Hosted by ACM | Free | Open To The Public
90% of sales go back to the artists
10% of sales go to Trans Resistance MA

Join us for a vibrant Pride Pop-Up, a celebration of local queer artists and the diverse, powerful voices that shape our community. This special event showcases an inspiring group of artists working across a range of mediums — from ceramics, jewelery, ilustration, stickers, paintings, stickers — all by LGBTQ+ artists based right here in our city.

More than just an art show, the Pride Pop-Up is a space for connection, visibility, and empowerment. A portion of all proceeds will be donated to Trans Resistance MA, a Boston-base organization that advocates for the safety, joy, and liberation of Trans, Queer, Black, Indigenous People of Color (TQBIPOC). By attending and purchasing art, you're not only supporting local queer creatives — you're also directly investing in critical community work.

Come celebrate Pride with ACM, experience local talent, and stand with our trans community. Let's make art, joy, and resistance visible together.

Free | Open to the public

Join us for a showcase of the Medford High School Department of Fine Arts. This is a special moment to celebrate the work of our high school art students through MHS Unfiltered: A Student Showcase of Expression and Identity. Featuring selected works from Advanced Placement Portfolio students, MHS Unfiltered presents a vibrant and diverse collection of work by students from across Medford High School’s visual arts programs, including Advanced Placement Art and Adaptive Art. Through a variety of media—drawing, painting, sculpture, photography, and mixed media—students explore the theme of identity and the many forces that shape it, from culture and personal history to community and self-perception.

Music from the MHS Guitar Ensemble | Light Refreshments

Spinning Words, Singing Worlds
Hosted by Medford Poet Laureate Vijaya Sundaram
Featured Poet: Max Heinegg
Suggested Donation: $5-$10

Poets, dreamers, and song-writers - we want to see you, hear you, and welcome you! Bring an original poem, story, or song to read or sing. We’ll provide a microphone and podium.

Max Heinegg is the author of Good Harbor (2022), which won the inaugural Paul Nemser Prize, Going There (2023), and the chapbook Keepers of the House (2025), all on Lily Poetry Review Press. He has been publishing poetry since 1988 and making records, from rock to adaptations of poetry from the public domain since 1992. He has taught English in the public schools of Medford, MA for 27 years and is the co-founder and brewmaster of Medford Brewing Company. He lives in Medford with his wife Wendy and their cat Winnie. He loves to cook and his goal this year is to keep his Duolingo streak alive.

Open mics are monthly! Check ACM website for upcoming dates.

Free | Open to the Public
RSVPs Appreciated

Join ACM's Executive Director in conversation with Medford based comic artist Anna Christine. We will be talking about her latest memoir comic featured in Imprint In Print, an exhibition currently on display in the ACM galleries.

Tickets: $20 | $10 for under 18 and seniors

Fódhla brings both high energy and stellar artistry to the traditional music stage.

The trio’s sound is firmly rooted in the traditional Irish melodies and ornamentation that fiddler Ellery Klein and flute player Nicole Rabata honed during years spent abroad in Ireland’s cities Cork, Limerick, and Ennis. Fiddle and flute tunes are superbly supported by guitarist Bethany Waickman, whose inventive, tasteful chords unfold with driving rhythm perfected from years of playing for contradances.

Cognizant of their North American roots, Fódhla aims to appeal to a broad audience by bringing variety, inventive harmonies and unique arrangements to traditional music. A typical concert starts off with high-energy traditional sets of Irish reels and jigs. Fiddle and flute then trade melody and harmonies on a Québécois waltz paired with an elegant French bourrée. A joyful and toe-tapping pair of barndances soar out on a high note. Finally, the soft notes of guitar bring in a melancholy, exquisite slow air – music that brings out audible sighs from a rapt audience.

