The Rockport Art Association is one of the oldest and most active art organizations in the country. In 1921, a small group of artists attracted by the beauty and hospitality of Rockport, founded the Rockport Art Association in the studio of the late Aldro T. Hibbard, NA.  The RAA was established as an artist cooperative and social gathering place for artists and art lovers. On July 12, 1929 the Rockport Art Association found its permanent home at The Old Tavern building, 12 Main Street. Built in 1787, the building was originally a sea captain’s house and over the years it has also been an inn, a tavern and a stage coach stop.  The Maddocks barn gallery also dates back to the mid-1700s and its history is reflected in the old wooden beams and sliding barn door. Since its foundation, the Association has steadily increased in size and currently includes approximately 250 artist & photography members, and 800 contributing members.
 

The Hibbard Gallery

The Rockport Art Association has a spectacular Museum Collection of paintings, graphics and sculpture representing a pictorial history of life and art on Cape Ann. Selections from the Museum Collection are displayed at various times throughout the year. Works from our Collection recently returned from a cross-country museum tour. In recent years the RAA has featured special retrospective exhibitions of historic artist members including Aldro T. Hibbard, Anthony Thieme, Paul Strisik, W. Lester Stevens and most recently Harry A. Vincent & His Contemporaries. This page showcases a few pieces from our extensive collection.

Throughout the entire year the RAA offers a variety of special events and also rents out its galleries for private functions and wedding receptions. In spring our Contributing Members are invited to exhibit their work in a month long exhibition. The season officially begins in May with the Arts & Flowers opening reception to the 1st Summer Show. Local garden clubs, florists and individuals create floral interpretations of works in the exhibition. The Annual Art Auction is also held on the first Saturday in May and features works by deceased Cape Ann artists. This event is a major fundraiser for the Association and attracts art collectors from across the country. In June we award a scholarship to a graduating Rockport High School senior. June also brings the Rockport Chamber Music Festival to the RAA and performances are held Thursday - Sunday evenings. Solo exhibitions are featured in the fall, winter and spring months along with the group exhibitions. The RAA’s hand painted holiday ornaments go on sale the day after Thanksgiving and, since 1945, the annual Christmas Pageant brings holiday magic to the Art Association in December.

The Rockport Art Association offers an extensive educational series in addition to providing exhibition space for its members' paintings, graphics, sculpture and photography on a year-round basis. In the interest of community involvement the RAA offers workshop programs,  weekly art classes, sketch groups, guest lecture series, art demonstrations and concerts. Our workshop programs provide instruction in a variety of mediums for students of all levels. Throughout July and August the RAA holds its artist demonstration series on Tuesday and Thursday evenings in the Association’s Hibbard Gallery. Also, during July & August the Rockport Art Association presents a wide range of educational programs for children in the RAA studio. Each course is geared toward a particular age group in a specific discipline.

The Rockport Art Association offers something for everyone. Contributing membership is open to all and entitles you to the following benefits: discounts on workshops, 10% discount on books and cards in the Tavern Door Gift Shop, a subscription to the RAA newsletter, participation in the spring Contributing Members’ Exhibition, and free admission to summer artist demonstrations. In our Tavern Door Gift Shop we carry a wide variety of instructional art books, artist member cards, museum & specialty note cards, art & photo books, studio art kits and Richard Recchia sculptures.
 

No admission is charged to browse our galleries, however donations are always welcome.
Our staff will be happy to assist you in any way to make your visit a pleasant one.

Visit us and discover the artistic and cultural splendor of Cape Ann.