SouthCoast SpringArts Ignites the Arts

“People need art and this spring, we’re going to give it to them,” says Patti Rego, Founder and Chief Content Curator at We Love Fall River!

The Drawing Room is among more than two dozen local arts organizations that are launching an innovative celebration of the arts across the South Coast region in May 2021. SouthCoast SpringArts will present a 10-day festival celebrating the arts in our communities by connecting innovative, creative, and affordable art and cultural events in communities across the region, from Fall River to Wareham.

The inspiration for this undertaking was to continue the spirit of ArtWeek MA, a community program of the Boch Center, which is evaluating when their programming will resume in light of the COVID-19 crisis.

Last spring, the Marion Art Center (MAC) found themselves having to shelve their creative ArtWeek events -- from line dancing to beer tasting, acrobats and juggling to poetry slams -- which had been part of the Bach Center’s ArtWeek MA. When it was announced that the Boch Center would be evaluating its programming in 2021, the MAC’s executive director and board wondered how they could recalibrate and move forward to evoke the spirit of ArtWeek.

Like the Pied Piper, the MAC beckoned many individuals and organizations in the South Coast art world and found them eager to jump on board. With an emphasis on flexibility to respond to whatever the state guidelines will be in May, the collective organizations turned for inspiration to the hybrid events (virtual and in-person) created by Vaha! and the Fall River Fabric Arts Festival. Collectively, SouthCoast SpringArts has planned dozens of diverse events, including both in person and virtual events.

The ten-day event festival will serve to kick off the 2021 art season. Jodi Stevens, Executive Director of the Marion Art Center, hopes that the spring festival will lead people to feel excited, after being in hibernation for so long. “These events will allow people to press the reset button to spring forward,” she says.

Already in the lineup: plein air painting, living history architecture walking tour, a walking book club, outdoor concerts, and an in person/virtual exhibit on Art as Fashion/Fashion as Art.

Art lovers of all ages are invited to ignite their creative spirit and celebrate SouthCoast SpringArts. Events take place from May 7 to May 16. Find the events available near you or join a virtual event wherever you are by visiting southcoastspringarts.org.