CACHE in Medford
Tickets: $20(youth) - $40 (adult)

CACHE in Medford is putting a creative spin on its spring fundraiser. Tea, Treats and Art will feature tea, treats, a guided art activity led by local artist Chelsea Brown, and a performance by the Tufts a cappella group the Jackson Jills. Sip on a cup of hot tea or a refreshing drink, enjoy delicious treats, and create a unique piece of art to take home with you. This is a perfect afternoon to celebrate spring and to help support the arts in Medford. Attendees are encouraged to wear a fun and festive tea party hat — get creative! This event is for ages 12 and over, and those ages 12 to 17 must be accompanied by an adult.

Limited seats, book today!

Arts Collaborative Medford presents an unforgettable evening where fine art meets culinary mastery. Join us an exclusive dinner series featuring three-time Chopped champion, Chef Christopher Walker, and rising artist, Jahnae Wyatt, as they merge their crafts to create an immersive sensory experience. Embark on a culinary journey crafted by celebrity Chef Christopher Walker, Boston raised with over 20 years in fine dining. Inspired by Jahnae’s artistic vision and personal history, Chef Christopher has designed a bespoke three-course meal, with each dish bringing to life Jahnae’s themes of self, culture, heritage, and mythology.

Through art, food, and storytelling, this evening will invite you to reflect on your own cultural identity, memories, and the narratives that shape us all. 

$150 per seat | Drinks Included
Limited seating available—reserve your spot today!

*please note: at this time we can accommodate allergies but not preferences. we cannot make major menu changes for vegetarians or vegans.

Led by Rev. Wendy Miller Olapade
Donate what you can, Open to the Public - RSVP Appreciated

Join this Art & Soul Circle for deep dialogue about Room To Breathe, an exhibition exploring how art can be a form of active resistance.  At the heart of the show are the abstract paintings of Elaina Bates-Egan, whose charged compositions embody a dynamic interplay of chaos and clarity, mirroring the tensions and transformations of our time. The neighboring works of 12 local artists creating in collage and printmaking highlight how these mediums serve as powerful tools of political and social resistance, layering imagery and text to challenge, critique, and reimagine the world around us.

Room To Breathe is not just an exhibition—it is a collective exhale, a testament to the power of art to heal, protest, and imagine new possibilities. Join us for a soulful discussion about this impact in our lives.

$20 early bird ticket | $25 regular entry

19+ event | Valid ID to enter

APOLLO presents ASCEND, the first installation of our spring series at the new community art gallery, Arts Collaborative Medford. For our first installation, we are inviting local artists in the Boston scene to spin techno on the floor. Featuring local art vendors @atira.hope, @ring.around.your.finger, @sammy_lynnxoxo and more for art, trinkets, jewelry, and hemp slushies!

Spinning Words, Singing Worlds
Hosted by Medford Poet Laureate Vijaya Sundaram
Featured Poet: Thomas DeFreitas
Suggested Donation: $5-$10

Poets, dreamers, and song-writers - we want to see you, hear you, and welcome you! Bring an original poem, story, or song to read or sing. We’ll provide a microphone and podium.

Born in Boston, Thomas DeFreitas was educated at the Boston Latin School, and attended the University of Massachusetts both in Boston and in Amherst. His poems have appeared in Dappled Things, Ibbetson Street, Pensive, Plainsongs, and elsewhere. Thomas’s latest collection, “Walking Between the Raindrops”, was published by Kelsay Books in March. Since 2010, Thomas has been a resident of Arlington, Massachusetts.

Open mics are the 4th Thursday of every month!

Open to the Public
Tickets: $0-$20

A night of acoustic and electric blues from The Johnny Williams Band. Down By Riverside’s productions at Arts Collaborative Medford offer a fantastic listening room experience with no bad seats.

This show is to benefit Down By Riverside as they help build a great art and community space. 

Free | Open to the Public
Doors at 6:30 | Show at 7

Join Opening Doors artists Stephanie McKay and Alastair Moock for a concert and conversation at Arts Collaborative Medford.

Stephanie is a singer-songwriter whose unique blend of folk, soul, and jazz has led her to collaborations with artists as diverse as Toshi Reagon, Roy Hargrove, and Mos Def. Alastair is an award-winning singer-songwriter who has toured throughout the U.S., Europe, and Asia, sharing the stage with acts like Arlo Guthrie, Taj Mahal, Ramblin’ Jack Elliot, and Greg Brown. Both were founding members of The Folk Collective, an inclusion and equity collaboration based out of Club Passim in Harvard Sq.

