• Location: 2 Union St Suite No.2, Nantucket, MA 02554, US
• Contact: 508-901-5844
• Social Media: Facebook, Instagram, YouTube
• Website: nantucketartscouncil.org

It is a nonprofit organization based in Nantucket that supports and promotes a collaborative community of the literary arts on the island. It achieves this through various programs and in conjunction with like-minded cultural and educational nonprofit organizations.

The council was established in 1973 to create a year-round theater for the community and professionals. However, a fire accident destroyed its theater in Straight Wharf, redirecting its purpose. It instead chose to showcase exhibits from exemplary artists at the Main Street Gallery and NHA’s Fair Street Museum.

Over the years, the Nantucket Arts Council has adopted several programs that keep the island’s art scene vibrant. They include:

Grants

The organization supports individuals and nonprofit cultural organizations that seek to provide community programs that empower local artists, especially the young. Every year, it gives over $250,000 in grants towards these programs. Among its common beneficiaries are the Artists Association of Nantucket, The Nantucket Book Festival, A Safe Place, The Nantucket Atheneum, and Mollie Glazer.

Scholarships

The council offers scholarships to students graduating high school senior and majoring in arts at accredited colleges. To qualify, you must be a Nantucket resident pursuing a dance, literature, drama, music, or visual arts course. Moreover, you must complete an application form on their website and submit it on time.

Margaretta Nettles Award

Every year, the awards program seeks to honor outstanding visual and performing arts artists. The program is named after Margaretta Nettles, a Nantucket local recognized and celebrated for her exceptional weaving skills. It was established in memory of her and her lifelong achievements.

Over the years, Margaretta Nettles Award has handed out several awards, including the latest one in 2022, to Elizabeth Ombremski, creator and performer of the Lizza Show and Nanpuppets.

Annual Concerts

The Nantucket Arts Council has held annual musical concerts for over twenty years. They feature outstanding artists in the local and international scene. The concerts aim to promote artists and boost the island’s entertainment sector.