A proposal to overhaul the Harvard Square KiOSK’s operating model, potentially replacing its current management arrangement and restoring its historic Out of Town News sign and name, was introduced at Tuesday’s continued City Council meeting.The proposal, introduced by Councillors Marc McGovern, Mayor Sumbul Siddiqui, E. Denise Simmons and Timothy Flaherty, would ask City Manager Yi-An Huang to review the KiOSK’s current management arrangement and identify whether the city could change, end or replace its agreement with the operator. A report would be expected within 60 days.It also would call for a long-term management plan with “clear and unified responsibility for the Kiosk’s programming, maintenance, beautification, activation, partnerships, and public use,” as well as dedicated resources for year-round activities and maintenance. Restoring the historic Out of Town News neon sign and officially renaming the building the “Out of Town News Kiosk” would also be proposed, though it would continue operating as a public gathering space rather than a newsstand. The newsstand operated from 1984 to 2019.
Back to the future
McGovern argued that the KiOSK’s current programming falls short of its potential as a central gathering place in Harvard Square, recalling a time when the area was a bustling hub of public activity. He blamed restrictions in the city’s original request for proposals rather than CultureHouse, the nonprofit that has operated the space since its reopening in May 2025.
“CultureHouse is doing what they do, and they do a very good job at what they do. I just don’t believe that that’s the location for what they do,” McGovern said.
He did specifically say the KiOSK should attract visitors every day throughout the year, rather than relying on CultureHouse’s new seasonal residency model, which plans to rotate a new resident artist through the space four times annually. “It really needs to be something that is incredibly vibrant and attracts people all day long and multiple times,” he said.
Simmons echoed McGovern’s concerns. “The activities of the KiOSK have always been one, or should have been one, that was robust and engages people,” she said. “I’m not putting any shade on CultureHouse. It’s just it’s not doing what we normally do.”
Simmons also emphasized the importance of preserving the building’s historic identity. “It’s important to honor and acknowledge that history. So let’s put that sign back,” she said.
Councilor Patricia Nolan also said the current approach was falling short. “This may not necessarily be about CultureHouse per se, but it’s the wrong model for what’s going on now. It’s not working,” she said.
The problem of deconstruction
Nolan also expressed frustration over years of delays in construction of the surrounding plaza, historically known as the Pit, where work began in 2017. “It’s just unbelievably frustrating for this central part of our city to continue to be under construction,” she said.
Deputy City Manager Kathy Watkins attributed the delays in part to complications involving the MBTA tunnel beneath the plaza. “We will see substantial areas of the plaza being reopened this fall,” Watkins said, adding that construction around the surrounding roads and the plaza’s northern tip will continue into 2027.
Candice Beaulieu of the Cambridge Office for Tourism said in an interview Tuesday she welcomed the council’s call for further research into KiOSK’s future. “I think it’s just another step in the process to align everybody and get towards a shared goal of making this place a success,” she said. Beaulieu added that her organization expects to remain at KiOSK regardless of the outcome. “It’s our understanding that we’d be here.”
In a written statement Tuesday, CultureHouse welcomed the council’s interest in the KiOSK’s future and said funding, not contract terms, was the primary obstacle to more ambitious programming.
“Our experience has shown us that the challenge isn’t a lack of creative possibilities, or the terms of our contract; it’s the resources available to realize those possibilities. Many musicians, for example, rightly earn more for their work than our current programming budget can afford,” CultureHouse KiOSK manager Cleo Brigham said in the statement. “We’re encouraged to see that the Policy Order recognizes the need for dedicated resources to support year-round programming, maintenance, and activation. We’re open to listening, adapting, and collaborating with the City, local businesses, institutions, artists, and residents to help the KiOSK reach its full potential.”
These comments came after the council meeting. Discussion of the policy order had ended when Councilor Jivan Sobrinho-Wheeler exercised his charter right to delay consideration of the proposal until the council’s next regular meeting Nov. 2. He said he supported reviewing the KiOSK’s operations but had questions he wanted answered before proceeding.
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