Event Calendar
Our grant recipients’ projects, ACC events & more
Community of Stitchers
Do you have a sewing, cross-stitch, knitting, crotchet or other craft project you are working on? Bring it to a meeting of APL’s Community of Stitchers where you can work on your project, get advice from your fellow creators, and show off your work! Local stitching enthusiast and advanced knitter, Sarah Chapman, will be on hand at each meeting to help attendees with their projects. All experience levels are welcome - come enjoy a creative evening with the APL!
No advanced registration required - walk-ins welcome!
Monthly Poetry Reading: Lee Eric Freedman
Join Amesbury Poet Laureate, Bryan Riley, in welcoming this month's featured poets to the Amesbury Monthly Poetry Reading! Enjoy the incredible work of Lee Eric Freedman in person.
When: Wednesday, September 9, 2026 | 6:30 to 8:00 p.m.
Where: The John Greenleaf Whittier Home, 86 Friend Street Amesbury, MA 01913
Lee Eric Freedman is the 3rd Poet Laureate of Swampscott, Massachusetts (2016-2018). Entitled Renegade Poet Laureate of Swampscott (2011- Forever), Lee leads the Tin Box Poets of Swampscott Workshop Group, co-hosts the podcast series In Other Words with SpoFest founder James Bryant and regularly performs at poetry events everywhere. With numerous publications to his name including the Vagabond Lunar Collection as part of the large Minerva Lunar Codex currently sitting on the Moon, Lee’s poetry has been translated into American Sign Language and he’s a three-time winner of the Naomi Cherkofsky Memorial Poetry Contest.
Grants Info Session
Join the Amesbury Cultural Council for a live stream of MassCulture’s Grant Info Session.
This info session is for applicants to the FY27 Local & Tribal Cultural Council grant programs. We will be streaming a webinar which will walk potential applicants through the application process for your community, with a Q+A to follow.
Those unable to attend our live stream info session may register on their own, here.
Community Art Critique
Community Art Critique: A rotational critique lead by our local studios.
As artists, we are alone with our projects so much of the time. It can be very helpful to share our work and thoughts with a supportive group of creatives -- to expand on our ideas or just get a nod of affirmation.
September 21, 2026 from 6-8PM
The Cultural Center: 37 Millyard, Amesbury
Artist spots are extremely limited, so please register. All are welcome to attend to assist in critiquing!
This month’s critique is lead by Artists’ Muse Studios.
Community Steamroller Festival
INK FOR IMPACT
A Community Steamroller Print Event
Something BIG is rolling into Amesbury...The Center style.
At The Center, we love hard. We community hard. We art hard.
This fall, we're bringing a large-scale community printmaking event, inspired by BIG INK's famous steamroller printing events, but with a distinctly Center twist. Think giant prints, community collaboration, artists of all levels, families, workshops, live energy, and one unforgettable day where art literally gets rolled over by a steamroller.
Whether you're a seasoned printmaker, a curious beginner, an adventurous family, or simply someone who loves to witness creativity in action, there's a place for you.
Ink for Impact invites artists and community members from Amesbury and beyond to create work around a shared theme, culminating in a spectacular public printing event on Saturday, October 3, 2026.
Leading up to the event, The Center will host a series of September workshops, including:
Large-scale woodblock carving
Community collagraph making
Family-friendly maker sessions
Artist meet-ups and carving days
Curious what all this looks like? Curious what our theme is?
Special thanks to the Amesbury Cultural Council for supporting this project through an Ink for Impact Grant, helping bring this bold community arts experience to Amesbury.
Big prints. Big community. Big impact.
ACC Meeting
All are welcome! The agenda can be found on the City of Amesbury website: https://www.amesburyma.gov/AgendaCenter/Cultural-Council-23
Location for this meeting is the Cultural Center in the Upper Millyard!
Community of Stitchers
Do you have a sewing, cross-stitch, knitting, crotchet or other craft project you are working on? Bring it to a meeting of APL’s Community of Stitchers where you can work on your project, get advice from your fellow creators, and show off your work! Local stitching enthusiast and advanced knitter, Sarah Chapman, will be on hand at each meeting to help attendees with their projects. All experience levels are welcome - come enjoy a creative evening with the APL!
