LYNN — After months of renovations, Galleries at Lynn Arts (GALA) on Exchange Street celebrated its reopening Thursday evening with a ribbon-cutting ceremony followed by a festive mocktail hour. In partnership with the City Arts and Sciences Academy (CASA), attendees were also encouraged to bring school supplies to support local educators, blending celebration with community service.
In collaboration with the Greater Lynn Chamber of Commerce, Millennium Latino Project, and the Lynn Music Foundation, residents gathered to celebrate the renovations at 25 Exchange St. — most notably the updates made to GALA, which include new windows and a newly renovated bathroom.
The evening was not only a chance to celebrate the newly improved space and what lies ahead for the gallery, but also served as a school supply drive benefiting educators at CASA.
“It’s a STEAM school, with a heavy emphasis on the A,” Edwin Cabrera, the co-founder and executive director of the Lynn Music Foundation, stated.
Cabrera, who is also an educator, recently began working with CASA and quickly noticed a growing need for classroom supplies. Around Christmas, teachers shared that they were even asking family members for basic items like Expo markers — not for personal use, but to ensure their classrooms were properly equipped for students.
Recognizing this need, Cabrera suggested incorporating a supply drive into the event to help replenish classroom resources.
Following the mocktail hour, the Lynn Music Foundation hosted a comedy show typically titled “Stand Up, Stick Up,” which was renamed “Stand Up, Stack Up” for the evening in hopes of collecting even more school supplies for CASA educators.
“Our mission is to support our local creative community and economy,” President of GALA, Amanda Masson, said.
Throughout the evening, members of all four organizations came together to connect, celebrate, and appreciate the artwork displayed throughout GALA. As part of the gallery’s 6–8 annual public calls, the featured work on display was “Twins” by Lynn natives Michael T. Aghahowa and Jah’Nyah Spencer.
Prior to the ribbon-cutting ceremony, City Councilors Cardeliz Paez and Natasha Megie-Maddrey presented Masson and GALA Treasurer Lisa Connolly with a citation recognizing the organization’s continued dedication to the Lynn community.
“It’s a recognition of enhancing the space to better serve the community,” Paez stated. “As a testament to the power of arts, to build community on our local history and invite people from across the city to come together.”
