October 1 & 2
Saturday 10:00 am to 5:00 pm
Sunday 11:00 am to 5:00 pm
Contact: AHA! 508-264-8859


City-wide event maps will be
available at all artist locations

New Bedford’s First Annual Open Studios Weekend
Spotlights Professional Artist Studios and Culinary Experiences Throughout City Neighborhoods.

An impressive community of professional artists has been at work in the coastal city of New Bedford for well over a decade. On the first weekend of October, artist studios located throughout the north, south and downtown neighborhoods will be open to the public for New Bedford’s first annual Open Studios event. The weekend’s organizers, AHA! (New Bedford’s downtown Art, History and Architecture Night), ArtsNewBedford.org and individual artists, are combining forces to insure that the full breadth of the city’s art is presented.

New Bedford’s open studio event, "Great Art. Great Food. Great City.", has been carefully planned to offer area residents and visitors the chance to explore in more depth the robust authenticity of the city’s cultural riches. Participating artist studio buildings and restaurants trace a path that, though familiar to many locals, is sure to showcase the city in a new light. Visitors will be intrigued by artistic and cultural diversity New Bedford has to offer.

Working from the North to the Southern most city point of Fort Tabor, open studios venues include the North End Mills with the adjacent culinary riches of Acushnet Avenue; the historic downtown with its galleries, more artist studios, restaurants and shops; and the picturesque south end mills that abut the hurricane barrier and beaches where New Bedford’s working waterfront meets Buzzards Bay. The south end echoes the north’s cuisine with a Portuguese bakery and a cluster of ethnic and seafood restaurants. Event maps for both the studio buildings and food venues will clearly guide visitors to whatever their artistic eye and taste buds desire.

This event is principally funded by corporate sponsorship and AHA!’s Mass Cultural Council Adams Grant award. The grant was awarded to New Bedford’s AHA! project to provide further momentum for the city’s ongoing cultural economic redevelopment. At the heart of Open Studios is the excitement around artwork being sold directly from the artists at good prices. AHA! and the Mass Cultural Council have long encouraged the cultural economic piece of New Bedford’s revitalization. With a newly announced downtown arts district, the refurbished STAR STORE campus for UMass Dartmouth’s College of Visual and Performing Arts, a growing gallery scene, a handful of performing arts organizations and world class New Bedford Art Museum this city has every reason to be bullish on the arts.

At least one new live-work loft building, The RopeWorks, will be participating. The event aims to introduce new audiences to the joys of living and creating art in New Bedford. As one longtime city artist offers, "affordability and authenticity make New Bedford a nexus of good energy and conditions for making art." Several recent and ongoing development projects will pique the curiosity of art patrons to consider residency in New Bedford as well.

In total event organizers expect over 100 artists to participate and well over 20 culinary venues. New Bedford is under an hour from many mid-Cape points, Boston, Providence and Newport. Detailed event information is available at www.ahanewbedford.org.

New Bedford City Wide Open Studios

Directions & Maps

Participating Artists

Thanks to our local Event Supporters

Alianca Restaurante, 98 Cove St.

Artificial Marketplace, 98 William St.

Buttonwood Park Zoo
One of the finest small zoos in the
United States

Cafe Arpeggio, 800 Purchase St.

Cafe Funchal, 1686 Acushnet Ave.

Catwalk Bar & Grille, 34 Union St.

Centre Street Gallery, 29 Centre St.

Chuck's China Inn, 1856 Acushnet Ave.

Cobblestone Restaurant, 7 So. Sixth St.

Converse Photo, 10-12 No. Sixth St.

Freestone's City Grille, 41 William St.

Gallery X, 169 William St.

Isaiah's Restaurant, 562 Pleasant St.

No Problemo, 813 Purchase St.

McGuire Gallery, 109 William St.

Mee Hong Restaurant, 120 Cove St.

New Bedford Art Museum, 608 Pleasant St.

New Bedford Whaling Museum, 18 Johnny Cake Hill

White Knight Gallery, 100 William St.

The Wilson Gallery, 25 Centre St.