Best American Small Towns for the Arts

Founded in 1761, Lebanon was a hub of textile manufacturing as recently as 40 years ago. Today, its arts community centers around the Lebanon Opera House, the Upper Valley Music Center, and the Alliance for the Visual Arts Gallery, where artists can display their art and take classes.

A 90-minute ferry ride from Boston, at the tip of Cape Cod, Provincetown is a popular vacation spot for the LGBTQ community. Among the town’s cultural centers are the Fine Arts Work Center, which houses a residency program for artists and writers, and the Provincetown Art Association and Museum.

Lawrence’s Massachusetts Street, or “Mass” Street, has been called one of the most beautiful main streets in the US. Although now known for its arts community, based around the Lawrence Arts Center, and for its population of young bands and its annual Wakarusa Music & Camping Festival (the New York Times once hailed it for having “the most vital music scene between Chicago and Denver”), the Midwest town was founded by New England Abolitionists in 1854 who wanted to keep the territory a free state.

Montpelier doubles as both a capital city and a vibrant arts hub. The T.W. Wood Gallery and Arts Center, named after a local artist, features exhibits from other local artists and the Vermont College of Fine Arts offers notable graduate programs.

The city’s connection to the arts dates back to the late 19th century when the Taos Society of Artists planted roots in this Southwestern town. From there, the city’s arts community grew to numerous museums, galleries, and festivals highlighting its unique blend of Pueblo and Spanish cultures.

Located on Monterey Bay along the California coast, Santa Cruz combines a beachy vibe with a flourishing arts community. The city hosts several art-themed festivals, including the Cabrillo Festival of Contemporary Music, Santa Cruz Film Festival, Capitola Art and Wine Festival, and Santa Cruz Blues Festival.

Described as the Jewel of the Maine Coast, Camden is nestled in the state’s mid-coast region where famous artists such as painter Andrew Wyeth and sculptor Louise Nevelson once lived. Artists and photographers have created works of art inspired by the magnificent views of nearby Camden Hills and Penobscot Bay.

Charlottesville’s music scene has produced some legendary artists, including Dave Matthews who started his band there while bartending in the city and Pavement frontman Stephen Malkmus. Today, the John Paul Jones Arena and the historic Paramount Theater host musical acts of all genres, while classical music lovers can see a classic opera at the Charlottesville Opera.

Situated at the northeastern tip of the Olympic Peninsula on the Puget Sound, this historic seaport hosts a world-class jazz festival, as well as blues and fiddle festivals. Visitors can glimpse local art during the Port Townsend Gallery Walks. A mild climate makes sightseeing a year-round experience.

Although Livingston’s economy is largely agricultural-based, it also boasts a thriving arts community. In addition to galleries featuring local artists, the town is known for its literary heritage, too. Local author Walter Kirn makes his home in the Paradise Valley enclave, and the town offers many bookstores for book lovers to browse.

An island located 30 miles off the coast of Cape Cod, Nantucket has an art community that flourishes due to the efforts of the Nantucket Arts Council, a non‐profit organization that supports the visual, performing, and literary arts through education, grants, scholarships, and events. The group, founded in 1973, sponsors the Nantucket Arts Festival and Shakespeare in the Garden.

Fifty miles from New York City, Peekskill began to attract artists from the city by building live/work studios and lofts. Today, Paramount Hudson Valley, a 1930s-era movie palace, hosts live performances, while art lovers can stroll through the Hudson Valley Museum of Contemporary Art

Ernest Hemingway found Key West so alluring he made his home here, and you can visit his home and museum in this town at the southernmost tip of the U.S. Among the town’s artistic treasures are the conch-style architecture of its buildings. Among other one-time residents are Truman Capote, Winslow Homer, James Merrill, Tennessee Williams, and singer-songwriter Jimmy Buffett.

From the Ithaca Ballet to the Community School of Music & Arts, Ithaca offers something for everyone. The State Theatre of Ithaca sponsors concerts and shows by famous names. Located on the Cornell University campus, the Herbert F. Johnson Museum of Art displays art, photography, and videos. In October, the town’s Open Studio weekends allow visitors to explore the work of local artists.

Though known mainly for its skiing, Telluride boasts an Art District that offers visitors a chance to savor art when they get off the slopes. Telluride Arts, a local arts council, awards grants and provides resources to local artists.

Though probably not as well known as other Massachusetts art hubs like Provincetown and Nantucket, Great Barrington, nestled in the Berkshires, has an impressive lineup of artistic venues. The Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center offers live theater to opera. The Bernay Fine Art Gallery displays a collection of contemporary art from artists around the world.

Called the Grassroots Arts Capital of Kansas, Lucas is known for treasures that can best be described as quirky. From fried eyes painted on the sidewalk to creations concocted from ordinary materials, Lucas has a unique take on modern art – especially at its famed Garden of Eden, where out-of-the-ordinary sculptures reside.

A haven for writers, photographers, artists, and musicians, Ojai is packed with artistic venues from the Ojai Art Center to the Ojai Valley Museum to the Beatrice Wood Center for the Arts (honoring the late ceramic artist hailed as “the Mama of Dada”). The Ojai Playwrights Conference Summer New Works Festival gives new writers a stage for their plays. The Ojai Storytelling Festival and the Ojai Music Festival are other top attractions for artists and art-lovers alike.

Surrounded by Blue Hill Bay and Blue Hill Mountain, Blue Hill has long welcomed craftspeople and artists. Visitors can take in the beautiful New England scenery while picking up locally made items such as hand-made pottery and blankets, as well as sculptures and paintings by local artists.

This Northern California enclave hosts an eclectic array of art, thanks to the Mill Valley Arts Commission. The organization sponsors monthly art exhibits at City Hall and the Community Center as part of First Tuesday ArtWalk. Other sponsored events include Concerts in the Plaza and the Paint Off shows.

The arts scene in Carrboro flourishes at the ArtsCenter, where live performances and art classes for youngsters and adults are held. Along the Chapel Hill-Carrboro border is a gaggle of art spaces known as Attic 506, which were funded by the Orange County Arts Commission and the artists themselves. On the second Friday of each month, visitors can glimpse the artists’ works during an informal art crawl.

Another Massachusetts artistic hotspot, Northampton’s Arts and Culture Department promotes community-based arts programs and oversees the city’s Paradise City Cultural District, a span of 14 square blocks. The council awards grants twice annually to artists and arts groups.

When you think of Woodstock you likely remember the famous concert held there in 1969. But its art scene began much earlier in 1919, when the Woodstock Artists Association and Museum was established. Today, the organization continues its legacy as a “Colony of the Arts” with exhibitions by American artists.

Since its founding in 1609, Santa Fe has thrived economicaly due to its artistic heritage and support for the arts. In the 1920s and 1930s, small galleries began to dot the city’s landscape, and today the city honors one of the country’s most famous artists at the Georgia O’Keeffe Museum.

Marfa got its start as an arts haven when minimalist artist Donald Judd moved there in 1971 to find a place for large-form sculptures. Combining “cowboy chic” and contemporary art, Marfa now sports a collection of galleries and working artist studios. The town is known for its installation art, but also exhibits an array of textiles, paintings, and photography in a small southwestern town with only one traffic light. Ballroom Marfa serves as the center for its art scene, offering visual art, music, films, lectures, and workshops.