Gregory Jenkins would have celebrated his 25th anniversary with the Somerville Arts Council this April. But on Feb. 9, the city’s new administration asked him to leave. Jenkins confirmed his last day is in early March.
The Somerville Arts Council’s board was informed Feb. 11. SAC board chair Emily Beattie said the board had not been involved in the decision to fire Jenkins and that it came just ahead of the busiest arts programming season of the year. The Council’s seven-person staff “is already operating above capacity,” the board said in a Feb. 13 letter to Mayor Jake Wilson that asked to be involved in the search for the council’s next director.
“Given the importance of this leadership position in our creative economy and City,” the letter continues, “we ask you to commit to participate in a transparent, nationwide search for the Somerville Arts Council’s next Executive Director. This role requires a rare blend of civic institutional knowledge, demonstrated ability to lead and administer art organizations, creative vision, and interpersonal skills. Our unique, nationally-recognized arts community deserves a deliberate and focused search process to identify the right candidate to move us forward.”
Jenkins, 61, joined the Somerville Arts Council in April 2001 and will leave his role as executive director on Mar. 6. In a statement published to the council’s Facebook page, he wrote “Although this is surprising, and not at all what I wanted, it’s been my pleasure to serve many Somerville administrations over my near 25 years as Director of the Somerville Arts Council.”
In a 2018 interview published by the Commonwealth Beacon, Somerville’s then-mayor Joe Curtatone cited the arts council as a major contributor to the city’s resurgence after the Great Recession.
The SAC “got the city’s message out in a way that bolstered the local economy, advanced equity among the municipality’s many ethnic groups, and added ‘some humanity to the urban edge,’” Curtatone said in the interview. According to the interview, Curtatone said “the city’s investment in the Arts Council has paid big dividends.”
The city declined to say why Jenkins was fired or what new direction it expects for the council. City spokesperson Denise Taylor shared the following statement from Mayor Wilson:
“The arts in Somerville are at the very core of our identity as a community, and Greg Jenkins has played no small role in keeping our creative spark right at the beating heart of all that we do. After 25 years of exceptional service, we celebrate Greg’s legacy and, with the deepest gratitude, look forward to building on the Arts Council’s strong foundation in innovative arts and culture programming and initiatives. We have amazing community energy we intend to tap to do what the arts do best: seize new ideas, explore new approaches, and draw strength from the grassroots. This is a step toward growth for the Arts Council made with profound respect for the [sic] all of the work that got us here and steadfast support for the work ahead. We’ll keep the community updated on next steps.”
Jenkins declined further comment beyond the letter he shared via Facebook. That statement ends by saying “It’s been many years of important civic work, all of it, my honor. I look forward to what comes next for the Somerville Arts Council, all of you, and also for me. Thanks — I will be further in touch shortly.”
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Huge misstep by the city, and SAC will suffer for it! Protest to the mayor!
As a Somerville resident of 28 years and an active participant in its vibrant cultural life, I have only praise and commendation for what Greg has facilitated for the arts and economy of Somerville over the past 25 years. After a promising inauguration, our brand new Mayor is displaying an egregious lack of judgement and transparency. This is a highly regrettable decision. Let the Somerville Arts Council continue to do the fantastic job they have been doing and provide the resources for them to continue to do it.