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BINGHAMTON – Nearly every weekend in the years since the pandemic, musicians have heaved equipment into an unassuming building behind the Bundy Museum of History and Art on Main Street in Binghamton, growing the space into a mecca for new and veteran bands in the local music scene.
That annex building, partially filled with antique clocks, has hosted everything from hardcore acts with aggressive pits, to drag shows, singer-songwriters, and rock bands taking a leap into their first live performances.
But now that space and everything it shares an organization with — a museum, a radio station, a photo lab, and exhibits — is facing an unclear future after the Bundy Museum leadership announced a “comprehensive reorganization and downsizing” due to financial challenges after 22 years of operation. On the museum's social media a temporary closure of the space was announced while they decide on these next steps after 22 years of operation.
The historic-register building hosts exhibits and historic decor, is a frequent stop on the monthly First Friday art walk, and also houses the Rod Serling Archives.
Eric Eckman, director of operations for the Bundy Museum, said challenges have been present for the last three years since founder Michael Weinstein suffered a financial loss, making him unable to continue his support for the museum.
While the museum launched its “Save the Bundy” campaign, which still continues, and has continued to host fundraising events on its campus, it has not been enough.
“We have the museum, the annex, the visitor center, Binghamton Photo, the radio station. These are all separate buildings. So just the upkeep and utilities in every single building have just proved impossible right now,” he said.
Eckman said museum officials will engage in a comprehensive evaluation, restructuring, and downsizing of aspects of the museum with the hope of reopening at some point in a to-be-determined capacity. At this time, he does not know when that will be.
The Bundy Museum's community radio station, WBDY 99.5, is still on the air during the temporary closure.
Also on the campus is Riot Act Books, a volunteer-run bookstore hosting indie and radical works, which rents its location from the museum and expects to stay in the near-term.
Andy Pragacz, a founding member of Riot Act, says the museum complex has been a critical community institution, and is sad that a place known for hosting local creatives’ first show, play, or exhibit might be lost.
The annex theater will continue to honor booked shows, but a question remains of what comes next for the creative scene that has found its home there.
As live music came back from the pandemic, the Bundy Museum Annex became a new home for grassroots music in the Binghamton Area, whether you are growing your indie sound or hitting the right combination of guitar and scream to rile up a pit.
Peter Stewart, a member of the local band Green Creeks and local artist who created this year’s Porchfest poster, is mourning the potential loss of the venue even with shows still to be played. His band has already performed at the venue more than he could count on two hands, he said, including their annual Christmas show.
For Stewart, one less venue in the scene is a hole that needs filling.
“It definitely sucks for sure,” Stewart said.
“Some of the first shows we ever played were at the Bundy. It was a community space and a venue when there wasn't really an answer to that in Binghamton in the early days of the scene that we have now.”
“They've been such a bastion of the arts, not just music,” said Tom Lewis, frontman and singer/songwriter of the band Tom Jolu.
His band has a long history with the venue, playing their 2021 CD release show at the venue along with many other concerts.
Stewart and Lewis agreed that the local music scene has grown quite strong in recent years, with new bands starting and other venues opening for local original music like The Deep State, Crowbar Arcade and Stellar Human alongside longer-standing venues like Atomic Tom’s and the Polish Community Center.
But despite that growth, the Bundy still has an important spot as the first stepping stone for many local acts active now.
“They don't care who you are, they're gonna put a show on,” Lewis said.
“That's always the biggest first hurdle for anybody in a band. It's a loss, but I think the way the music scene is now, and at least there are a few other venues. I think it'll be fine at least for now.”
In the wake of the anticipated hiatus, the Puzzled Players Theater in Endicott has offered its 75-seat space in the former Cinema Saver to interested bands and groups.
You can find remaining shows at the Bundy Museum Annex on their website, including the Tom Jolu Birthday Show on September 25.
To help the Bundy Museum, you can donate on their website.
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