Arts & Culture in Beverly

Artist in Residence Pilot Program!

The Beverly Arts District (BAD), through partners Beverly Main Streets, Montserrat College of Art, and the City of Beverly, succesfully held the City's first Artist in Residence Program! The selected Artist-in-Residence Zooguu, aka Jennifer & Brian Gubicza, set up studio space in the Chianti restaurant storefront space (which was temporarily closed) at no cost and received a monthly stipend to support their work through October 2021. The project was very well-recieved by residents and business owners alike. A case study summary of the project can be found HERE. 

The link at left, and HERE, will direct you to the Project website 

Follow along on social media too - @creativecollectivema  @zooguu  @mybeverly01915  @bevartsdistrict

The residency occured between September 1 and October 31, 2021 at 285 Cabot Street, the restaurant portion of Chianti, which is temporarily closed.  Zooguu’s residency consisted of three parts: 

• Beverly Creature Quest - a scavenger hunt using unique fiber art sculptures in local businesses; 
• A Storefront showcasing the artists’ work and a space for community art making; and 
• A Community Art Quilt designed by Brian and sewn by Jen using fabric art made by the community that will celebrate Beverly. 

The 2021 Beverly Artist in Residence Pilot Program addresses multiple goals and will help the City recover from COVID-19 related shutdowns by increasing foot traffic downtown while also supporting the creative workforce. Through this initiative the City of Beverly and the partners on this project will support a local artisan and highlight an industry which has been severely impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. The Artist in Residence will use arts and culture to highlight the City’s COVID-19 recovery through handmade art pieces, community engagement, and creative economic development engagement activities that will support other Downtown businesses. 

Support to the artists will be provided by the Creative Collective, Metropolitan Area Planning Council (MAPC), and the City of Beverly. Additional partners include Beverly Main Streets, Montserrat College of Art (which together with the City of Beverly oversee Beverly Arts District), as well as Massachusetts Cultural Council (funder of the artist stipend), Beverly Cultural Council, and host Florian Realty LLC.

With funding and support from: 

Please contact Director of Planning and Development, Darlene Wynne, with any questions regarding the program by phone at 978-605-2341 or via email at dwynne@beverlyma.gov.