No advanced registration required - walk-ins welcome!
Open Mic Night
Join Amesbury Poet Laureate Bryan Riley for an Open Mic night! Come one, come all, and get ready to read.
Grant Applications Close
What Do We Fund?
Applicants may apply to the ACC for funding for projects in the arts, humanities, and interpretive sciences. ACC grants are awarded via direct funding.
Arts: The creation, presentation, or preservation of work in the crafts and performing, visual, media, folk, design, literary, and interdisciplinary arts.
Humanities: Learning that deals with human values and aspirations, human thought and culture, language, and creativity. Examples include, but are not limited to, history, social studies, philosophy, criticism, and literature.
Sciences: Learning that deals with nature, science, and technology in ways that explain how they relate to people’s lives. Organizations that conduct this type of activity include aquariums, botanical gardens, nature centers, natural history museums, planetariums, and science centers.
The ACC identifies funding priorities each year, which can be found on this page and our page on the MCC website. Special consideration will be given to projects that align with these priorities.
Above all, applicants must be able to articulate how their project will directly benefit the Amesbury community.
Preference will be given to Amesbury residents and organizations, though consideration will extend to neighboring towns and cities including Newburyport, Salisbury, Newbury, Byfield, Rowley, West Newbury, Merrimac, and Haverhill.
How to Apply
Applicants must submit their online application by October 16th, 2025, 11:59pm. Late applications cannot be accepted.
Applicants must be residents of Massachusetts.
Applicants may apply for grants for programs that will take place during an 18-month window of eligibility: between July 1, 2025 and December 31, 2026.
Applicants may apply for projects that happen prior to their Local Cultural Councils’ grant announcements, with the knowledge that funding is not guaranteed.
If individual applicants are partnering with an organization/location host for their project, they must include a letter of support from that partner (i.e., if the intended location is the Library or Council on Aging, you will need a letter of support from that organization).
Applicants seeking funding for events must provide exact dates, along with confirmation/approval from the location host (if applicable).
ACC Meeting
All are welcome! The agenda can be found on the City of Amesbury website: https://www.amesburyma.gov/AgendaCenter/Cultural-Council-23
Location for this meeting is the Cultural Center in the Upper Millyard!
Community of Stitchers
Do you have a sewing, cross-stitch, knitting, crotchet or other craft project you are working on? Bring it to a meeting of APL’s Community of Stitchers where you can work on your project, get advice from your fellow creators, and show off your work! Local stitching enthusiast and advanced knitter, Sarah Chapman, will be on hand at each meeting to help attendees with their projects. All experience levels are welcome - come enjoy a creative evening with the APL!
No advanced registration required - walk-ins welcome!
Open Mic Night
Join Amesbury Poet Laureate Bryan Riley for an Open Mic night! Come one, come all, and get ready to read.
ACC Meeting
All are welcome! The agenda can be found on the City of Amesbury website: https://www.amesburyma.gov/AgendaCenter/Cultural-Council-23
Location for this meeting is the Cultural Center in the Upper Millyard!
Community of Stitchers
Do you have a sewing, cross-stitch, knitting, crotchet or other craft project you are working on? Bring it to a meeting of APL’s Community of Stitchers where you can work on your project, get advice from your fellow creators, and show off your work! Local stitching enthusiast and advanced knitter, Sarah Chapman, will be on hand at each meeting to help attendees with their projects. All experience levels are welcome - come enjoy a creative evening with the APL!
No advanced registration required - walk-ins welcome!
Open Mic Night
Join Amesbury Poet Laureate Bryan Riley for an Open Mic night! Come one, come all, and get ready to read.
Open Mic Night
Join Amesbury Poet Laureate Bryan Riley for an Open Mic night! Come one, come all, and get ready to read.
ACC Meeting
All are welcome! The agenda can be found on the City of Amesbury website: https://www.amesburyma.gov/AgendaCenter/Cultural-Council-23
Location for this meeting is the Cultural Center in the Upper Millyard!
