This Saturday, July 5 from 9 am to 2 pm, the Artists Association of Nantucket will hold their the first Sidewalk Art Show of the 2025 season in the dappled summer sun of the Nantucket Atheneum Garden, 1 India Street. More than two dozen AAN artist members will display their work for sale. The outdoor art show is free and and ideal event to gather with artists and art-lovers.
Founded in 1930 by artist Maud Stumm, Nantucket’s Sidewalk Art Show is the oldest in the nation. Originally held for a few days in August, it was open to professionals and amateurs. “In 1960 AAN took the reins of the event and it is now one of our signature offerings,” said AAN artistic director Robert Frazier. “We host three Sidewalk Art Shows annually. This year, we will be back in the Atheneum Garden on July 5, August 16, and September 6.”
In her book, From Clotheslines to Canopies: A History of Outdoor Art Fairs in America, Kathleen Eaton states that, “the earliest art fairs of record in America that are still in operation began during the start of the Great Depression. The first, founded in 1930, was the Nantucket Sidewalk Art Show—a small local event based on similar street fairs found in Europe.”
“2025 marks the ninety-fifth year of the Sidewalk Art Show and the eightieth anniversary of the founding of the Artists Association of Nantucket. We are thrilled to be back in the Atheneum Garden and look forward to sharing our talented artists’ work with our island community,” said Tracey Sears, AAN executive director.
The AAN Sidewalk Art Show is Saturday, July 5th, 9 A.M. to 2 P.M. in the Nantucket Atheneum Garden on India Street and is free and open to the public. Rain date for this July 5 AAN Sidewalk Art Show is Sunday, July 6.
To learn more about the AAN, visit the website at nantucketarts.org. For further information about the carefully crafted 2025 programs and events, please call 508-228-0722.
