![[the square] Portland's creative hub](http://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68f9dad1d76b7d3c7ff3b85f/be2b5ac8-8bb3-4037-ab1f-6ac35da5020c/The+Square+logo+transparent.png?format=1500w)
PORTLAND’S CREATIVE HUB
music. community. Education. Arts.
it’s all here at
[the square]
Welcome to Portland's new creative hub at Monument Square, in the heart of the Arts District — and the new downtown home of Monaco Studios & Equal Measure Arts, expanding on our mission to provide accessible recording time for emerging musicians as well as educational programs for aspiring audio engineers & producers.
[the square] is more than a music studio, however… it’s a community-oriented multi-purpose space for all types of digital creators, including podcasters, videographers, photographers, and immersive media installations (in partnership with PORTL&).
Our doors are now open for free tours of the space, drop-in bookings for rehearsals, recordings, photo/video shoots, and more; plus membership sign-ups for those who want to take full advantage of the resources & community offered in our app.
WHO’S AT [THE SQUARE]?
Check out some of the offerings from our growing community of creative professionals…
-
Giorgi Baino: Engineer, Producer, educator, sound healer
30+ years experience; Dolby Atmos Certified; Gold Record with Spose for “I’m Awesome”; offering a range of educational programming at [the square] with a focus on supporting women and the LGBTQ+ community
-
Joe Beninati: Engineer, Percussionist, Educator
15+ years experience as engineer & session drummer; Studio Manager at 317 Main Community Music Center; offering home production training, studio pre-production, & drum lessons at [the square]
-
Genius Black: Producer, podcast host, author
Runs musical collective GEM CITY; hosts Maine’s Black Future podcast; political analyst for NewsCenter; board member of Portland Media Center & Portland Ovations; offering beat-making sessions at [the square]
-
Chris Brown: Music business & marketing consultant
25+ years head of marketing at Bull Moose Music; inventor of Record Store Day; Maine Academy of Modern Music board member; professional music fan; offering artist coaching & development at [the square]
-
Natalie Conn: Photographer & Videographer
Staff photographer at MECA&D; Education Coordinator at Portland Media Center; organizes media workshops; offering photography and videography for artists and events at [the square]
-
Joseph Cyr: Engineer, Producer, DJ, Social Media Marketing Pro
10+ years producing music; adept in live sound + studio settings; AV integrator; professional DJ; offering recording sessions, post-production, and lessons on engineering + DJing at [the square]
-
Dave Gutter: Singer, Songwriter, Composer, Performer, Producer
Grammy-winning songwriter; collaborator with David Bowie, Aaron Neville, Imogen Heap and The Roots; 30+ years active in Maine’s music scene as a founding member of Rustic Overtones; now offering songwriting sessions at [the square]
-
Matt Perry: Engineer, Producer, Performer, Educator
Apple Certified Logic Pro producer; specializes in commercial audio, voiceover, & podcasts; credits include ESPN, Simon & Schuster, & NPR; offering production, educational training, and remote-directed recording sessions at [the square]
-
Ethan Woodman Fowler: Photographer, Engineer, Educator
Head Engineer/Producer at Monaco Studios; co-founder of Equal Measure Arts; 10+ years teaching music at PATHS; multi-instrumentalist; offering music production, instruction, and photography at [the square]
[the square] COMMUNITY PARTNERS
A Falmouth-based music studio established in 2020, offering solar-powered recording sessions in a scenic farmhouse setting with lodging available on-site. Known for their high-quality audio & video productions, as well as community events, they’re thrilled to bring all that and more to downtown Portland at [the square].
The nonprofit arm of Monaco Studios, EMA harnesses community support to subsidize recording time & education for students and under-resourced musicians. EMA offers programming with MAMM, MECA&D, and other educational institutions.
PORTL& designs and produces immersive installations, events, and experiences — offering their creative services to businesses, nonprofits, organizations, and artists alike. They are working toward a bold goal: to establish Maine’s first immersive arts theme park and venue, right here in Portland. For now, you can catch them at [the square].
