Arts New Bedford is a volunteer organization dedicated to promoting and supporting the New Bedford arts and culture industry. Arts New Bedford was formed by a group of volunteers who envision New Bedford as a City of Art. They endeavor to work with others to raise the city's profile as a stimulating and affordable place for artists to live and work and as a destination where visitors can explore a wide range of arts and culture experiences.

The mission of Arts New Bedford is to promote and support the New Bedford arts and culture community.  Art and culture in New Bedford is an economic engine with vast potential to contribute to the economic development and well being of New Bedford and its arts community.  Artists who live, work or show in New Bedford must be able to flourish creatively and financially.  ANB is dedicated to this outcome.

 

Our activities and projects are therefore all aimed at strengthening and expanding the community of New Bedford artists and bringing more artists, art collectors and art-interested tourists to New Bedford.

Projects and Rationale

Artists and Friends Database and Registry

We need to be able to communicate with each other and build strength through numbers.  We want to promote further a sense of self-identity and collaborative enterprise within the arts and culture community.  The registry is a marketing tool that shows a critical mass of New Bedford arts and culture for the rest of the world to experience.

Artist Resource Directory
The Artists Resource Directory is a component of the website and contains information on available New Bedford studio spaces, including studio rentals, live-work spaces, studio shares, and studio purchase options for artists.

Website

This website has a twofold purpose.  It helps us get ourselves organized, communicate with each other, and build a sense of self-identity as an arts and culture community.  It also serves as a portal for the rest of the world to learn about New Bedford as an arts and culture destination and links to the artists who live, work or show in New Bedford

Reception for the Downtown Arts and Cultural District
This event took place on October 23, 2004 at the New Bedford Art Museum. It celebrated the creation of the Downtown Arts and Culture District and thanked the members of the New Bedford arts and culture community for their contribution to the City's rich artistic and cultural life.

Downtown Arts and Culture District
The Downtown Arts and Culture District was established on October 23, 2004. The district further enhances the existing arts and culture community in New Bedford and serves as a catalyst for more events and activities. Arts New Bedford works with City officials and all stakeholders to continue the enhancement of the district regarding safety, beautification, and infrastructure improvements. Arts New Bedford is sensitive to the fact that a lot of art is done in New Bedford outside of the downtown area. The strategic thinking behind the creation of the downtown district is that it creates a marketing anchor that will raise the City's arts and culture profile. As the City-wide Open Studios project indicates (see below), Arts New Bedford is dedicated to promoting arts and culture throughout the whole City of New Bedford.

Click here to see a map of the proposed Downtown Arts and Culture District.

City-Wide Open Studio Events

 

Open studio events attract visitors to the city. Having the opportunity to visit many diverse working artist's studios in one event captures the imagination of people and attention from the media.  For more information, click here.