New Bedford Art Museum

Address
608 Pleasant St
New Bedford, MA 02740 United States Get Directions
Phone (508) 961-3072
Events at this venue
Today
  • The Shape of Who We Are: Exploring Identity

    The Shape of Who We Are: Exploring Identity

    New Bedford Art Museum 608 Pleasant St, New Bedford, MA, United States

    The New Bedford Art Museum presents the Shape of Who We Are: Exploring Identity, a juried showcase curated by Marcelle Joseph, an independent curator and collector. Identity can connect us to our origins or inspire transformation. In Shape of Who We Are, artists from across the globe explore how identity is formed, expressed, and reimagined through race, gender, class, culture, and personal history. These works invite us to reflect on what we choose to carry forward, what we leave behind, and the infinite ways we might become. Juror Statement: "In this climate of geopolitical chaos, environmental crises, trade wars and populist post-woke political agendas that are stripping people of their rights, in particular, those folks marginalized by their gender choices, this open call exhibition could not have come at a better time. For this exhibition that explores identity, I selected works that tell a story about each artist and their unique origins, whether it be a Korean boy who was adopted at birth by an American family, a Black Irish woman grappling with her double diaspora or a person who was born in the wrong body. The viewer will be treated to a panoply of narratives that both celebrate the […]

    $7 – $10

  • Sketchbook Club

    New Bedford Art Museum 608 Pleasant St, New Bedford, MA, United States

    Every Other Friday | 6:00–8:00 PM Upcoming: June 13 Tickets: $10 Whether you use your sketchbook to creatively brainstorm a work project, capture daily observations, imagine a fantasy world, or just mindfully doodle, it can be a unique record of your day or your life. Join other sketchers at our informal gathering, led by local artist and illustrator Isiah Botelho. Each session will kick off with a prompt to inspire discussion and drawing, and participants will be able to share their work comfortably. Bring your sketchbook and preferred materials; we will have some basic supplies available. No pressure, no judgment, no guilt -- just community.

    $10

  • Holiday Wreath Making Workshop

    New Bedford Art Museum 608 Pleasant St, New Bedford, MA, United States

    As winter sets in and the holiday season approaches, join us to make a festive decorative wreath. We supply everything you need, including fresh greens, ribbons, and sparkly things; you supply the creativity. We’ll show you how! Bring garden gloves and wire cutters if you have them, and feel free to bring your own greens if you prefer. Instructor, Georgina Melone Georgina Melone had a vibrant design career in the toy and entertainment world, overseeing beloved brands such as Play-Doh, My Little Pony, Transformers, and many more. She led the futuring team and served as Global Vice President of Innovation and Design at Hasbro in Pawtucket, Rhode Island. She is currently Chief Creative Officer of Studio Big Rock in Tiverton, Rhode Island, where she focuses on inventing, corporate consulting, and public speaking on innovation and creativity. A graduate of the Rhode Island School of Design, Georgina is a talented teacher who has led courses at the University of Rhode Island, Pratt, Ringling School of Design, and RISD. She is passionate about sharing the joy of creating.

    $58 – $65

  • Twirl & Whirl: The Nutcracker

    New Bedford Art Museum 608 Pleasant St, New Bedford, MA, United States

    From cutting-edge modern dance to ballet, noted dancers, choreographers, and visiting guest choreographers curate performances, lectures, and workshops to introduce various dance forms. This Month: The Nutcracker Kick off the holiday season with a festive performance of the iconic Nutcracker performed by dancers from the New Bedford Ballet. The New Bedford Youth Ballet will be performing excerpts from The Nutcracker. The Nutcracker is a classical ballet composed by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky and first performed in 1892. The ballet is based on E.T.A. Hoffmann’s 1816 fairy tale the Nutcracker and the Mouse King. Founded in 1987, New Bedford Ballet Foundation is a non-profit organization whose mission is to promote and present classical ballets, grant scholarships, and educate the public in the beauty of this performing art. Throughout the years, aided by financial support of the Foundation, thousands of area school children, community members, and senior citizens have enjoyed the opportunity to witness the splendor and beauty of live ballet.

    Free

  • Printmaking for the Holidays

    New Bedford Art Museum 608 Pleasant St, New Bedford, MA, United States

    Discover the magic of block printing with artist Jeff “Pixel” Palmer and create your own handmade holiday cards to share with friends and family. In this festive workshop, you’ll learn how to carve and print your very own reusable block, essentially a custom stamp that you can use again and again. Jeff will walk you through the process step by step, from transferring your design to safely carving and printing with his personal press. Once your block is complete, you’ll use it to print a series of beautiful, one of a kind holiday cards. You can make as many prints as you’d like using your carved stamp to pass out to all your family and friends. This class is beginner friendly and perfect for anyone who loves creative, hands on projects. All materials are provided, including paper, ink, and simple design templates to help you get started. Instructor, Jeff “Pixel” Palmer Jeff “Pixel” Palmer is a block and screen printing artist and designer based in New Bedford, Massachusetts. His work blends humor, pop culture, and nostalgia, featuring animals, musicians, and classic icons in a bold, playful style. With a background in graphic design, film, and video production, Jeff has taught […]

    $25

  • Figure Drawing Open Studio

    New Bedford Art Museum 608 Pleasant St, New Bedford, MA, United States

    Drawing from a live model has been an important part of many formal artistic practices since the Renaissance. Our open figure drawing studio is intended to provide artists of all levels a relaxed environment and a dedicated space where they are able to continue the tradition of working from a live nude model. Sessions are three hours long, and will start with a series of short gestures and ranging from 5-10 minutes before moving into longer 30 minute poses. Each class typically concludes with an hour long pose. There will be no formal instruction during the class; artists are encouraged to work from the model independently, in any medium they wish to bring.

