First Friday Art Hop

Keene First Friday Art Hop is an inclusive and diverse celebration of art in downtown Keene -- including music, sculpture, dance, film, painting, photography, food, theater, circus, design, and new boundary-crossing works of art. We'll build our creative culture and provide space, networking, and possibility for artists and art appreciators. First Fridays also provide the possibility for tourism and attraction of young and youth-minded professionals to the Main Street Business District.

Show your support for the Keene First Friday Art Hop by contributing to our campaign today. Your support will allow us to showcase participating artists in the best way possible and help us spread the word about our first event on July 6 from 5pm - 9pm.

More about the First Friday Art Hop on July 6

Centered in Railroad Square and the adjoining Amphitheater, extending from the top of the business district just beyond Central Square and over to The Hive at Hannah Grimes Center, moving throughout downtown businesses and restaurants, eventually winding itself down to include concurrent arts and culture presentations at our business district museums, and winding up at Keene State College, home of the Redfern Arts Center and the Thorne-Sagendorph Gallery. We anticipate additional pop up parklets and public spaces, especially those focused on public art, to get involved as the project moving forward.

Visit one of our two pop up galleries. Keene Arts Gallery Walldogs HQ, featuring Arts Alive Ewing Award winners and facilitated by Jim Murphy is located at 84 Main St, home of the Walldogs, coming to Keene in June 2019. The WARP Gallery is popping up this month at the former Apothecary, 35 Main Street, and is curated by Meg Rogers. WARP Gallery is a pop up gallery for the Monadnock region's alternative and contemporary arts. And, if you've ever thought of owning your own business downtown, come check out these locations which are currently available for lease.

In Railroad Square and Amphitheater you can expect to see:

• Our Welcome booth
• Family-friendly activities, including onsite crafting hosted by Team Keene
• A food security station, including information about summer meals and food resources, an activity, and a popsicle-for-sale booth, supporting Summer Meals, and hosted by Monadnock Understands Childhood Hunger, MUCH, Coalition and Cheshire Gardens.
• Food events that feature the New Hampshire Harvest of the Month program - berries in July!
• Direct artists sales vended in the square
• Live acoustic music and other performances by area nonprofits, organizations, and artists

Cheshire Gardens will sell berry popsicles at the July event in a collaboration with food security coalition MUCH, Monadnock Understands Childhood Hunger. The first one hundred (100) popsicles are free when a popsicle is purchased for the Keene Housing Summer Meals program. Volunteers will be on site in Railroad Square to raise awareness about food insecurity in the Monadnock region as well as provide a neutral environment for attendees to learn more about where to access food and how to give.

Live Music Downtown

5:30- 8:15pm Railroad Square- Frank Wallace, Roots Cellar, and TBD

8pm - Tumbletoads

In Downtown Businesses, you can expect to see local art displayed inside as well as live music, enhancing opportunities for businesses to showcase their wares and services. Businesses and downtown organizations are encouraged to promote special offerings during the First Friday Art Hop and to stay open for the duration, or at least majority of the event. Machina Arts and the First Friday Art Hop will offer the use of ASCAP for a nominal fee to encourage partnership with local musicians and lowering the barrier to entry for such offerings. Participating businesses will be listed On The Map!

Explore the Downtown Culinary Scene, cultivated by our Culinary Advisor Jordan Scott, and thanks to our local restaurant participants, especially Odelay, Luca Paris and Ryan, the new chef at Bar 21.

The First Friday Art Hop with celebrate local food as an art and celebration of Monadnock Region culture. First year food events will include the promotion of the New Hampshire Harvest of the Month. In July, you will find berries included in promoted specials throughout the downtown district.