LowellisART.com

Art   •   Artists   •   Culture

Local Arts & Culture Resources

Art Associations:

• Arts League of Lowell is an active group of local artists working together to advance the arts in Lowell. Relatively young, this organization has become a driving force in Lowell, and serves as a central community organization for artists and arts advocates of all kinds.

• Lowell Art Association is the nations oldest art association in America, which owns and operates The Whistler House Museum of Art, including the Parker Gallery and the Members Room.

Artist assistance:

• Cultural Organization of Lowell  or "COOL" is funded by the City of Lowell to serve as an organization to promote, assist and enable Lowell cultural organizations, individuals and artists. They have a web based calendar to help keep everyone connected to upcoming events in Lowell.

Education & workshops:

• Lush Beads on Merrimack Street offers workshops and classes in jewelry making.

• The Artists at the Brush offer workshops in stained glass, loom weaving and wire jewelry making.

• X/O Studio offers workshops in monoprinting.

• Western Avenue Studios is the newest community of working artists in Lowell, with over 100 working artists on three floors of art studios. Be sure to visit them on the "First Saturdays" open studios on the first Saturday of the month, from noon to 4:30.

Funding for Art:

• The Patrick J. Mogan Cultural Center is formed by a coalition between the National Park Services and UMass Lowell. Their main goal is the preservation of Lowell's cultures and cultural history. The have a large library of local information and a gallery that hosts cultural exhibits, including the work of local artists. They offer grants to help sustain diverse cultural backgrounds, particularly those that help build community.

• Lowell Cultural Council is the local arm of the Massachusetts Cultural Council, and actively encourages the arts and culture of Lowell through grant programs. 

Galleries:

• Arts League of Lowell Gallery shows rotating exhibits of work by ALL members, with small to large group shows and themed exhibitions. (Located across pedestrian walkway from the National Park Visitors Center on Market Street.)

• Ayer Lofts Gallery shows the artwork of Ayer Lofts residents and themed exhibitions.

• A Brush Art Gallery & Studios The main gallery has Nationally and Internationally recognized exhibitions focusing on the diverse cultures of Lowell, plus an Annual Members exhibit, and an annual exhibit of work by the Resident Artists. The studios of the Resident Artists are also open to the public, and many of their works are for sale in their studios and in the hallway gallery. One of the best places to buy art in Lowell.

• Evos Arts Institute has several floors of raw space dedicated to the contemporary "alternative" artwork of local and regional artists. Sorry, closed! The building was sold to developers who closed the gallery and restaurant. The building has been sitting "under construction" for several years now...BIG LOSS for the community!!

• Lowell Gallery sells historic prints and posters of Lowell.

• LOWELLISART.COM Gallery a web based local gallery open 24/7 that focuses specifically on local living artists, who also happen to be friends.

• Parker Gallery (located behind the Whistler House Museum of Art), exhibits contemporary and historic artwork, including that of local and nationally recognized artists.

• The Pollard Memorial Library actually does not have a "gallery", but they do exhibit artwork on occasion in the public meeting room, as well as in the display cases in the lower level.

• UMASS Lowell Gallery (located on the south campus of the University of Massachusetts, Lowell) exhibits the work of nationally recognized artists and themed shows.

Museums:

• The American Textile History Museum has permanent exhibitions and programs associated with the textile industry of Lowell, as well as touring exhibitions of fashions, and the fabric of life.

• The Quilt Museum is dedicated to the enduring fine craft of quilting, and includes nationally recognized exhibits of historic and contemporary quilts.

• The Revolving Museum is an interactive community based museum dedicated to fun and education through art. Has brought contemporary public art to the street corners and parks of downtown Lowell. Many of these works are created by local artists collaborating with local youth.

• Whistler House Museum of Art  is the birthplace of James McNeil Whistler, and has a beautiful collection of art, including impressionist and romantic paintings from the early nineteenth century, as well as contemporary exhibitions of nationally recognized artists and current artist members in the Parker Gallery and Members Room.

Artist Studios:

• The Brush Art Gallery & Studios has fourteen studio spaces for rent to Resident Artists. The cost is currently $11 per square foot, with a one year maximum lease. Resident Artists are required to provide staffing to keep the gallery and studios open six days a week, provide janitorial and general upkeep duties within the facilities, and perform duties two days per month as the receptionist in the gallery. Their rent and grant funding provides the operating budget for the non profit organization, and the salary for the part time Executive Director. The organization itself pays no rent to the Lowell National Historical Park for the use of the space, which is located at 256 Market Street in Lowell, behind the Visitors Center. www.thebrush.org/studiorental.htm

• Western Avenue Studios has (at last count) roughly 75 studio spaces for rent. The landlord continues to develop more spaces in this large mill building. The cost is currently $7.30 per square foot, with one to five year leases. This ever growing community has become the largest concentration of artist studios in the North Eastern United States. These low rent spaces have big windows, large common areas, freight and passenger elevators, utility sink rooms, loading docks and ample free parking. As working studios artists are under no obligation to open their doors to the public, nor are they required to do anything other than pay their rent and get along with their neighbors. They do have an optional membership to Western Avenue Studios Artist Association (WASAA) which provides the marketing and advertising funds for the group, promoting the monthly "First Saturday" open studios. http://www.westernavenuestudios.com/

Are you a Lowell arts advocate or part of an arts advocacy group? Send me an E-mail with your website address for information on how you can get an arts resources link  here.