Artists in Residence Returns to New Bedford for Its 6th Year

The New Bedford Whaling National Historic Park and the Whaling History Alliance have announced the four artists selected to be part of the park’s 2024 Artists in Residence program at the New Bedford Whaling Museum, each of whom will host engaging events through artful expression.

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The Artists in Residence Program

The Artists in Residence program continues at the Whaling Museum for its sixth year, bringing one new artist each quarter to host open studio events and other public engagement opportunities during their three-month residency.

“The park’s Artists in Residence program provides us with a creative portal through which we tell the complex stories of our community and this country’s history,” said Superintendent Jennifer Smith. “Using the arts to look back as well as forward helps us present new and diverse perspectives while attracting new audiences to our work.”

“We are incredibly excited to have an exceptional group of artists participating this year and we can’t wait to witness not only the amazing works they’ll produce but also the meaningful and long-lasting connections they’ll forge along the way,” said Lindsay Compton, the park’s Arts and Youth Coordinator.

Emmanual Escobar from Providence

Emmanuel Escobar is an Afro-Lation jazz musician based in Providence, Rhode Island. He is a signed performing artist and educator, and his residency project will include workshops and live performances as a celebration of the rich cultural heritage of Jazz music in New Bedford, and the lasting impact that Cape Verdean musicians and artists continue to have on the community.

Rebecca McGee Tuck from Natick

Rebecca McGee Tuck hails from Natick and is a found object fiiber sculpture artist who works with collected materials from Massachusetts beaches. For her three-month residency, she plans on hosting a community-based marine debris weaving project and aims to create work by exploring a unique coastal area called the “wrack line”, which is the area on the beach where organic material (like seaweed and grasss) and other debris sit after the high tide recedes.

Beth Jones from Brookline

Beth Jones is a Brookline-based author, digital storyteller, journalist, media artist, and educator. Her residency project will construct and create two crowd-sourced Cabinets of Curiosities – digital and physical – inspired by early collectors who shared stories of travel and discovery through displays of artifacts and ephemera.

Cara Bean of New Bedford

New Bedford native, Cara Bean, is a cartoonist and art educator, with a forthcoming illustrated guide to mental health, scheduled to be released in the spring of 2024. With her residency, Bean aims to explore conversations around mental health with youth, specifically middle school-aged students.

Keep an eye on the National Park's website for updates on the 2024 Artists in Residence program.