We, the undersigned, are writing to express our support for MOON, a volunteer-run nonprofit that has become a vital part of downtown Salem’s cultural, creative, and economic life.

MOON operates Moon Base One, an all-ages, sober music venue on Artists’ Row, and Moon Over Salem, an annual city-wide benefit festival in downtown Salem. Their mission is simple: increase access to underground music in the greater Salem area, serving three core pillars of accessibility to the arts, support of the creative economy, and support of the local economy. 

Since opening Moon Base One in February 2025, MOON has welcomed over 3,000 attendees to more than 100 live music and arts events, featuring genres ranging from harsh noise to smooth jazz and everything in between. 

Accessibility & Inclusion

MOON is committed to creating a safe, welcoming space both on stage and in the audience.

Their programming actively uplifts artists from marginalized communities.

At Moon Over Salem, 50% of acts featured women or non-binary musicians, and 94% of performers were based in the Greater Salem Area.

In 2025, Moon Over Salem featured 52 bands and welcomed hundreds of community members and visitors to downtown Salem.

All events are sober and all-ages, providing a rare and essential all-ages, substance-free space for community members who are often excluded from traditional nightlife venues.

Supporting Artists & the Creative Economy

MOON doesn’t just provide a stage…

In 2025 alone, MOON paid $17,777.56 directly to musicians, while also creating paid opportunities for sound engineers, visual artists, and event staff.

They offer production training, promoter development programs, and scholarships for local high school students pursuing arts and music education.

Through partnerships with organizations like Salem Main Streets, Creative Collective, the Public Arts Commission, and Essex County Community Foundation, MOON has delivered free and low-cost public programming while still compensating artists fairly.

A Proven Boost to Downtown Salem

MOON’s impact extends far beyond music.

Moon Over Salem 2025 brought 752 people into downtown over two days, activating seven local venues and partnering with dozens of small businesses, vendors, and makers.

Based on national data from Americans for the Arts, the festival generated an estimated $28,900+ in additional local spending, supporting restaurants, shops, and service workers.

Local businesses reported increased foot traffic throughout the event, demonstrating the real economic value of MOON’s presence.

Why This Matters Now

A small number of noise complaints threaten the continued operation of Moon Base One and MOON’s programming. While we care deeply about respecting our neighbors, the solution should not be to silence one of the few all-ages, nonprofit music spaces in the city, especially one that operates with intention, community care, and public benefit at its core.

Cities thrive when arts and culture are supported. MOON represents the very best of creative Salem: volunteer arts organizing, creative opportunity, youth engagement, and economic vitality.

Our Ask

We urge city officials, decision-makers, and community stakeholders to:

Recognize MOON as a valuable nonprofit cultural institution

Support reasonable, collaborative solutions that allow live music to continue

Protect all-ages arts spaces in downtown Salem

Ensure that a few loud voices do not outweigh the many community members, artists, and businesses who benefit from MOON’s work

By signing this petition, we affirm that MOON belongs in Salem and that local music, artists, and inclusive community spaces deserve to

 be protected and celebrated.