AHA! presents 2nd Thursday year-round FREE nights of Art, History & Architecture programs in Downtown New Bedford with 37-venue partners.
Call us at 508-264-8859 or visit us at www.ahanewbedford.org.
The AHA! Project was formed in 1999 by a dedicated circle of cultural leaders, downtown businesses and individual artists. Since July of that year, the project has continuously presented its 2nd Thursday events. What originally included 14 venues now numbers 37 and spans eight galleries, three museums, The National Historical Park, City Hall and The Library, many of the downtown’s unique stores, restaurants and cafes as well as individual artist studios, a meditation center, several churches, The Bristol Building, The New Bedford Preservation Society and The UMass Dartmouth CVPA Star Store. AHA!’s mission is to collectively promote downtown culture and work towards greater sustainability of the downtown cultural scene and partner organizations.
AHA!’s articles on http://newbedford360.com are part of an expanding effort to bring more attention to the wealth of cultural events and experiences happening in downtown New Bedford.
Sponsored in part by: The New Bedford Local Cultural Council and Purchase Street Ventures
The June 12th NB Cultures AHA! night celebrates the arts, histories and architecture of many of the groups that comprise our diverse community engender the uniqueness that is New Bedford. The whaling history of New Bedford will be explored along with cultural samplings from Cape Verdean, Portuguese, Polish, Irish, Lebanese and Azorean. Other cultures featured include the culture of fishing community and youth skateboard culture. Ethic sounds this evening include Portuguese Fado, jazz, Celtic, plus more! New exhibits abound as well as the grand opening of the Art Room at the New Bedford Public Library.
New AHA! partners this month include Solstice Skateboarding at 102 William Street and The White Bouquet a beautiful flower shop located at 763 Purchase Street.
GENERAL INFORMATION
All activities are FREE and open to the public. Year-round AHA! programming is funded in part by the Mass Cultural Council's John and Abigail Adams Arts Program, The Island Foundation, The City of New Bedford, the AHA! partners, individual supporters and in-kind marketing support from the Standard-Times and WBSM. For more information call 508-996-8253.
First time visitors may want to start AHA! Night at the National Park Visitor Center (33 William Street). Complete program flyers with maps are also available at all AHA! venues starting the Tuesday prior to each event.
Directions: From I-195 E or W. Take Exit 15 (Rte. 18). Follow Rte 18 to 2nd traffic signal; take a right onto Union St. At the first traffic signal take a right onto Second Street and take your first left for parking in Custom House Square or continue on two blocks to the Elm Street garage. On-street parking also available for free after 6 pm.