Arts Week Returns For Third Year

ORLEANS – We’ve all seen free little libraries. But what about a free little art gallery?

Just as the tiny libraries invite people to drop off unwanted books and take others, the Orleans Cultural District committee is putting its own unique spin on the community concept as part of this year’s Arts Week festivities.

On Saturday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., the committee will accept miniature pieces of art no larger than 2 by 3 inches in size for inclusion in “A Love Letter to Orleans: A Tiny Art Show.” The small gallery will be situated underneath the Witch Hazel tree outside of the community center building at 44 Main St. 

People are invited to drop off their pieces and take another piece of art home in return. Art pieces are being created according to the theme “What makes Orleans feel like home to you?”

“We’ll just put a rotating show up,” said Bonnie Campbell-Runyon of the committee. “It’s make art, take art.”

The art drop off is a precursor to the start of this year’s Arts Week festivities on April 18. Now in its third year as an Orleans-centric event, the localized Arts Week grew off the heels of a Cape-wide event that was cancelled during COVID-19.

Runyon said the Orleans Arts Week, scheduled during the week of April school vacation, is designed to bring families and the broader community together around local art and culture.

“A big part of our reason to be here is to highlight the creative economy in Orleans,” she said. “When you can get people in town to participate in different activities that help the galleries, that help small businesses…it’s good. The arts speak for themselves. It’s good for people.”

Much of the action will be focused around the weekends, Runyon said. On April 18, residents and visitors can explore various “creative spaces” including Adorn (211 Main St.), Weekend (217 Main St.) and Garvey Rita Art and Antiques (213 Main St.) as part of “Art in the Afternoon: East Orleans.” The goal, Runyon said, is to allow people to explore different creative spaces in East Orleans. A similar event will be held the following Saturday, April 25, focusing on arts spaces in the village center, “because it’s hard for people to go to so many galleries if they’re all highlighted at one time,” she said of spreading out the events.

Also on April 18, the district committee will host live pop up practices from 1 to 2 p.m. outside of 44 Main St. with Paul Kehoe. From 4 to 6 p.m., the Town Cove Tap House will host live music from Watch Your Step and Catfish, both of whom are comprised of young musicians.

New this year is a guided tour of public art spaces in town. Participants will use iSpy, a district-produced interactive brochure, that will guide them through various art displays located in the village center. The tour, led by JoAnna Keeley, will be held from 11 a.m. to noon on April 25. Residents and visitors can also take part in their own self-guided tours of the art spaces throughout the week.

“There’s a lot of murals in town,” Runyon said. “There’s a lot of sculptures. So this is an opportunity to walk in the village center and see where all the art is. It’s pretty cool.”

All events are free to the public, but some require registration ahead of time, Runyon said, Those include a Hip Hop Kids Dance Workshop from 3 to 4 p.m. on April 18 at 44 Main St.; a nature walk hosted by naturalist Andrea Higgins on April 20; and a family art workshop hosted by Dot to Dot Art Workshops from 10:30 a.m to noon on April 18. Those interested in participating in these events can register for them at orleansma.myrec.com. 

Runyon said Arts Week is part of a larger community effort to show people what Orleans has to offer, and to support the artists and local businesses that help make it so special.

“It’s a wonderful community and it’s a very creative community,” she said. “Being able to highlight that and be able to show who’s around you…it’s good for people to be connected with all the creative things that are going on.”

A full list of this week’s Arts Week events can be found at orleansculturaldistrict.org/artsweek.