A week full of creativity, history and craftsmanship is coming to the Dartmouth Cultural Center.

Celebrate the annual Art Week, with events happening from Thursday, May 8 to Thursday, May 16. From honoring New Bedford’s role in the Underground Railroad to capturing the Padanaram village streets through a camera lens to crafting Nantucket-style bracelets to exploring Abraham Lincoln’s early life, there may just be something for just about everyone.

Register for events now online at dartmouthculturalcenterinc.org.

Abolition Row and the Underground Railroad

Thursday, May 8, 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

This event is free and registration is required.

Inspired by her own family history, Loretta “Lee” Blake spent her life learning and teaching the importance of the Underground Railroad. Massachusetts was a free state and a safe haven for enslaved people seeking freedom. Learn from the oral histories, speeches and bank ledgers that fleshed out the past during this free event. Boats came and went offering passage in and out of New Bedford, while Blake’s ancestors and others served as conductors, who raised funds for enslaved people’s freedom.

Blake, an educator, having served as the president of the New Bedford Historical Society, has led a life devoted to social justice for women and people of color, preserving and celebrating the legacy of African Americans, Cape Verdeans and Native Americans in her hometown of New Bedford. She was awarded an honorary doctoral degree from UMass Dartmouth at the school’s 2023 commencement, and as she oversees the Abolition Row Park, a public open-air museum chronicling and celebrating the contributions the city made and pivotally, the roles of Frederick Douglass and the Underground Railroad in the 19th century.

Dirty Pour

Friday, May 9 and Friday, May 16, 5 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

This workshop is from $25.00 and registration is required.

In this workshop, learn what works best as a pouring medium and how to make it. Combining colors, paints and mediums, the results of one’s first “dirty pour” may surprise and amaze. The center describes it as a fun and magical painting experience with a fascinating and beautiful outcome. All materials including a 12” x 12” canvas will be provided.

The workshop is led by Gallery Director Jill Law, a graduate of the Rhode Island School of Design. She is a self-employed, professional Interior Designer and a visual artist of over 25 years working from her home studios in Dartmouth. Her interior design work and award-winning paintings can be found throughout New England and South Florida. Law is one of the founding members, past President and current gallery director of the Cultural Center. An advocate of local artists, she has been a Board member of the South Coast Artists, Inc. as President and Board Chair.  Law is also an elected Signature Member of the National Association of Women Artists.

Photography Walk Through the Village

Friday, May 9, 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. (May 15 rain date)

Registration is required for this event and tickets are $50.00.

Join Joan-Marie on an adventure taking photos in picturesque Padanaram village. Looking through the lens provides a new perspective. From the shop lined streets to the bridge and harbor, there is always something new to see and capture. Bring a camera, any kind will do, including a phone camera.

Joan-Marie Proulx is a Juried Fine Art Photographer who enjoys taking photographs of landscapes, ocean scenes, flowers and more. She has won numerous awards for her photographic work and has several published photographs. Her work has been exhibited in many galleries across New England and some of her images currently hang in the Boston Jesuits Society Headquarters in Boston, and across New England, New York and Florida. Joan-Marie mentors other photographers and has taught several workshops, including macro photography, one of her favorite genres.

A Glimpse into the Early Life of Abraham Lincoln

Tuesday, May 13, 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

This event is free and registration is required.

This community presentation is hoped to awaken a love of history and increase knowledge of the 16th president, his life, family, struggles and successes.

Select Board member David Tatelbaum, who is the retired owner of Big Value Outlet, always dreamed of becoming a teacher, but family came first, so he joined his father in the retail business. But what some might not know is the deep and loving reverence he holds for Abraham Lincoln. Tatelbaum attained a bachelor’s from Boston University and is excited about sharing his knowledge of President Lincoln.

Nantucket Basket Cuff Bracelet Workshop

Monday, May 12

Registration is required and tickets are $125.

Join the Nantucket Basket-style bracelet-making class and craft a personal timeless accessory. In this hands-on workshop, participants will learn to create a 3/4-inch-wide cuff bracelet inspired by the classic Nantucket Lightship basket weaving tradition. Instructor Melissa Haskell will provide a step-by-step guide through the process of weaving and finishing the bracelet. This class is open for beginners and craft enthusiasts alike, offering a unique opportunity to combine artistry with local maritime heritage while creating a beautiful, wearable keepsake. All tools and materials are provided.

A lifelong crafter, Haskell discovered her true passion when she took up weaving. The patterns and structure of woven designs resonated with her — perhaps no surprise, given her career as an investment analyst. Embracing her creative encore, Haskell now has more time to devote to artistic endeavors, from Nantucket bracelets and baskets to tapestries and floral design.  

Rigid Heddle Loom Demonstration

Wednesday, May 16, 5 p.m. to 6 p.m.

This event is free and registration is required.

Join this demonstration on weaving on a rigid heddle loom and get a glimpse of what is in store for people who sign up for a five-week course. It is possible to weave scarves, table runners, placemats or towels. Looms and weaving equipment can be provided for a fee for future students.

Instructor Lisa Elliot comes from a family of artists. She received her bachelor’s in fine arts degree in graphic design from Rhode Island School of Design and later completed four additional semesters in weaving at UMass Dartmouth. After several years of weaving on her four-harness floor loom, she discovered the joy of creating wearables and home accessories on the simple rigid heddle loom.