The City of Somerville’s Armory leasing RFP is underway, and artists and arts organizations are invited to tour the building, meet potential partners, and get hands-on guidance on putting together a strong proposal.

The Armory RFP is open now, and proposals are required to demonstrate arts-related benefits for the broader Somerville community and/or arts ecosystem. Prospective applicants can sign up for tours, join virtual support sessions, and get real guidance on what a complete proposal looks like.

Upcoming opportunities to learn more

• RFP Technical Assistance: “What is a Complete Proposal?” (Virtual)
  • Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2 p.m.
  • Zoom (link available at voice.somervillema.gov/armory-master-plan)
• Match-Making Mixer
  • Thursday, Feb. 12, 12 p.m.
  • Somerville Armory (191 Highland Ave., 2nd Floor)
  • A chance for prospective proposers to meet potential partners and collaborators.

Key deadlines and how to participate

• Register as an official RFP holder
  • Prospective applicants are encouraged to register as an official RFP holder to receive notifications about updates or addenda. To register, email Felisa Gárate and reference RFP #26-27.

Questions deadline

Questions are due Wednesday, February 25, by 12 p.m, and must be submitted in writing to Felisa Gárate, Senior Procurement Manager at fgarate@somervillema.gov. Answers will be issued by addendum to registered proposers.

Proposals deadline

Proposals are due Wednesday, March 11, by 2 p.m., submitted online via BidExpress or as time-stamped physical copies at City Hall.

Full requirements, deadlines, and submission instructions are included in the official RFP materials available through the City’s procurement portal. The City’s Armory RFP information page on SomerVoice includes a user-friendly guide, timeline, and links to upcoming events.

About the Somerville Armory

The Somerville Armory is a City-owned facility and long-time home for cultural and community uses. Through this RFP process, the City is working to grow the Armory as a public, multi-tenant arts and cultural center that supports Somerville’s creative economy and expands opportunities for community benefit.

Persons with disabilities who need auxiliary aids and services for effective communication (i.e., CART, ASL), written materials in alternative formats, or reasonable modifications in policies and procedures in order to access the programs, activities, and meetings of the City of Somerville should please contact Adrienne Pomeroy in advance at 617-625-6600 x 2059 or apomeroy@somervillema.gov.  

The City of Somerville can provide you with an interpreter in your language for free. To request an interpreter, please contact us at languageaccess@somervillema.gov or call 311 (617-666-3311) at least 7 days in advance of this event.