Stephanie and Alastair will be joined by Berklee professor and guitarist extraordinaire Tyrone Chase, who has played with Brian McKnight; Sheila E; Earth, Wind, and Fire and many more. Together, the trio will sing and swap songs and engage the audience in a conversation about social and racial barriers and some of the more productive ways we can work together towards greater representation, inclusion, and equity — even in these trying times.

This free community event is co-sponsored by Medford Arts Council, Arts Collaborative Medford, and The Opening Doors Project. Learn more here.

Thank you to our sponsors Medford Arts Council, Mass Cultural Council, and
The Antonia and Vladimer Kulaev Cultural Heritage Fund.

Hosted by Down By Riverside
Suggested Donation, Open to the public
Full event details here

The Jam Down By Riverside is a direct descendent of the now defunct Blues Jam at the Porch Sounthern Fare & Juke Joint, which was a descendant of the Johnny D’s blues jam. The jam is for building community and building skills. We welcome people of all ages, abilities, styles and instruments to join in the jamming. We do not have a strict Blues Only jam rule, but probably 85% of the repertoire is blues or blues-derived music. Please come to play or listen.

Free | Open to the public
6:00 - 8:00 pm
Light refreshments provided

A double opening reception celebrating the work of local artists. Room To Breathe brings together 13 artists using their voices to transform emotion into action, offering space for reflection, resilience, and renewal. Driven by Elaina Bates-Egan and supported by 12 artists working in collage and printmaking, these works serve as powerful tools of political and social resistance, layering imagery and text to challenge, critique, and reimagine the world around us.

Featured in ACM’s Literary Corner is Imprint In Print, a showcase of Medford based cartoonist Anna Christine. On display will be her autobiographical comics that explore patterns and repetition of experience across generations and within families.

Gather 2025 Symposium Kick-Off
Common Cause in Fiber Art: Connection and Care
Open to the public; $7 general admission ticket (open through day of)
$10 optional breakfast with fellow makers (closes Friday at noon)

The Gather 2025 Artist Advisory Board is thrilled to invite you to our exciting kick off of our Symposium: Common Cause in Fiber Art: Connection and Care. This all-day event will look at the interconnection between fiber art and social issues.

All artists and art enthusiasts are welcome to attend. The day will begin with a casual makers’ breakfast and continue with panel presentations and small group engagement circles that will provide participants with ample time to connect and reflect on issues important in contemporary fiber art such as:

• How do we tackle structures of value, access, and experience in the art world ?

• How do we support the role of storytelling and healing in fiber arts?

• How do we broaden our tent of inclusion?

Schedule of Events
Parking & Directions to Arts Collaborative Medford

Open to the public | $20 general admission | $10 seniors & students

Arlington Jazz 2025 Festival Schedule

The opening act is the eight-piece group The Boston Universal Music Society which will perform the music of the great Brazilian composer/musician Hermeto Pasqual.

JACK DAVISON - flute

JOEL SPRINGER - tenor sax

PETER ORNE - trumpet

DAN FOX - trombone

MIKE TRAVISANO - bass

JEFF HOPWOOD - keys

MIKE CHAMNESS - drums

ERICO MENINO - percussion

Headlining the evening is the eclectic Meridian 71 led by drummer Guiseppe Paradiso.

GIUSEPPE PARADISO - drum set & compositions

MARK ZALESKI - alto & soprano sax, clarinet and flute

PHIL SARGENT - guitar

MAXIM LUBARSKY - piano & keys

GALEN WILLETT - elec. fretless bass

MALICK NGOM - sabar drums

Meridian 71 is a cross-cultural music project created and led by Giuseppe Paradiso since 2011. The project name comes from Boston's longitude: the 71st meridian that passes precisely through the eastern part of the city.

