Past Forward
The Multicultural Art Center is thrilled to launch a multi-media history project Past Forward as we gear up to celebrate our 50th anniversary in 2028! This monumental occasion is a perfect time to reflect on MAC’s profound impact on the local community over the past five decades and build upon this rich history.
We want to hear from you. Tell us your story!
By sharing your MAC story, you will create a living legacy that expands on our historical record and provides invaluable resources for future generations who will seek to better understand the past and the arts. Each story we collect is unique, and together they will help MAC ensure that the full history of the center and its community influence is recorded.
Join us as the Multicultural Art Center remembers its first 50 years and looks ahead to its next 50.
Episode 0: Before The Arts
Before it became a home for artists and community voices, this building anchored centuries of history. In 1775, British troops landed here on their march to Lexington and Concord. Months later, American forces built Fort Putnam nearby to defend Boston.
By 1816, it became the Middlesex County Courthouse — a center of law and civic life for over 150 years. In the 1980s, the courthouse was saved and transformed into the Multicultural Arts Center, where a space once defined by law now celebrates culture, creativity, and community.
More multi-media content coming soon!