    $20

  • Fri-YAY: Putnam Murdock

    New Bedford Art Museum 608 Pleasant St, New Bedford, MA, United States

    Folk, soul, pop, electronica, rock, hip-hop, and jazz, are just some of the genres you might hear at any given FriYAY event. Visitors hear local musicians play a two-hour set. Upcoming: Putnam Murdock Putnam Murdock has just released his fourth studio album, "It Takes a Long Time to Make Old Friends." He is touring locally with his band to support this record with Colin Bradley, Mark Purrington, and Kyle Spark. His music is dusty and patient. He seeks to achieve a kind of intimacy with his bandmates and therefore the audience to create a unique experience. His songs are cinematic in texture with lyrics that give a feeling of a short story.

    Free

  • Artistic Luminaries: Three Local Icons Opening Reception

    New Bedford Art Museum 608 Pleasant St, New Bedford, MA, United States

    Join us on AHA! Night for the opening reception of Artistic Luminaries: Three Local Icons. For decades, three friends — Willoughby “Bill” Elliott (1943–2016), Severin “Sig” Haines (1946–2023) , and Marc St. Pierre (1952–2019) — served as leading figures in the studios and classrooms of the Swain School of Design and the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth. Their collective influence established a model of artistic and educational excellence that continues through successive generations of artists, remaining central to the South Coast’s creative identity. Through their distinct practices, all three mentors shared a vision of art grounded in discipline, experimentation, and craft. Elliott’s paintings translate the shifting atmosphere of the landscape into studies of light and form. St. Pierre’s layered prints and encaustic works explore the dialogue between structure and spontaneity. Haines’s refined compositions examine the relationships between color, structure, and perception. Each approached teaching as an extension of their studio practice, demanding discipline, curiosity, and a respect for process. Their students learned not only to create art, but also to think critically about it: to see relationships between space, tone, and texture as ways of understanding the world.

    Free

  • Sketchbook Club

    New Bedford Art Museum 608 Pleasant St, New Bedford, MA, United States

    Every Other Friday | 6:00–8:00 PM Upcoming: June 13 Tickets: $10 Whether you use your sketchbook to creatively brainstorm a work project, capture daily observations, imagine a fantasy world, or just mindfully doodle, it can be a unique record of your day or your life. Join other sketchers at our informal gathering, led by local artist and illustrator Isiah Botelho. Each session will kick off with a prompt to inspire discussion and drawing, and participants will be able to share their work comfortably. Bring your sketchbook and preferred materials; we will have some basic supplies available. No pressure, no judgment, no guilt -- just community.

    $10

  • Figure Drawing Open Studio

    New Bedford Art Museum 608 Pleasant St, New Bedford, MA, United States

    Drawing from a live model has been an important part of many formal artistic practices since the Renaissance. Our open figure drawing studio is intended to provide artists of all levels a relaxed environment and a dedicated space where they are able to continue the tradition of working from a live nude model. Sessions are three hours long, and will start with a series of short gestures and ranging from 5-10 minutes before moving into longer 30 minute poses. Each class typically concludes with an hour long pose. There will be no formal instruction during the class; artists are encouraged to work from the model independently, in any medium they wish to bring.

    $20

  • Sweet Creations: Gingerbread House Workshop

    New Bedford Art Museum 608 Pleasant St, New Bedford, MA, United States

    Step into a world of sugar, spice, and holiday delight at the New Bedford Art Museum! In this sweet and spirited workshop, young artists will build and decorate their very own gingerbread houses, transforming simple cookie kits into candy-covered creations that would make even the gingerbread man proud. Participants will learn the art of icing, pattern, and design as they create one-of-a-kind edible masterpieces. With colorful candies, frosting galore, and a few festive surprises, this hands-on afternoon is the perfect blend of creativity and holiday cheer. We’ll keep the atmosphere merry with cheerful tunes, warm cocoa, and a buffet of decorating treats to inspire endless imagination. Whether their style is classic Christmas cottage or wild candy wonderland, each child will leave with a finished gingerbread house that’s uniquely their own, ready to take home and proudly display for the holidays. All materials are provided, including gingerbread kits, frosting, candies, and packaging for easy transport.

    $35

  • Sketchbook Club

    New Bedford Art Museum 608 Pleasant St, New Bedford, MA, United States

    Every Other Friday | 6:00–8:00 PM Upcoming: June 13 Tickets: $10 Whether you use your sketchbook to creatively brainstorm a work project, capture daily observations, imagine a fantasy world, or just mindfully doodle, it can be a unique record of your day or your life. Join other sketchers at our informal gathering, led by local artist and illustrator Isiah Botelho. Each session will kick off with a prompt to inspire discussion and drawing, and participants will be able to share their work comfortably. Bring your sketchbook and preferred materials; we will have some basic supplies available. No pressure, no judgment, no guilt -- just community.

    $10

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Photo Credit: Josh Souza