$5 door ticket
18+ event
Cash Bar

Get ready for ACM’s first Battle of the Bands, where the best young musicians go head-to-head in a high-energy showdown! From rock and funk to jazz and pop, each band will bring their unique sound to the stage, competing for the ultimate title. Come cheer on your favorites, soak in the live music, and experience a night or unforgettable performances. Amped Up!

Open to the Public
Suggested Donation $10 - all proceeds go to Mutual Aid Medford & Somerville

Full Band Line Up:
Sue (EP Release!)
Solace in Bloom
Told Not to Worry
Seals Canoe
Geronimostilton

Spinning Words, Singing Worlds
Hosted by Medford Poet Laureate Vijaya Sundaram
Featured Poet: CD Collins
Suggested Donation: $10-$15

Poets, dreamers, and song-writers - we want to see you, hear you, and welcome you! Bring an original poem, story, or song to read or sing. We’ll provide a microphone and podium.

Kentucky native CD Collins was selected as Malden’s Inaugural Poet Laureate in 2023. Collins is the author of Blue Land, a collection of short stories, a poetry collection, and Afterheat, a novel. She has published short fiction in numerous literary magazines, including StoryQuarterly, Salamander, Imagine, and The Pennsylvania Review. Her first album, Kentucky Stories, won Best Spoken-Word album at the Boston Poetry Awards. More information at www.cdcollins.com.

Open mics are the 4th Thursday of every month!

Hosted by Hendrik of Down By Riverside and Kathleen Willis of Dawa Entheogenic Services

These days many of us are feeling depressed, anxious, or isolated. The primary mission of Down By Riverside is to foster feelings of connectedness and community with music. The program will focus on staying present in the moment and creating time and space to relax. Hendrik will focus on the sounds of the sound bath, while Kathleen Willis will focus on meditation and the spiritual practice of the event.

What’s a Soundbath?
A soundbath is a performance of sound or music which is intended to relax, to spiritually heal, and to create a meditative state. Hendrik will play gong and singing bowls for this program.. Often the sounds are long, deep sustained tones and harmonic resonances that happen higher above the droning tones. The sound serves as a focal point for meditation. Instead of trying to focus on nothing or on the breath, the participant concentrates on the sound as it changes and develops. The actual sound bath will last about 40 minutes.

What to expect:
Please bring a yoga mat or meditation cushion with you. You will also get the option to sit in a chair if desired or preferred.

There will be an introductory meditation before the sound bath. The actual sound bath will last about 40 minutes.

The event is a Pay-What-You-Can event, which means the tickets are free, but we ask each person to donate to help pay for the event if they can.

Kathleen is a professional Interfaith Chaplain, Certified Psychedelic -assisted spiritual care provider, and author with Wisdom Publications. She is authorized to teach and share transmissions from the Tibetan Vajrayana Buddhist tradition by Khempo Migmar of the Sakya Institute for Tibetan Studies.

She will co-facilitate the sound bath lead by Hendrik. She will start with a short Tong Lin (giving&receiving) meditation practice. and at the conclusion of the sonic experience lead a short expressive-arts integration she has created combining the Kapala Practice of Lama Tsultrim Allione and prompted writing exercises which will allow participants the opportunity to set intentions before as well as reflect on their experience after the sound bath to add further layers to the somatic healing.

Kathleen Willis is the Founder of the retreat center DAWAFields: the Sanctuary for Artistic, Spiritual, & Psychedelic-Integrative Somatic Healing Practices (www.dawafields.com) in Corinth VT. She also has a private practice office at ACM in Medford MA (www.DawaEntheo.com) DAWA Entheogenic Services combining Expressive-arts, Psychedelic Assisted Integration consultation, and Somatic Practices.

Hendrik Gideonse is the founder of Down By Riverside, a non-profit focused on creating community with music, potlucks and individual connections.