Grant Applications Open
What Do We Fund?
Applicants may apply to the ACC for funding for projects in the arts, humanities, and interpretive sciences. ACC grants are awarded via direct funding.
Arts: The creation, presentation, or preservation of work in the crafts and performing, visual, media, folk, design, literary, and interdisciplinary arts.
Humanities: Learning that deals with human values and aspirations, human thought and culture, language, and creativity. Examples include, but are not limited to, history, social studies, philosophy, criticism, and literature.
Sciences: Learning that deals with nature, science, and technology in ways that explain how they relate to people’s lives. Organizations that conduct this type of activity include aquariums, botanical gardens, nature centers, natural history museums, planetariums, and science centers.
The ACC identifies funding priorities each year, which can be found on this page and our page on the MCC website. Special consideration will be given to projects that align with these priorities.
Above all, applicants must be able to articulate how their project will directly benefit the Amesbury community.
Preference will be given to Amesbury residents and organizations, though consideration will extend to neighboring towns and cities including Newburyport, Salisbury, Newbury, Byfield, Rowley, West Newbury, Merrimac, and Haverhill.
How to Apply
Applicants must submit their online application by October 16th, 2025, 11:59pm. Late applications cannot be accepted.
Applicants must be residents of Massachusetts.
Applicants may apply for grants for programs that will take place during an 18-month window of eligibility: between July 1, 2025 and December 31, 2026.
Applicants may apply for projects that happen prior to their Local Cultural Councils’ grant announcements, with the knowledge that funding is not guaranteed.
If individual applicants are partnering with an organization/location host for their project, they must include a letter of support from that partner (i.e., if the intended location is the Library or Council on Aging, you will need a letter of support from that organization).
Applicants seeking funding for events must provide exact dates, along with confirmation/approval from the location host (if applicable).
Exploring Outdoor Photography
Hosted by KevTech at the Amesbury Senior Center.
Following an introduction covering basic photography concepts, we'll walk to a preselected location to learn techniques such as portrait mode, panoramic photos, and more. We get hands-on practice with the camera's different features, then return to the classroom for a slideshow of favorite photos.
This program was funded by an ACC grant.
Abigail Adams: Legacy and Liberty
Celebrate the spirit of independence with Abigail Adams: Liberty and Legacy at the historic Rocky Hill Meeting House! In this engaging performance, local actor Sheryl Faye brings to life one of America’s most influential women—a revolutionary, mother, and advocate for women’s rights. Set in the eighteenth-century Rocky Hill Meeting House, this program explores Adams’s intelligence, courage, and her enduring call to “remember the ladies.” Join us for an inspiring program honoring her legacy and the revolutionary ideals that shaped a new nation.
Historic New England Members $15; Nonmembers $25.
Tickets and more information can be found here.
Abigail Adams will be portrayed by Sheryl Faye.
This program is funded in part by a grant from the Amesbury Cultural Council, a local agency which is supported by Mass Cultural Council, a state agency.
The Community Closet Exchange
Introducing The Community Closet Exchange, brought to you by Khaki’s Vintage Closet and the Amesbury Cultural Council!
A community clothing swap where style meets sustainability—bring what you don’t want, take what you need, free of charge.
Saturday, August 8th from 10am-1pm
Amesbury Cultural Center, 37 Millyard
How it Works:
Bring 0-15 clean clothing items you aren’t wearing anymore:
Adult (all sizes): Mens/Womens/Unisex
Shoes/Belts/Accessories (no undergarments)
Drop-off Times:
Friday, August 7th from 5-7pm
Saturday, August 8th from 9-10am
We take your items and prep!
Acceptable Swap Items:
Good/Great condition, no visible rips/tears
Clean, no visible stains, freshly washed, not stinky
Upcycling Stations:
Embroidery - Ellen Miller, Creating Couture Embellishment
Block Printing - Joanna Tomah, Meadowhawk Studio
Any remaining items will be donated to Catie’s Closet and Lazarus House in Lawrence.
Textile recycling will be donated to Baystate Textiles.
