Nantucket Cultural District

In Massachusetts, 34 Cultural Districts have been designated statewide, and add value by encouraging collaboration and helping local arts and humanities organizations improve programming.

At the request of the Town of Nantucket, ReMain collaborated with the Town’s Visitors Services Department, the Nantucket Arts Council, and the Artists Association of Nantucket to research the parameters of the district designation, local infrastructure requirements, and future management options. A steering committee drawn from a cross-section of the downtown business and non-profit community was then assembled to map the district, compile an inventory of the core downtown cultural assets, and submit the application for a state designation.

In January of 2016, the Massachusetts Cultural Council officially designated downtown as the Nantucket Cultural District. Included within the district are businesses, restaurants, churches, arts and cultural organizations located in downtown area. A volunteer committee, chaired jointly by the directors of Nantucket Visitor Services and the Chamber of Commerce, will manage the District.

All of those working on this Cultural District project believe that this designation will help affirm the downtown’s sense of place, stimulate cultural and economic activity particularly in the shoulder seasons, and improve the experiences of both our visitors and the local community. We at ReMain are excited to be a part of this project.