Hosted by Down By Riverside
Suggested Donation, Open to the public
Full event details here

The Jam Down By Riverside is a direct descendent of the now defunct Blues Jam at the Porch Sounthern Fare & Juke Joint, which was a descendant of the Johnny D’s blues jam. The jam is for building community and building skills. We welcome people of all ages, abilities, styles and instruments to join in the jamming. We do not have a strict Blues Only jam rule, but probably 85% of the repertoire is blues or blues-derived music. Please come to play or listen.

Free, Open to the public
Hosted by Lois Russell, featured artist in The Threads That Tie Us exhibition

Come join, watch, converse with area basketmakers during an open weave session in ACM’s first floor gallery space. All are welcome.

Led by Rev. Wendy Miller Olapade
Donate what you can, Open to the Public - RSVP Appreciated

Join this Art & Soul Circle for deep dialogue about The Threads That Tie Us, an exhibition that disrupts traditional notions of textiles by engaging embroidery, quilting, tufting, weaving, and other fabric-based practices as contemporary tools for addressing social issues and reclaiming histories.

Cheryl Arena is wonderful singer, songwriter and blues harp player. She will be performing with her band featuring Eddie Scheer on drums, Ted Bukowski on Bass and the talented Mike Dibari on guitar. 

All of the players are wonderful, as are the songs. This is great music to dance to, either in blues styles, swing dance styles and just freeform wiggling in time. 

This Potluck Concert is a Pay-What-You-Can show, which means the tickets are free, but we ask each person to donate to help pay for the event if they can. We also ask that people bring food to share if they are planning on eating.

Come join us for out Mardis Gras 2025 party. Experience the culture, music, dancing, authentic food, and delicious drinks at our live concert featuring the Glen David Andrews Band! Let loose and immerse yourself in the festive atmosphere as we mark the occasion of Mardis Gras 2024. The event will be held at Arts Collaborative Medford at 162 Mystic Ave, so make sure to mark your calendars and gather your friends for a night to remember. Get ready to experience the culture and Carnival energy of Mardis Gras!

The Revelry Food Truck will be serving up authentic New Orleans cuisine!

Early Bird Tickets- $25

Early Bird Bundle of 4 Tickets - $90

Day of Show Tickets- $32

Spinning Words, Singing Worlds
Hosted by Medford Poet Laureate Vijaya Sundaram
Featured Poet: Terry Carter
Suggested Donation: $10-$15

Poets, dreamers, and song-writers - we want to see you, hear you, and welcome you! Bring an original poem, story, or song to read or sing. We’ll provide a microphone and podium.

Terry Carter is Medford’s first Poet Laureate (2021-2023), and is an eloquent speaker and writer. He has published six books and is completing his seventh. He directs elder services at West Medford Community Center. His books are available on his website.

Open mics are the 4th Thursday of every month!

Although born and raised as Hugh Holmes of Boston, Mass., the emanations from his harmonica and vocals make it clear that Professor Harp has the blues of Texas and the whole wide Deltacoursing through his veins.

The Professor was a rock ‘n’ roll drummer until ’69, when the Boston blues revival and a sterling performance he caught of blues harmonica great George Allen ‘Harmonica’ Smith, combined to lure him away from drums and into a full court press on the blues harp. “Undaunted!” he brags, by the vicissitudes of his life as blues man, front man, every kind of man, Professor Harp puts forth his commanding presence and exceptional talent, night after night.

Primarily playing a sparse, yet full-sounding brand of no-nonsense, no-frills Texas style blues, Professor Harp specializes in what he calls, ‘roots music’. “It’s whatever makes me feel good and moves me, so to speak.” Indeed it has evolved while continuing to move audiences for decades.

Under the influence of many diverse blues greats, Professor Harp has developed a robust playing style. He often utilizes the Leslie rotating-speaker sound system to give his harp a Hammond organ timbre, while he alternately and simultaneously employs the standard or traditional ‘electrified’ blues harp. The Professor tops this off by singing the blues with an infectious fervor, supported at his strictest insistence by only top-flight musicians on guitar, bass, and drums.

This Potluck Concert is a Pay-What-You-Can show, which means the tickets are free, but we ask each person to donate to help pay for the event if they can. We also ask that people bring food to share if they are planning on eating.