Community of Stitchers
Do you have a sewing, cross-stitch, knitting, crotchet or other craft project you are working on? Bring it to a meeting of APL’s Community of Stitchers where you can work on your project, get advice from your fellow creators, and show off your work! Local stitching enthusiast and advanced knitter, Sarah Chapman, will be on hand at each meeting to help attendees with their projects. All experience levels are welcome - come enjoy a creative evening with the APL!
No advanced registration required - walk-ins welcome!
ACC Meeting
All are welcome! The agenda can be found on the City of Amesbury website: https://www.amesburyma.gov/AgendaCenter/Cultural-Council-23
Location for this meeting is the Cultural Center in the Upper Millyard!
Cultural Center Open House
The newly renovated Amesbury Cultural Center will be one of Open Studios location options for fine artists without studios in Amesbury.
If you're interested in viewing the space ahead of registration, or are curious about our general exhibition capabilities, you're invited to attend an open house on Friday, July 31st from 5 to 7 PM!
OPEN STUDIO REMINDERS:
• Artist registration opens August 1!
• Location options for artists without studios in Amesbury:
1) Local Business Hosts (to be coordinated directly with the business)
2) 62 Friend Street (former Amesbury City Hall); with a focus on CRAFTERS.
3) Amesbury Cultural Center, 37 Upper Millyard; with a focus on FINE ARTISTS.
• please note that due to changes at the Costello Center, this is NOT an available location for artists again this year.
Steamroller Festival Info Session
INK FOR IMPACT
A Community Steamroller Print Event
Information Session
Something BIG is rolling into Amesbury...The Center style.
At The Center, we love hard. We community hard. We art hard.
This fall, we're bringing a large-scale community printmaking event, inspired by BIG INK's famous steamroller printing events, but with a distinctly Center twist. Think giant prints, community collaboration, artists of all levels, families, workshops, live energy, and one unforgettable day where art literally gets rolled over by a steamroller.
Whether you're a seasoned printmaker, a curious beginner, an adventurous family, or simply someone who loves to witness creativity in action, there's a place for you.
Ink for Impact invites artists and community members from Amesbury and beyond to create work around a shared theme, culminating in a spectacular public printing event on Saturday, October 3, 2026.
Leading up to the event, The Center will host a series of September workshops, including:
Large-scale woodblock carving
Community collagraph making
Family-friendly maker sessions
Artist meet-ups and carving days
Curious what all this looks like? Curious what our theme is?
Join us for a FREE Information Session to learn about the festival, the creative process, artist registration, workshops, volunteer opportunities, and all the ways you can participate, from the macro to the micro...or simply come satisfy your curiosity and see what all the excitement is about.
Wednesday, July 22
6:00PM
Amesbury Cultural Center
Upper Millyard
Special thanks to the Amesbury Cultural Council for supporting this project through an Ink for Impact Grant, helping bring this bold community arts experience to Amesbury.
Big prints. Big community. Big impact.
Poetry Karaoke
Poetry Karaoke feat. DJ Jason Dowd!
A fundraiser to support the Poet Laureate Program
Where: Barewolf Brewing, 12 Oakland Street
When: Wednesday, July 15th from 7pm to 10pm
50/50 raffle
The kitchen is closed during this time, so please plan accordingly.
Reporting from Lebanon: A Conversation with Journalist Paul Hefel-James
Join us for an in-person conversation about reporting from the region, the human cost of conflict, and where Lebanon is headed.
Paul Hefel-James is a freelance journalist from Amesbury based in Beirut, Lebanon. He covers migration and refugee issues, the humanitarian sector and conflict in the Middle East region. His work has appeared in DAWN’s Democracy in Exile, New Internationalist and The Progressive, and he has appeared on the International Risk Podcast.
A moderated discussion will be followed by an audience Q&A.
ACC Meeting
All are welcome! The agenda can be found on the City of Amesbury website: https://www.amesburyma.gov/AgendaCenter/Cultural-Council-23
Location for this meeting is the Cultural Center in the Upper Millyard!
Reading Frederick Douglass Together
Join for a public reading of "What to the Slave is the Fourth of July?” by Frederick Douglass.
