By Nicole Gruter | Photo courtesy Art Hub
Suiting the artistic character of downtown Cambridge, owner Jacy Eckerman’s Art Hub lives up to its motto: “Where Art Happens.”
“Cambridge has always been known for art, so it was an ideal place to open a center,” says Eckerman.
Each spoke of the center’s creative wheelhouse provides opportunity for expression. The appropriately-named Art Hub offers a myriad of classes (pottery, painting, jewelry) for both adults and children, a ceramics studio with clay memberships and classes, event space rentals and an art gallery with over 60 local artists. After- school programs, along with “adult indulgent” classes (wine, anyone?), comprise a busy calendar appealing to a wide range of artistic interests.
Each month, Art Hub’s First Friday also hosts a new exhibit and opening reception with the month’s featured artist.
Creating community is at the heart of Art Hub. In addition to making and teaching art, what Eckerman loves best is connecting people and “providing a space with opportunities where people feel safe and can come hang out.” Many of the center’s ongoing projects rely on community participation, including the involvement of over 100 people to help make its own bright and funky eight-foot-by-eight-foot back entrance sign.
In that spirit, Eckerman says, “It’s really important for us to support the artist. If you’re communicative, give opportunities and pay them, you get a lot of good artists who want to sell their work and teach in the space.”
