Harvard Square's historic newsstand is back as a hub for arts and info
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The iconic kiosk in Harvard Square reopens Friday as a reimagined and revamped cultural space after a full restoration of the century-old landmark.
Why it matters: The reopening fills a need for information services and establishes a new community arts destination at the heart of Harvard Square — all while preserving a beloved landmark.
Driving the news: A grand opening celebration for the new kiosk starts at 10am Friday, featuring live music and a speaking program.
- The historic 1925 structure went from a subway headhouse for the old Harvard Station to the classic Out of Town News from 1954 to 2019.
- Now it's a multipurpose venue that combines arts programming, a cultural and community hub and visitor services.
- Arts nonprofit CultureHouse partnered with the Cambridge Office for Tourism to operate the renovated space that houses an information desk for tourists alongside a gallery space and community space for exhibits and events.
What they're saying: "In Greater Boston, we're seeing a lot of art spaces disappearing," said Cleo Brigham, project lead for the kiosk. "It's just so exciting to be able to offer this place that is so central in the city, has so much visibility to folks to display their artwork."
Zoom in: Now dubbed "KiOSK," the building will feature rotating programming to showcase diverse voices.
- Weekly workshops will include painting and drawing activities.
- Live performances by local bands, poetry open mics and comedy shows are planned.
- Educational talks will explore Cambridge's cultural history through "15 Minutes of Cambridge" presentations.
- Visual art installations and photography exhibits will rotate regularly.
To launch the gallery space, Cambridge and Culture House teamed with the Boston Institute for Nonprofit Journalism to turn the century-old structure into a "modern newsstand" that lets visitors access reliable local, national and international news sources.
- The BINJ installation is partially a nostalgia piece dedicated to the space's history as Out of Town News.
- A collection of historic front pages from Boston's past is on display.
- It's also a contemporary resource with QR codes, paper zines and digital media built around the building's legacy as Harvard Square's hub for news and information.
The renovation details: City officials preserved the original roof structure, interior wooden ceiling and brick columns while adding modern amenities like custom cabinetry and improved accessibility.
Tourism component: The Cambridge Office for Tourism is relocating its Harvard Square operation from a temporary location in a nearby bank to the renovated Out of Town spot.
- The previous kiosk structure was removed as part of the ongoing "Pit" plaza renovation.
- Staff will provide itineraries and recommendations for the city's nine neighborhoods.
Operating hours: Sunday 10am-8pm, Monday through Wednesday 9am to 8pm, and Thursday through Saturday 9am to 10pm.
What's next: Current capacity stands at 49 people. That will expand once the plaza construction is done.