Brought to you by: The John Greenleaf Whittier Home & Museum and Historic New England
Learn more about the Reading Frederick Douglass Together statewide collaboration at masshumanities.org.
Flatbread Fundraiser!
Support the ACC by buying pizza from Flatbread! Dine in or order out, doesn’t matter to us as long as you grab a pie!
Community of Stitchers
Do you have a sewing, cross-stitch, knitting, crotchet or other craft project you are working on? Bring it to a meeting of APL’s Community of Stitchers where you can work on your project, get advice from your fellow creators, and show off your work! Local stitching enthusiast and advanced knitter, Sarah Chapman, will be on hand at each meeting to help attendees with their projects. All experience levels are welcome - come enjoy a creative evening with the APL!
No advanced registration required - walk-ins welcome!
The Power of People in Place Community Mural
Join the Amesbury Cultural Center for a Community Window Mural! Members of the Amesbury Cultural Council will add your likeness to the window display - all you have to do is bring your face!
When: Sunday, June 28 from 10a-12p AND 1-3p
Where: 8 Market Square Amesbury, MA 01913
Want to see more of the process? Check it out here!
A Conversation on Grants
Are you grant ready?
Join the Amesbury Cultural Council for a casual conversation on grants, covering topics from research to application writing and best practices! Q+A to follow.
Featuring Talks by:
Laura Schofield, former event and residency coordinator for the MCC & ACC member
Janice Valverde, grant writer & non-profit consultant
Bonnie Brady, local artist and ACC member
Please note that this conversation is best suited for those with a focus on creative individuals and non-profits.
This event is FREE, but please register here.
Exhibition | Lasting Impressions by the North of Boston Print Collaborative
We’re thrilled to welcome the North of Boston Print Collaborative, who will be showcasing Lasting Impressions in the Amesbury Cultural Center! Participate in workshops, enjoy demonstrations, and view the stunning works of Muriel Angelil, Bonnie Brady, Gail Cunningham, Sally Dion, Kate Higley, and Susan Stranc.
When: June 20 - 28, 2026. Open on weekends from 12-4 PM, or by appointment
Where: The Cultural Center, 37 Millyard Amesbury
Saturday + Sunday, June 20-21, 12-4pm: Make Father’s Day cards – for all ages! Saturday: Refreshments + music, Sunday: Demos of printmaking techniques.
Saturday + Sunday, June 27-28 from 12-4pm: Meet the artists, and enjoy presentations + demos of printmaking techniques.
Free, and open to the public!
Juneteenth
YWCA Greater Newburyport and Amesbury Racial & Social Justice are proud to be co-hosting a multi-community Juneteenth celebration this year, with the day starting in Newburyport and ending in Amesbury.
12:00 PM @ YWCA Pool, 13 Market St. Newburyport: Free Community Swim!
2:00 PM @ Newburyport City Hall: Flag raising, speakers including Mayor Reardon and local activists, Double Dutch team performances, presentations from local community organizations, and ice cream (sponsored by Biggarts).
5:00 PM @ Barewolf Brewing, 12 Oakland St. Amesbury: Words from Mayor Gove and Clare Killian of ARSJ, live music from Harsh, and a Black-owned Business Market
We are looking forward to an incredible day filled with community building, commemoration, and celebration!
Acting Workshop: Final Showcase
Sara Conlon is hosting Acting Workshops on Wednesdays for kiddos grades 5-8!
These workshops will include:
Acting Techniques
Improvisation Games
Audition Prep
Scene Study
Ensemble Building
FUN!
When: Wednesdays, May 13-June 17
Final Showcase: June 17 @ 5PM
Where: The Cultural Center, 37 Millyard Amesbury, MA
$225/student
To register, please email Sara at saratodeconlon@gmail.com.
Creative Movement and Drama Workshop
Sara Conlon is hosting Creative Movement + Drama Workshops on Wednesday mornings from 9:15-10 AM.
These classes are designed for ages 2-6, and will guide your child as they explore movement, create stories, and play freely!
$20/child or $30/family
To register, please email Sara at saratodeconlon@gmail.com.
