In a city where culture and community are as rich and variegated as the storied streets themselves, the historic Harvard Square Kiosk is gearing up for an auspicious transformation. According to an announcement from the City of Cambridge, in collaboration with CultureHouse and the Cambridge Office for Tourism, the iconic kiosk will be repurposed into the Cambridge Kiosk, a bustling community space, and visitor information center, with doors set to swing open in early 2025.
The revamp process is community-driven, with a two-year plan inviting local input to reflect a broad spectrum of needs and dreams. Beginning now, applications for the City’s new Cambridge Kiosk Advisory Committee are open to the public. Furthermore, CultureHouse is seeking propositions via an interest form from artists, nonprofits, and businesses, for future events and programming that will happen at the kiosk. Cambridge City Manager Yi-An Huang expressed that at the heart of this initiative is a mission to "provide greater opportunities for creativity, connection, and collaboration in the center of Harvard Square."
Managing and programming the Kiosk will be CultureHouse's wheelhouse. This organization, known for rejuvenating dormant spaces into cultural hotspots, will spearhead a series of multilingual surveys and interactive sessions for public input on desirable activities and functions in the renewed space. Executive Director Aaron Greiner told the City of Cambridge, “Programming at the Cambridge Kiosk will continuously evolve to meet the needs of the community and turn the space into a dynamic hub where people from all places and backgrounds can come together to experience culture and to build relationships.”
The Cambridge Kiosk's refurbishment not only extends an invitation to embrace the contemporary but also honors the rich tapestry of its past. Kathy Watkins, Commissioner of Cambridge Public Works, shared a snapshot of the meticulous preservation efforts underway, advising visitors to "take a moment to look up at the details of the roof, the interior wood ceiling, and the brick columns that have been painstakingly restored," celebrating both its storied history and envisioned future.
In the interim, visitor services formerly housed in the kiosk have been temporarily relocated to Cambridge Savings Bank's ground floor. Robyn Culbertson, Executive Director of the Cambridge Office for Tourism, reassures that the dedicated staff will continue to aid visitors with "navigating the city and discovering its vibrant cultural scene." With the anticipated opening of the Cambridge Kiosk, the promise of a nuanced and colorful future is as tangible as the bricks laid down nearly a century ago. For those eager to play a role or just stay in the loop, opportunities beckon at cambridgekiosk.org.
