Downtown Concerts

Downtown Concerts have been produced by Nantucket Arts Council for over two decades. The productions showcase outstanding professional musicians from the national and international musical scenes, keeping music alive on Nantucket for our year-round residents.

Merit Award

Through our Merit Awards program, the Nantucket Arts Council recognizes outstanding individuals who are committed to uplifting the arts in our community. Ticket revenue benefits our continuing operations, development, and Scholarship Fund. In special community ceremonies, awards have been given to Susan Jarrell, Deborah Beale, Lucile Hays, Reggie Levine, Paulette Allemand, Cecilia Joyce and Seward Johnson, Max Berry, and Beverly Hall—individuals who have made outstanding contributions to the growth and development of the arts on Nantucket for the lasting benefit of the entire community. Future Merit Award Ceremonies will be announced in our email newsletter and on this website.

Nantucket Arts Festival

The Methodist Church at 2 Centre St (at Main Street) again serves as The Nantucket Arts Council Art Exhibit and homebase.

A celebration of arts and culture on Nantucket. Many of the island's arts and cultural groups have scheduled special programs during the festival. The annual features a broad array of arts and culture on Nantucket, a celebration which includes visual, musical, theatrical, literary, and other fine arts along with appreciation of the island’s historical, architectural, and other cultural assets.

This year's theme is "Re-Imagining the Real - Shifting Our Worldview." Events included the experimental NAC Art Exhibit; NCTV Nantucket Shorts, a video shorts mini-festival; and other events which are listed in our calendar.

Nantucket Arts Council encourages Nantucket’s many arts and culture groups to begin thinking of special programming during the festival.