Acting Workshop
Sara Conlon is hosting Acting Workshops on Wednesdays for kiddos grades 5-8!
These workshops will include:
Acting Techniques
Improvisation Games
Audition Prep
Scene Study
Ensemble Building
FUN!
When: Wednesdays, May 13-June 17
Final Showcase: June 17 @ 5PM
Where: The Cultural Center, 37 Millyard Amesbury, MA
$225/student
To register, please email Sara at saratodeconlon@gmail.com.
Creative Movement and Drama Workshop
Sara Conlon is hosting Creative Movement + Drama Workshops on Wednesday mornings from 9:15-10 AM.
These classes are designed for ages 2-6, and will guide your child as they explore movement, create stories, and play freely!
$20/child or $30/family
To register, please email Sara at saratodeconlon@gmail.com.
The Abolitionist’s Refrain
Join the Whittier Home for a performance of the original play The Abolitionist’s Refrain by Punctuate4Productions, written by Michael Cormier. There will be two performances, each lasting thirty minutes. Tickets, free thanks to the Amesbury Cultural Council, will be available soon.
From the Punctuate4 website:
“As the Civil War comes to an end Poet and Abolitionist John Greenleaf Whittier celebrates the 13th Amendment that brings an end to slavery. After his initial jubilation, Whittier begins to grasp the true cost of the War. A returning Union soldier and African American poet help him see that abolishing slavery brings new challenges to a divided and wounded nation. Exhausted by decades of fighting to end slavery, Whittier is at a moral crossroad.”
The times for these performances are not yet set, but will be updated when available. A ticket link will also be provided when it is available.
Pond St. Open Studios
Pond St. Art Studios is popping off First Fridays in Amesbury!
Our friends at Pond St. Studios will be opening their doors to the public for a fun hang – Come mingle with the artists and check out what's been going on!
Stunning art, live music, light bites, and libations 💃
When: June 5 from 5-8pm
Where: Pond Street Studios, 34 Pond St. Amesbury, MA
Community of Stitchers
Do you have a sewing, cross-stitch, knitting, crotchet or other craft project you are working on? Bring it to a meeting of APL’s Community of Stitchers where you can work on your project, get advice from your fellow creators, and show off your work! Local stitching enthusiast and advanced knitter, Sarah Chapman, will be on hand at each meeting to help attendees with their projects. All experience levels are welcome - come enjoy a creative evening with the APL!
No advanced registration required - walk-ins welcome!
Markets 101
From fine art fairs to brewery pop ups, learn how to be successful at artisan markets!
Have you been wanting to dabble in markets and fairs, but you’re not sure where to start? In this panel discussion, we’ll dive into the nitty gritty details of success from finding the right market for you, to marketing strategies and vendor checklists.
Meet the Panel:
Kristen Costa, Market Organizer
Amy Vander Els, Jewelry Designer
Todd Surrette, Leatherworker
Rachel Wilcox, Oil Painter
This Panel Discussion will be moderated by ACC member and local artist, Bailey Campbell.
This event is FREE to the public, but please register here.
Acting Workshop
Sara Conlon is hosting Acting Workshops on Wednesdays for kiddos grades 5-8!
These workshops will include:
Acting Techniques
Improvisation Games
Audition Prep
Scene Study
Ensemble Building
FUN!
When: Wednesdays, May 13-June 17
Final Showcase: June 17 @ 5PM
Where: The Cultural Center, 37 Millyard Amesbury, MA
$225/student
To register, please email Sara at saratodeconlon@gmail.com.
Creative Movement and Drama Workshop
Sara Conlon is hosting Creative Movement + Drama Workshops on Wednesday mornings from 9:15-10 AM.
These classes are designed for ages 2-6, and will guide your child as they explore movement, create stories, and play freely!
$20/child or $30/family
To register, please email Sara at saratodeconlon@gmail.com.
ACC Meeting
All are welcome! The agenda can be found on the City of Amesbury website: https://www.amesburyma.gov/AgendaCenter/Cultural-Council-23
Location for this meeting is the Cultural Center in the Upper Millyard!