New Web Page Celebrates Teen-Led Cultural Venue

Above: The exterior of 242 Main in October, 2021. Download in high resolution.

Nonprofit asks city leaders to respect youth legacy of 242 Main

BURLINGTON VT October 21, 2021: The volunteer-run nonprofit arts organization Big Heavy World has published an online resource center to advocate for the reinstatement of 242 Main, a historic teen-led music venue founded by Bernie Sanders when he was the mayor of Burlington in the 1980s. The resource pages include research about how youth-led cultural venues are valued internationally; research and visioning by local high school students exploring the future of a Burlington-area youth-led venue; historic posters, clips from an upcoming documentary film, and a timeline of activity relating to the neglect of Memorial Auditorium that resulted in the shuttering of the teen center. See http://www.bigheavyworld.com/242main

Big Heavy World has a mission of preserving and promoting original music from Vermont and is staffed by volunteers, mostly college or high school students exploring careers in business, marketing, broadcasting or cultural preservation. In its 25th year, the organization has naturally valued and respected resources like 242 Main which contribute to the formative years of young adults. At 242 Main, young adults programmed their teen center, steering the cultural and civic experiences that fostered critical thinking and community building. 242 Main became the country’s longest-running all-ages punk rock venue under the guidance of Burlington’s youth, contributing to the city’s cultural reputation and identity.

In 2016 the city’s mayor entered private talks with the University of Vermont to explore demolition of Memorial Auditorium and its replacement with a hockey arena. The volunteers of Big Heavy World argued that a public process should determine the future of the building. An eventual survey and series of public meetings made it apparent that residents of Burlington wished for the building to be repaired. More than half the survey respondents wished for youth music space and youth-led programming to be returned to Memorial Auditorium.

Above: At the entrance to 242 Main, October, 2021. Download in high resolution.

A ballot item of the approaching December 7 special election in Burlington would reserve “Up to $10 million” for repair of the building. Mayor Weinberger remains publicly uncommitted to restoring the building as a public commons, or returning 242 Main to its historic location. In a September 13 announcement the $10M budget was described as a placeholder that could be used to “transition” the building away from restoration. The new Big Heavy World resource explains why Burlington’s city leaders should, instead, be champions of local youth and the building where their greatest cultural triumph was earned.

Big Heavy World Executive Director James Lockridge said, “The teens of Burlington deserve a place for creative expression and to grow into contributing members of the community. Neglect by the city has taken that away from them, but city leaders could return it. The choice to serve our youth, restore the building, and live up to responsibilities should be made proudly by our mayor and city councilors.”

A petition to save 242 Main has gathered more than 2,200 signatures at Save242Main.com. More than thirty pages of unedited public comments from that petition may be downloaded from the new resource pages.

About Big Heavy World: Big Heavy World is an independent nonprofit music development office established to archive and promote the original music of Vermont. With a crew of volunteers it publishes information about Vermont’s music industry, archives thousands of Vermont-made recordings, photographs and artifacts, and operates 105.9FM, a radio station highlighting the region’s creative community. It hosts the weekly ‘Rocket Shop local music radio hour and podcast that has featured ~700 Vermont-based artists. In 2020 Big Heavy World was recognized as ‘Best Global Music Office’ by an international Music Cities jury. The organization is celebrating its 25th anniversary in 2021.

High-resolution images are available at https://bigheavyworld.com/press-images