The New Bedford Whaling Museum and the Bristol County Sheriff’s Office will open Bristol County: Incarcerated on Oct. 24. The exhibit traces the history of local incarceration from the 18th-century jail in Taunton to New Bedford’s Ash Street Jail. The Ash Street facility is the oldest continuously operating jail in the nation. Artifacts include the […]
Local food pantries need help building supplies as SNAP benefits change. Reggae on West Beach (ROWB) is organizing a food and baby item drive for area families in need. Businesses are asked to host donation boxes provided and maintained by ROWB. Boxes will be picked up monthly or sooner if full. The business with the […]
Ahab’s Head: American Vengeance opens December 13 at the New Bedford Whaling Museum. The new installation is by Boston artist and sculptor Heidi Whitman. It is an immersive look at obsession, power, and the American whaling story. Whitman is known for intricate “mental maps” that explore emotion, memory, and place. She applies that style to […]
See the faces of 19th-century America in a new special exhibition opening Jan. 16, 2026. "Look Pleasant, Please: Early Portrait Photography in New Bedford," explores portrait photography in a growing and diverse coastal city. Images highlight the changing relationship between photographer and sitter in a complex urban economy. Featured works include one of the last […]
ArtWeek SouthCoast is back May 8 to 17, 2026, with events planned across southeastern Massachusetts. The festival website is live, and event submissions are open at artweeksouthcoast.org. Artists, cultural organizations, municipalities, local businesses, and community groups may submit events for inclusion in the 2026 schedule. Submissions are accepted on a rolling basis. This regional arts […]
March 12 to May 31, 2026$10 adults. $7 seniors and students. This exhibition features contemporary Mexican artists exploring freedom of expression, history, and social justice. Work spans sculpture, installation, performance documentation, textiles, and printmaking. Artists reflect on Indigenous knowledge, collective memory, and present-day social issues. Jacobo and María Ángeles, master wood carvers from Oaxaca, present […]
Gallery X is seeking submissions for “Soul Clap,” a juried multimedia exhibition focused on the sound and cultural impact of Black music. The show highlights musical traditions of the African Diaspora, from West African rhythms to jazz, hip-hop, reggae, and house, and invites work that reflects themes of community, resistance, and joy. Artists may submit […]
Gallery X seeks submissions for “Queer Futures,” a Pride Month exhibition exploring visions of the future. Themes include utopia, queer sci-fi, solarpunk, Afro and Indigenous Futurism, and personal hopes. Broad interpretations are welcome. Artists of all backgrounds may submit, with encouragement for queer and BIPOC artists. Submissions are free. The show runs May 6 through […]
Adriance Furnituremakers highlights work by local artisans in the Showroom Gallery. Each piece shows the maker’s style. Each one brings character to the space. John Magnan shifted to art after an early retirement from a technical career. The change led to studies at the Maryland Institute College of Art. Magnan later earned an MFA in […]
Mass 2-1-1 and Lyft have teamed up to offer Relief Rides, a limited free transportation program for eligible individuals without access to other local options. Rides are available for critical non-emergency needs such as food access, short-term work transportation, and medical or mental health appointments. The service is open to qualified residents in Fall River […]
A reminder that flu and COVID cases rise during this season. Vaccines help protect families and reduce severe illness. Residents can schedule appointments through state vaccination sites or local providers. Information is available at mass.gov/seasonal-vaccines.
Spring Into Making at the New Bedford Art Museum runs Monday, April 20, through Friday, April 24, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The April vacation program invites students in grades 1 through 6 to explore art through hands-on projects and citywide discovery. Students work in drawing, painting, mixed media, clay and digital illustration. iPads […]
Gardeners in Dartmouth have a new reason to visit the stacks. Dartmouth Public Library will launch a free Seed Library on March 2 at both branches. Limited seed packets will be available to help residents get the growing season started. The program encourages gardening, sustainability, and local food production. Participants can take seeds, grow plants, […]
April School Vacation Week: Our Shared Planet runs April 20–24, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., at the New Bedford Whaling Museum. Each day features themed activities, crafts, and story times focused on the ocean and environment. Guests can tour the entire museum, including the sand table, whale skeletons, Kid’s Corner, the Lagoda, and more. Daily […]
Martha’s Pantry at Grace provides groceries each week to households in Greater New Bedford. The food available includes fresh produce and bread. The goal is to supply three meals a day for three days for each family member. Households may visit once a month. Pantry is open Wednesdays and Fridays from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. […]
Learn watercolor painting through practice and technique in this four-week workshop. Students will explore various techniques like wet-on-wet, wet-on-damp, and masking fluid, as well as color mixing and brushwork. The class covers practical tools and methods, including the use of salt, plastic wrap, and magic erasers to enhance work. The $145 fee covers all four […]
The New Bedford Fishing Heritage Center and New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park are partnering to offer free April vacation programming for students and families from Tuesday, April 21, through Friday, April 24, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The Go Fish April Vacation Week program highlights the history of the Port of New Bedford, […]
The M.O. FOOD = L.I.F.E. Food Pantry, operated by M.O. L.I.F.E., Inc., helps feed neighbors across Greater New Bedford. It is open Wednesdays from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. The pantry is located outside the building on the corner of Pleasant and Middle streets. Groceries are available to individuals and families facing food insecurity. Hundreds […]
Jon Mitchell has been mayor of New Bedford longer than anyone in the modern era. The only rival to his 14 straight years in office is Charles Ashley, and Ashley served 23 of his 33 years in office in sporadic one-year terms when city government was nothing like today’s $561 million-a-year operation. Halfway through his […]
Weekly virtual meetings address gaps in emergency food resources in Southeastern Massachusetts. Sessions are on Wednesdays from 2 to 3 p.m. The same Zoom link is used each week. Southcoast Food Policy Council will lead the discussion. The focus is on preparing for disruptions to food relief programs and strengthening the regional food system. The […]
Lighthouse Tavern offers free billiards every Monday and Wednesday from 4 p.m. to close. The bar features light fare and drinks. Located at 578 Brock Ave., New Bedford.
South Coast LGBT Seniors meets at the Fairhaven Council on Aging on the fourth Wednesday of each month from 5 to 7 p.m. There is no cost to attend. Email ivy@sclgbtqnetwork.org to RSVP. The program partners with Coastline Elderly Services and the Fairhaven Council on Aging to support LGBTQ elders. Activities focus on social connection, […]
WHALE will host its annual Spring Fling on April 22 from 5 to 7:30 p.m. at the Steeple Playhouse. It is a cocktail party celebrating community, place and preservation. The evening is casual and come-as-you-are, with seasonal cocktails and light refreshments. Guests will mingle inside a historic space that WHALE itself restored, connecting with neighbors, […]
Ryan's hosts Good Thomas musical bingo every Wednesday night from 6 to 8 p.m.
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