The MAC partners with Gosnold Cultural Council to present Cuttyhunk Plein Air

Marion, MA – The Marion Art Center is pleased to announce a new partnership with the Gosnold Cultural Council to present the 2023 Cuttyhunk Plein Air Festival. Festival founder Teri Bordenave welcomes this new partnership between the MAC and the GCC and looks forward to this year’s event: “I am delighted about this new collaboration and how this partnership will strengthen and sustain this popular regional cultural event. This is a great way forward for the Plein Air Festival.” The goals in creating the Cuttyhunk Plein Air Festival, now in its eighth year, were to introduce artists to the beauty of the island, to encourage them to return, to provide an engaging cultural event for residents and visitors, and to support island businesses during the shoulder season. The event this year is scheduled on Saturday, June 17, with a foul weather date reserved on Sunday, June 18.

The MAC’s executive director, Jodi Stevens, was a long time juror and day-of volunteer for the CPAF and has been an integral part of the festival since its inception. Jurors for the 2023 festival include Pamela Hoss, Jay Ryan, and Bob Smith. This year Marne Goodrich joins the long time team of on-island coordinators and volunteers: Teri Bordenave, Ellie von Wellsheim, Sara and Paul Lehner, and many more. In keeping with the missions of both the Marion Art Center and the Gosnold Cultural Council, the collaborators aim to broaden the scope of the annual event and engage new participants. To further their shared commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion, the MAC and the GCC will be sponsoring scholarships for the first time this year, working with regional organizations to select and award nominees. Artists will be given the option at registration to donate to these scholarship funds. Sponsors this year include Pete’s Place Rentals, Cuttyhunk Shellfish Farms, the Cuttyhunk Fishing Club, and Molly and Jim Conway (supporting the Spirit of Cuttyhunk purchase prize award). Additional donations from local business or community members are also welcome.

The CPAF is limited to 60 artists, and the cost to participate is $90 per person. This fee covers registration, ferry travel with cargo transport via M/V Cuttyhunk Ferry, and a box lunch. The cost to Cuttyhunk residents, or those who do not need a day-of ferry ticket, is $40. On the day of the festival, artists will travel from State Pier 3 in New Bedford, where registration packets and ferry tickets are distributed (9am departure), to Cuttyhunk (10am arrival). There they will check in and collect their box lunches, and volunteer “island ambassadors” will greet painters and deliver them to various locations across the island. Artists will wrap up around 2:30pm to be ready for pickup (or can walk back), and they may submit paintings for jurying by 2:45pm. Artists will enjoy a brief “_ARTY!” reception after jurors have had a chance to select 1^st, 2^nd, 3^rd place, and purchase prizes. Islanders and visitors may also purchase art directly from the artists. The “_ARTY!” is open to all and free to attend. Finally, artists will depart on the Cuttyhunk Ferry at 4:00pm to return to New Bedford. (This is an approximate schedule, as ferry departure time is subject to change.) To learn more and register, visit marionartcenter.org/cuttyhunk-plein-air. Please send questions to [email protected].