BEVERLY, M— Montserrat College of Art has announced the launch of The Bower, a transformative 36,000-square-foot creative arts complex located at 248 Cabot Street in downtown Beverly.
Designed to serve as a central gathering place for students, faculty, visiting artists, and creative professionals, The Bower marks a major milestone in positioning Beverly as a thriving hub for arts, culture, and innovation.
Spanning three floors, The Bower will anchor the Beverly Arts District, bringing together artists, nonprofits, and entrepreneurs from across the North Shore. The space features affordable artist studios, galleries, performance venues, and offices, offering creative organizations and start-ups a place to connect and grow.
“Fostering a vibrant, dynamic arts community in the heart of Beverly’s downtown is aligned with Montserrat College of Art’s mission,” said Montserrat President Brian Pellinen. “The Bower will serve as both an incubator and creative ecosystem where education, entrepreneurship, and the arts will flourish side by side.”
The building’s top floor houses more than thirty affordable artist studios, along with a gallery and lounges designed to encourage collaboration. The first floor features another gallery, meeting spaces, and offices for local nonprofits such as Beverly Main Streets and The Cabot Theater, alongside workspace for creative businesses, including student-run ventures developed through Montserrat’s Center for Career Design and Creative Enterprise. The lower level will host performances, concerts, and community events throughout the year in a flexible, multi-use space.
According to Michael Kerr, the College’s Founding Director of Creative Enterprises, Montserrat students will have the opportunity to develop and operate real-world businesses at The Bower — including design firms, animation studios, and production companies. “Like Montserrat, The Bower resides at the intersection of education, enterprise, and artistic expression,” said Kerr. “We believe this incredible facility will help transform Beverly into the regional leader in the arts economy.”
To celebrate the opening, Montserrat College of Art will host an open house at The Bower on Saturday, November 15, from 3:00 to 6:00 p.m., in conjunction with Beverly Main Streets’ annual Downtown Art Crawl. The event will feature a gallery reception, live art-making, performances, installations, open studios, and tours.
