We held our wedding at the Multicultural Arts Center in Cambridge and it was the most beautiful, intimate, old-world-Boston setting for a wedding! We got married in late October and were fortunate enough to get a sunny, mid-60s day. The brick outside is absolutely beautiful, but the space inside is just take-your-breath-away lovely! We had ~115 people attend our wedding and had more than enough room for a dance floor with a DJ. We even had a Bulgarian Dance Group come in and do a performance and there was enough space. We worked primarily with Jeff R. at the CMAC who was amazing! He was extremely helpful throughout the entire process (even on the day of the wedding itself - he was there until long after the event ended). He even recommended an uplighting vendor who was great as well and he added all of these mini touches that made the entire experience special (like focusing a light on us as we made our big entrance down the staircase as husband & wife). read more

Multicultural Arts Center - Ceremony area outside in the courtyard (late October - still had beautiful full trees). - Venues & Event Spaces Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

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This venue is absolutely beautiful. We were struck by both the courtyard, where we had our ceremony, and the theater, where dinner was served. The theater itself is so beautiful that, other than table linens and flowers, we did not decorate it at all because the architecture, marble, and ceiling are so striking. We also used the standard lighting and did not need any extra lights. CMAC gives you a list of approved caterers, so it narrows your options a bit (which was good for us, since we needed a place to start) and will rent tables and chairs to you. We also rented a piano for dinner, and all of these items come out of your deposit. The location is great in that it is close to the T and a parking garage; we walked to a boat near the Cambridgeside Galleria for our coffee and cake, which we would not have been able to do at another location. It was just perfect for us!!! One thing that was absolutely amazing was the event manager. Jeff completely took care of us and helped us by giving suggestions and being really flexible around rehearsal and event times. He even let us lock up items after the wedding and come back the next day for them. He was awesome! THANK YOU, JEFF! read more

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I got married at the CMAC at the beginning of April. It is an absolutely fantastic space! I fell in love with it as soon as I saw pictures of the Theater (specifically the ceiling and balcony/staircase). I loved having the option of holding the ceremony outside in the Centanni Courtyard and that there are two gallery spaces for guests to enjoy. It was also very important to me to find a venue that was somehow related to the arts and I was thrilled to support the CMAC's mission of promoting diversity through the arts and providing a professional performance/exhibition space to individuals/groups who might not otherwise have access to one with my business. Compared to similar venues in the area the CMAC was definitely a good value for the (affordable) price. I began working with Amanda, who was very helpful and informative. About four months before my wedding, Amanda left and Nicole took over. The staff transition was seamless. I understand that the position has changed and Nicole works part time ~which meant she wasn't able to get back to emails quite as quickly, but all of this was communicated to me before I was left wondering and there were no issues or problems at all. Jeff was the staff on site for the day of the event. He was so great and kept everything running smoothly. One super helpful detail about the CMAC is that right now they only allow one event per weekend, which meant we could drop off decorations etc. the day before during the rehearsal and pick them up the following Monday. I am so happy we found the CMAC it is a beautiful and unique site, with professional and friendly staff. read more

We had our wedding reception at CMAC at the End of April 2014. It's an awesome unique old world space with marble floors, a very very tall ceiling height, no rugs and a great balcony/staircase. We loved it. Compared to similar venues in the area the CMAC was definitely a little more than we wanted to spend, but worth it. The space was perfect for our event of around 125 guests. We used the gallery for cocktails and deserts. Dinner was in the theater. We had to do basically most the planning work ourselves coordinating rentals, caterers, etc. We used Cuisine Chez Vous Catering and they were the best to work with. The space itself is really amazing and our guests were impressed by the dinner being held in the theatre and our grand entrance from the balcony and staircase. Parking was easy for guests as there is a garage right across the street and down one block for $5 for the night. Basic lighting is included in your rental fee, which was great. We worked Nicole who works part time which meant she wasn't able to get back to emails quickly, so that was ok. Jeff was the onsite staff and he was great. We were happy we found the CMAC as it's a beautiful place. read more

This place is an awesome asset to the Cambridge Community. The mission of the CMAC, as quoted from their website, "is to present visual and performing arts programs to educate the community about diversity, and make our facility available to artists or groups that might not otherwise have access to a professionally equipped facility or the cultural mainstream." What does that mean? It means they have a lot of unusual programs that you would otherwise never get the opportunity to see. It's a place to expand your horizons and step into a new perspective. I've attended events here from Brazilian Student Photography exhibits (complete with live webcam chatting with the Brazilian Student Photographers) to outdoor jazz concerts. They host a free summer concert series in their courtyard that has featured some fantastic musicians. And if you're looking for a beautiful venue to host or attend an event, the ballroom in this place is absolutely gorgeous. The prices here are typically very affordable and they host a wide range of events. You can check out their website at www.cmacusa.org for information about upcoming events and pricing. If you're a member of the East Cambridge Community, this place is a must visit. If you're interested in attending culturally diverse events, check their schedule regularly. This is truly a hidden gem in East Cambridge. read more

