Sandwich Arts Alliance (SAA), an artist-driven nonprofit supporting the region’s arts and artists, is welcoming the public to its Grand Opening Celebration at its new location, this Friday, Oct. 27, with an open house from 1 to 4 p.m.
A ribbon cutting ceremony will be held at 2 p.m. on the building’s portico, at the historic SandwichTown Hall’s former town offices, at 130 Main St., Sandwich.
SAA recently relocated to its new headquarters, including an art gallery, classroom space, gift shop, and bookstore. The Alliance cultivates, supports, and presents visual, performing, and literary arts events and programs, serving the entire Cape Cod community year-round.
This spring, the Town of Sandwich approved a three-year lease opportunity for a portion of its building, geared to house a cultural organization in a vacated 2000-square-foot space. A request for proposals (RFP) was launched for interested applicants and the Sandwich Arts Alliance was awarded the bid. SAA staff and volunteers facilitated the organization’s late August move from its prior location during simultaneous renovations, optimizing the use of the space.
“This is a dream come true for many who have long desired to create a cultural center in the heart of Sandwich Village,” shares SAA President Katherine Aubin. “We’ve been looking for the perfect place for more than 18 months to grow all of our initiatives under one larger roof. Expanding our studio space allows us to better fulfill our mission, attract even more talented instructors, and to support our local artists’ success in their creative endeavors.”
Sandwich Historic Town Hall is the oldest continuously-operated seat of government in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, in service since 1834. The majority of the leased five rooms are being transformed to host SAA’s popular arts and culture programs, educational classes, meetings, events, and a gallery to exhibit SAA member artwork. The former 396-square-foot Town Treasurer’s office serves as a reception area and gift shop, retailing books, artisan gifts and crafts, and the works of local artists. A loop-screen kiosk, the new addition to the space, showcases exhibit and event information, as well as historical town pictures and archival Sandwich-originated art images.
Aubin is excited to have SAA located in the heart of the Glass Town Cultural District, one of only two designated cultural districts on Cape Cod. Her priorities first include increasing collaboration with other cultural and municipal organizations who are invested in the intersection of historic preservation and vibrant community culture.
“One huge benefit is being fully accessible to everyone, thanks in part to an elevator, constructed during the 2010 renovation of Sandwich Historic Town Hall,” she added.
The Alliance maintains weekly business hours from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday, occasionally opening for evening events and programs, and plans to expand its breadth of programming to fill its larger space during the next year.
For more information visit sandwichartsalliance.org for more information.
