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Mount Auburn Cemetery Seeks Applications for 2025 Artist in Residence

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The Mount Auburn Cemetery’s Artist in Residence Program is turning 10 years old, and applications are being sought for the 2025 residency. The Cemetery provided the following information:

Since 2021, we have awarded smaller one-year residencies to a cohort of local artists to work on projects at Mount Auburn. Each artist is creating works or programs unique to and inspired by Mount Auburn. Artists also have the option to use their residency as a planning grant for a larger project to be completed the following year. Learn more about our Artists-in-Residence in this recent feature from Watertown Cable Access News

Artist-in-Residence Application

Award amount: $500 – $4,000

Application due date: February 1, 2025

Notification date: March 1, 2025

Project start date: April 1, 2025

End date: March 31, 2026

Read the application for more details:

2025 Mount Auburn Cemetery Artist-in-Residence Application

Around Town

Artemis Yoga Offering Free Yoga at Upcoming Open House

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See the following announcement from Artemis Yoga:

Artemis Yoga is inviting the local community to an Open House on Saturday afternoon, January 25th from 1 to 3:15 p.m. at their east end location in Watertown. With an afternoon of FREE classes, this is a wonderful opportunity to discover Artemis Yoga, a local independent yoga center that just celebrated its 9-year anniversary, having opened its doors at 639 Mt. Auburn St. in 2015. 

Liz Padula, founder and owner, shares, “The staff and I are excited to welcome the Watertown, Belmont, Cambridge and surrounding communities to experience an afternoon of free classes. Small businesses such as ours are vital to keeping connections with the local community and the new year is a great time for local residents to check us out for the first time or to return after a hiatus.  We welcome all students – anyone can be a yogi at any age!

Around Town

Get Your Questions Ready for the First Watertown Chats of the Year at the Library

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Meet Watertown’s Community Engagement Specialist to ask any questions, or raise concerns or anything else about Watertown during the first Watertown Chats of the year. See more info in the City announcement below. The first Watertown Chats of 2025 will be hosted at the Watertown Free Public Library at 123 Main Street on Tuesday, January 21, 2025, from 2:30 p.m.-4 p.m. This Watertown Chats will be held in the Lucia Mastrangelo Room on the 2nd Floor, where you will find Watertown’s Community Engagement Specialist, Tyler Cote, to ask questions, raise concerns, or chat about anything Watertown. This is also a great opportunity to visit Tyler and share any thoughts or feelings you might have about the Library’s strategic plan! No appointments are needed, and all are encouraged to stop by and chat with Tyler later this month.

Around Town

Restaurants & Businesses Invited to Join Watertown Porchfest After-Hours

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The following announcement was provided by the Watertown Cultural District:

Watertown Porchfest will return to porches, lawns, and driveways on Saturday, May 17, 2025, with extended hours from 12-6 p.m.! The Porchfest team invites Watertown businesses to join the fun by expanding the celebration even further for “Porchfest After-Hours” from 6-9 p.m. by hosting live music, promoting the event at their location, or supporting Porchfest in their own way. In its inaugural year, Watertown residents or organizations had over 70 locations and hosted nearly 150 performance groups, bringing in an estimated audience of 1,500 people. Registration for venues (“porches”) and performers will open in February but interested restaurants and other businesses are encouraged to start reaching out about Porchfest After-Hours.” The Porchfest team is available to assist with After-Hours program development can promote your After-Hours program. Contact Watertown Porchfest:wscd@watertown-ma.govwww.watertownporchfest.org

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First Creative Chats Will Feature Sculptor & Watertown’s Public Arts & Culture Planner

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Watertown resident Matt Hanna will debut a new series of in-person events called “Creative Chats” on Friday, Jan. 17 at the Mosesian Center for the Arts. His first guest will be Liz Helfer, a professional sculptor and the City’s Public Arts and Culture Planner. The event is free and refreshments will be available. See more information in the announcement below:

You’re invited to the first ever Creative Chats!

Around Town

YardArt Will Showcase Community Art & Creativity in Watertown During April 2025

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YartArt returns to Watertown for the fifth year in 2025. See more information about the month-long outdoor exhibition that takes place around the city. See more information in the announcement below. Start planning your art projects! YardArt, a month-long outdoor citywide art exhibition taking place in Watertown, Mass., at the transition of winter to spring, will return for a fifth year in April 2025.

Around Town

Sold Out Watertown Concert Raises Thousands for Humanitarian Aid

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The Light of Palestine concert raised thousands of dollars for humanitarian aid. (Contribute Photo)

The following announcement was provided by the concert organizers:

The Light of Palestine concert that took place at First Parish of Watertown on December 18 raised $8,800 for humanitarian aid to people in Gaza. The funds supported Anera, a U.S.-based nonprofit with no political or religious affiliations. Anera will use the funds to provide meals, water, shelter, and medicine to those affected by the ongoing war. The concert was sold out, and access to the livestream was purchased by more than thirty households. 

Artistic director Lina Malshy selected a program of songs from her native Palestine and neighboring countries, ranging from traditional folk tunes like “Ala Dal’ona” to present-day popular songs such as “Mawjou Qalbi.”

Malshy confessed, “This concert was one of the most nerve-wracking experiences I’ve had as an artist and director.