The staff at the Multicultural Arts Center set us up for success from the start with an awesome list of local caterers, and they continued to be responsive and helpful throughout the year it took us to plan our wedding. Day of, the staff on site helped our coordinator (definitely recommend getting a day-of coordinator for the space!) and caterer make sure set up, lighting, and breakdown all proceeded without a hitch. The theater space itself is so lovely and distinctive, and it's a perfect size for a medium wedding. The option to use the park outside for the ceremony and the gallery for extra cocktail space provides variety and convenience all in one. An unforgettable spot for a wedding in Cambridge! read more

We had our wedding here this past weekend and I am so happy I selected this venue! I always knew I didn't want to have my wedding somewhere like a hotel or country club, which is the standard type of venue for a lot of the people my family and I know. I wanted something that was unique and beautiful on its own, and not just because we ended up decorating a lot. When I visited CMAC for the first time I knew I found my perfect venue. We got very lucky with the weather this past weekend because even though it was a late August day in the 80's, the weather in the beautiful courtyard where we had our ceremony was extremely comfortable because there was a slight breeze, and the trees formed a canopy over the ceremony area and the guests. People are even able to sit on the steps of the courthouse to get a better view of the ceremony. There is a structure in the courtyard that we used to form the ceremony backdrop so we didn't even need to worry about building or renting an arch; all we did was hang garlands of flowers on the structure and attach two panels with Indian designs on either side for an instant wedding mandap (structure). As for cocktail hour, we were able to have that in the art gallery. The artwork at the time was a bunch of paintings including things like dancers which our guests really enjoyed. During cocktail hour people were also able to walk around the main hallway, and also sit outside in the courtyard to enjoy the weather. Finally, the reception was in the main theater which really wowed all of our guests. Considering the architecture is so beautiful along with the gorgeous ceiling, other than centerpieces on the tables we did not need any other decorations. Also, we went with the basic lighting that is included in the rental fee and that was all we needed. We had 16 tables overall and while the room was filled, no one felt cramped and it seemed more like an intimate dinner party than a crowded room. My husband and I made our grand entrance by coming out onto the balcony and waving at the crowd and then walking down the staircase - our guests loved it! Later on, the caterers broke down 4 of the tables to make room for a dance floor which was a great size. The guests who were at those 4 tables were able to sit at chairs the caterers put around the room, or at the tables that were added to the art gallery. Wedding itself aside, this was such a great venue to work with because we were able to drop our things off starting Friday (day before the wedding), including things to put in the refrigerator, and were able to come pick them up again on Monday. Manny was the venue's point of contact for us and he was so great to work with! He would answer all of our emails promptly and was so helpful. Last minute we realized we would have to use the venue's sound equipment and he was able to work with our DJ on coordinating who would bring what, and he set up all the sound equipment for us both in the art gallery and in the main theater. He also ran a power line outside in the courtyard for us. After the wedding, he helped us bring things down from the dressing rooms to the storage room which was a huge help. In summary, if you want a beautiful and unique wedding venue for a city wedding, this is your place! read more

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My friends had their wedding here on a blazing hot Saturday afternoon. It was a small ceremony in the courtyard, which occasionally had people cutting through. The trees provided much needed shade before and after the ceremony. Inside we went, we had snacks in one of the galleries (there was a high school photo exhibit up at the time) and then we were ushered into a ballroom set up for the luncheon. The ballroom was massive for such a small wedding. The tables and food took up half the room and the rest of it could've been for dancing if you were so inclined to dance. The decor was absolutely amazing, the ceiling was particularly beautiful. It was just a really nice place to have a small wedding. read more

WOW!! We recently held our Wedding at The Multicultural Arts Center and could not be happier. Shelly, Annie, Jeff and the entire team were a pleasure to work with, super responsive and delivered an over the top evening. Jeff is the most calm, kind and spirited person...the type that you want running the scene behind your Wedding Day. We look forward to continue supporting our new friends at the MCAC. If we could give them six stars, we would. read more

OK, this was many years ago, but our wedding reception went so smoothly here friends still comment on it. The layout is quirky, and you can't be guaranteed what artwork might be up in the gallery. But to have two separate spaces for a reception--cocktails in the gallery, dinner in the main hall--that are spectacular and unusual gets a two-thumbs up from me. It wasn't outrageously expensive at the time, it's T-accessible, and there is also parking. read more

We had our wedding here about a year ago. We were really impressed with the staff, and the space was perfect for our even of around 100 people. We had a room block at Hotel Marlowe, a 5 minute walk away, and we were planning an outdoor ceremony, that got moved inside when it rained. But the old courtroom was a great venue, in retrospect maybe better than outside. read more

