NEWS
Nantucket Arts Festival 2019
Nantucket Arts Council • June 2, 2020
Friday, October 4 – Sunday, October 13
Nantucket’s dozens of arts and cultural groups and hundreds of individual artists will display and perform their work.
Arts Festival Program of Events
Exhibition Submittal Form Letter to Artists
Events include an art exhibit featuring over 100 professional and amateur artists, concerts of classical, folk and popular music, plays, lectures and readings, and new video shorts by and about Nantucketers. For latest program additions or changes, visit nantucketculturaldistrict.org or nantucketartscouncil.org.
The festival happens in collaboration with member businesses and organizations of Nantucket Cultural District, designated by the state of Massachusetts in January 2016 as an area notable for its concentration of arts and cultural activity. Now in its 25th year, Nantucket Arts Festival is produced by Nantucket Arts Council, the island’s leading arts advocacy organization since 1973. Festival headquarters are again located at Nantucket United Methodist Church, corner of Main and Centre streets.
It is with reverence and love that we wish to acknowledge the passing of Dr. Gerald Mack, our Board member and director of our Downtown Concert Series. He was the recipient of our 2018 Merit Award. Gerry was known by many as "Maestro Extraordinaire." His music career led in many directions but he was known for his ability to lead many people into choral singing. His passion, expertise and willingness to explore the depths and heights of learning a masterwork were remarkable. He taught 27 years at Hartt College of Music and nurtured many music students through his inspiration. He retired to Nantucket with his wife Nancy and became active in the arts community here. He served as music director of the Nantucket Community Music Center and joined the Nantucket Arts Council Board. He worked diligently to bring highly rated artists to the island and into the schools. His professionalism, and his ability to convince artists and audiences that they were part of something magical and important will be sorely missed. Donations sent in honor of Dr. Mack should be mailed to Nantucket Arts Council, P.O. Box 1267, Nantucket, MA 02554. Donations may also be made through our website.
Download 2022 Grant Application Due Friday, November 4, 2022 Download High School Scholarship Application. Due on Friday, April 8, 2023 State Grants for artists. Margaretta Nettles Award The 2022 Margaretta Nettles Award was given to Elizabeth Obremski, creator and performer of Nanpuppets and "the Lizza Show." The Margaretta Nettles Award for excellence in the Visual and Performing Arts is left in memory of Anita Nettle's mother, Margaretta Nettle. The intention of this award is to recognize an individual in our community for excellence in the arts. The Nantucket Arts Council Board selects an artist and gives this award out no less than every other year. Past recipients include weaver Cara DeHeart and potterer/musician Jacob Butler. We are so pleased to recognize Lizza for her contributions to the Nantucket Community.
Dear Friends of Nantucket Arts Council, In March 2020, the World Health Organization declared the Covid-19 outbreak a pandemic. As we enter October, into the nineteenth month of the pandemic, we humbly realize the impact on the lives of many individuals, communities, states and countries. This impact includes the personal health and financial stability of many artists. The tremor throughout the artistic community is palpable. Many individuals have scrambled to find other various forms of employment while also maintaining time to create and continue in the artistic realm. We recognize that finding this balance is a challenge. Yet, we see through the darkness of the pandemic, many artists in our community continue their work. They show up online on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and TikTok. They are selling work online through local non-profits and performing under strict protocols on stage. They are producing work in their homes and studios and offering glimpses into their work on youtube. The Nantucket Arts Council with Nantucket Community Television created four episodes of interviews with Nantucket artists demonstrating their work through the pandemic. We also produced two videos for the Nantucket Public Schools of performers that included live Q&As following the viewing by classes. All this was possible with funding through grants and generous donations. The arts have not perished on this island, although they are partially subdued and moderated. You can help us sustain and cultivate the arts in our island community by making a donation to the Nantucket Arts Council. We have helped twenty-four artists by offering grants through the pandemic. We created a walk-by Spring Arts festival downtown and found an audience for them through videos and live Q&As, bringing them to many students. We treasure our work on behalf of artists and the community. We need your donation now more than ever before. Please help us continue our support of the arts. With best wishes to you all, Barbara Elder President