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BPDA designates The Anthem Group to activate Shipyard Park in Charlestown

Mar 10, 2022

The Boston Planning & Development Agency’s (BPDA) Board of Directors voted to allow The Anthem Group to continue to activate Shipyard Park in the Charlestown Navy Yard through 2025, at their monthly board meeting this week. 

The Anthem Group has been running the space at Shipyard Park since 2019 as “The Anchor,” a public gathering space that offers free community programming and events, supported by food and drink offerings. The BPDA created this unique operating model, which requires 15 percent of all gross sales to be invested into engaging and inclusive programming that is free and open to all of the public. Past programming has included live arts and music performances, farmer’s markets, children’s programming, fitness classes, and outdoor activities for youth groups. Guests are not required to patronize The Anchor to take part in this programming. The Anthem Group is planning to continue this model, with a calendar of events and programming led by local entrepreneurs and artists. 

“My team and I are thrilled to have the opportunity to continue the great public-private partnership that we've established with the BPDA. The Anchor has only just begun,” said President and CEO, Chris Sinclair. “The amazing things that we have established in under three short years, with the most challenging of circumstances, have paved the way for an outstanding future. We cannot wait to get 2022 started.”

During the public process for selecting an operator for the Navy Yard location, community feedback indicated an interest in maintaining a space that has robust event programming and is inclusive and accessible to all ages. The public also noted a preference for a proven operator and good neighbor that would bring an innovative concept to Shipyard Park. 

“We are excited to once again offer The Anthem Group the opportunity to create a vibrant, welcoming, and inclusive space for the public to enjoy the waterfront, as they have done at The Anchor for the last three years,” said BPDA Director Brian Golden. “As an agency, we recognize the importance of keeping public land accessible, and fully activated for the public to take advantage of. This designation will do both.”

Through new and existing relationships with community partners, Anthem stated in their RFP response that they would build upon their educational programs and cultural event offerings to attract and support a diverse array of neighbors to enjoy Shipyard Park.

As the previous operator of the space, Anthem has proven experience in operating an activation at this size and scale. They also have significant experience in curating events, which is an integral part in making Shipyard Park a desirable destination for all.


“Of Many Minds” Art Exhibit 

In addition to programming at The Anchor in Shipyard Park, starting this summer the Navy Yard will once again host an art exhibition on the Harborwalk through the winter of 2023. The exhibit, titled “Of Many Minds,” will be made up of 20 sculptures. Each piece is inspired by the experiences of Navy Yard workers as they transitioned from wartime ship building to other jobs, as operations in the Navy Yard slowed down, and then eventually ceased, paving the way for the area to become a National Park. The locations of the sculptures will be spread from the USS Constitution, to Menino Park at Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital.

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