The Allen Center offers a unique array of curated programs, historic tours, and special events in addition to offering facility rentals. The Allen Center is the premier facility under the direction of the Newton Cultural Alliance. Its abolitionist history as a center for progressive education makes this state-of-the-art performance facility worth a visit.
Upcoming Events
Thursday Evenings at The Allen Center
July 11, 18, 25 & August 1 at 7:00 pm
Aston Magna Music Festival
Aston Magna's 51st summer festival is coming to The Allen Center on Thursday nights, featuring four varied programs, two of them planned and led by guest curators. Check their website for additional information regarding programming for each date.
Artist Talk with Photographer Lou Jones
Wednesday, August 7 at 7:00pm
Lou Jones will talk about his current exhibit at The Allen Center, "The panAFRICAproject", and his recent trip to Africa. This event is Free. Registration is required. Suggested Donation: $20
Summer Pop Ups Are Back!
Wednesday, August 21st and 28th at 11:30 pm - 2:30 pm
*Rain dates on the following Thursdays.
Join us for a day of community on The Allen Center patio.
Featuring:
Women-Owned Small Businesses
Family Activities & Crafts
Local Food Vendors
Cherry Street Music
Allison Eldredge is The Allen Center Artist-in-Residence and Founder of Cherry Street Music.
Cherry Street Music is a chamber ensemble with a simple mission: to create a space to meet new people, develop friendships, and find togetherness, passion, and hope through evenings of music. Our "classical with a twist" concerts are less formal with conversations between artists, special guests, and audience members. Attendees will also have an opportunity to experience the visionary educational history and beauty of the 1840 Nathaniel Allen Homestead, now The Allen Center, as our artistic home!
We have 2 concert series this year: Classical with a Twist, and Americana. Check out our Cherry Street Music Page to learn more about our next show in the Americana Series: Forever Free, Wednesday, June 19th, at 2:00 PM & 6:00 PM.
Programming
Artist Residencies
The Allen Center hosts musicians and artists for short and long-term residencies. Residents make use of the Allen Center's state-of-the-art facilities, to work on new or ongoing projects in a historic setting.
Current Artist in Residence: Allison Eldredge, cello.
See Allison's newest project, Cherry Street Music, at the Allen Center.
Historic Tours
The Allen Center is home to a rich history that's rarely told. We're proud to keep the story of the Nathaniel Topliff Allen Homestead alive at the Allen House. Learn more about this former school and what it took to renovate and restore the space through our guided tours.
Tours can be organized for small groups by emailing our Allen Center staff at contact@newtonculture.org
Special Events & Fundraisers
The Allen Center's mix of historic and contemporary spaces make the facility the perfect home for intimate gatherings, photoshoots, and elegant affairs. View some images from our past events below and see our facility rental page to plan your next event.
Special Offers
The Allen Center/Newton Cultural Alliance offers discounted rates in order to broaden accessibility to cultural programing, like the concerts, performances, festivals, art installations, classes, and workshops offered by the many talented groups and artists here in Newton and beyond.
Please note that for all offers, some restrictions may apply.
Student Rates
The Allen Center/Newton Cultural Alliance offers a discounted rate, for students and young people under 18, to attend most events at The Allen Center. Please refer to each event for specific rates; choose "student" when purchasing a ticket through the Eventbrite or Zeffy link.
Mass Cultural Council Card to Culture Program
The Allen Center/Newton Cultural Alliance is proud to participate in the Card to Culture program, a collaboration between Mass Cultural Council and the Department of Transitional Assistance, the Massachusetts Health Connector, and the Women, Infants & Children (WIC) Nutrition Program.
EBT, WIC, and ConnectorCare cardholders can purchase up to four tickets per card at $5 each; kids are free.
To access the discount online, please enter the corresponding promo code for your card from the list below, when you go to check out at the Eventbrite event page. You can also contact The Allen Center/NCA by emailing operations@newtonculture.org or calling 617.332.4300 and identifying yourself as an EBT, P-EBT, WIC or ConnectorCare card holder.
For EBT and P-EBT cardholders, please use promo code EBTTAC.
For WIC cardholders, please use promo code WICTAC.
For ConnectorCare cardholders, please use promo code CARETAC.
See the complete list of participating organizations offering EBT, WIC, and ConnectorCare discounts.