My fiance and I didn't even bother looking for another wedding venue once we visited CMAC since it had everything we wanted- an outdoor urban wedding space, an indoor backup spot (no worries about the rain!), and a beautiful indoor venue for our reception. We were especially thrilled to find an alternative to a hotel, country club, or religious building that matched our interests in art and internationalism. We had originally been a bit worried about it being hot and miserable outside for the 4:30pm ceremony (in August), but at that time of day the outdoor wedding spot next to the venue was shady and GORGEOUS!!! Jeff, the lighting and sound guy, couldn't have been more helpful and knowledgeable. As for the venue itself, yeah it's not cheap but it's the best for what you'll find in the Cambridge/Somerville area. Book early. The main theater room lit up wonderfully for dinner and dancing, while the side gallery for the cocktail hour had a colorful art exhibit of paintings of women in marketplaces that couldn't have been more perfect. Overall, I would highly recommend CMAC for anyone else's future wedding! read more

We had our wedding here about 2 weeks ago. If you're looking for a wedding venue where you can write one check and be done with everything...this is not your place! If you're willing to do the work yourself in a beautiful space, read on! We wanted a unique, historic venue location within the general Boston-Cambridge area that was affordable - enter, CMAC. This is a non-profit, so the rental rate is extremely reasonable for the Boston area. They do not specialize in weddings, so you have to do basically all the work yourself coordinating rentals, caterers, etc. The space itself is really amazing - our guests were really wowed by the dinner being held in the theatre and the bridal party entrance from the balcony and staircase. We really liked the fact that the cocktail hour can be held in the adjacent art gallery, and the theatre is closed off during this time, for two distinct areas. Parking was really easy for guests - there is a garage right across the street and down one block and cheap too - only $5 for the night. Basic lighting is included in your rental fee - there's no real need to go above what is offered - spot lights on tables, lights on the dance floor and the awesome ceiling lit up - unless you want some sort of uplighting. We did not have our ceremony on-site, but this is an option. There are several buildings in the complex at CMAC which provide interesting photo backdrops for you and your photographer too. CMAC notes on their website they can hold 150 guests with a dance floor. We had 119 (12 tables) and had room for a small dance floor. I think 1-2 tables were broken down to enlarge the dance floor after dinner. Quick tip - we used Wildflour Catering (I believe they also go by Boston Served) and they were great to work with. We requested quotes from all of the approved caterers at CMAC and Wildflour came in the least expensive (by a couple thousand!). Our initial budget was about $20k, which was a challenge, but we were able to stay close to our budget by using CMAC and Wildflour - I think it would be rare to find another way to have a wedding with a plated dinner (not buffet) and open bar under $25k in the Boston/Cambridge area - trust me, we looked at a lot of options! read more

We had our wedding here this Fall and it was such a lovely venue. We were looking for something different than your typical hotel ballroom that wasn't ridiculously expensive and this venue was perfect for us. We had 140 guests which is the maximum capacity for the venue and the space was just right. There is an option to have the ceremony outside in the courtyard which is a lovely space. Unfortunately, the weather didn't work out during our wedding day and we had to push the ceremony inside but the interior of the main theater is gorgeous so there is really no downside. Cocktail hour is held within the main gallery upstairs and then the reception is held within the theater. It is a beautiful and warm space and the art on display really adds to the event. The venue provides you with a list of approved caterers (don't worry, there are plenty of excellent options) and being able to choose all of our vendors really allowed us to personalize our wedding. There are also several hotels and a T stop within walking distance so it minimizes transportation and I think many of our guests really appreciated that. Leading up to the actual event, the staff at CMAC were very responsive and the Production Coordinator, Jeff Robinson, is incredible. He met with us during our walk through and has tons of experience doing events at the venue. He coordinates all of the logistics regarding the building space, including the lighting, and his execution is spot-on. We had a wonderful experience working with CMAC and would highly recommend this place to anyone looking for a wonderful wedding venue. read more

Cambridge needs more places like CMAC in more accessible areas. CMAC is beautifully constructed and there are always art exhibits, dance concerts, plays etc. running there. It in one of the few cultural treasures of Cambridge. And it is relatively easy to get to by train(walk from Lechmere) or by bus(take the 69). read more

I attended a latin show there last Friday night. It was a good show and the theatre is very cute and the atomsphere nice, however I paid $20 for a little over 1 hour show. You pretty much have to leave after the show stops playing. it is not a place where you can linger the night away. You can see the same band at another club in Boston, pay half the price and see twice the show. The place has so much potential. It is not worth to schedule your around this one hour. read more

I attended the Joyful Noise performance at the Sanders Theatre last Saturday. It was billed as a gospel concert but all of the songs performed by the Harlem Gospel Choir with the exception of their last one, "O Happy Day" were all pop songs, mostly a tribute to Stevie Wonder. The choir's renditions of the songs were magnificent, but I would have liked to have heard a few more faith-based songs in their repertoire that evening. read more