The Soul of Newburyport’s Artist Shanties Seems Lost

For the past two years, I participated in the Newburyport Arts and Culture Shanties, a truly special initiative. Originally led by the Firehouse Center for the Arts, this program offered local artisans like myself a highly visible platform. Located in the magical courtyard across from the Black Cow Restaurant, near the waterfront, it was more than shops; it was a hub of creativity, conversation, and connection, all set within an enchanting atmosphere. During my time there, I met many fantastic artists, customers, and members of the public, fostering connections and friendships that will last a lifetime. Crucially, this valuable experience allowed me to market test my retail print business in a physical space.

This article is prompted by the Newburyport Chamber of Commerce’s takeover in ownership last fall and recent announcement, here in mid-May, that submissions are finally open for their new “Commerce Cottages” program. Submissions for a seasonal program like this should have been open months ago, giving artists the necessary time to plan their market season. This late announcement follows a period where dozens of artists reached out to me asking what was going on – a clear indication of uncertainty under the new ownership since the Chamber took over.

The original intent of the shanties was clear: to provide dedicated, affordable space specifically for Newburyport area artisans and artists. It felt like a grassroots effort that genuinely prioritized putting artists directly in front of the public in an environment (a beautiful shell courtyard) that was as welcoming as it was visually appealing. However, the Newburyport Chamber of Commerce’s takeover of the program has resulted in changes that fundamentally alter its character and diminish its original purpose. Their introduction of “something new and exciting,” transforming a different “beautiful green courtyard” on Pleasant Street, feels like a fundamental change, not a continuation.

The Chamber claimed they “stepped up, kept the program open—we worked with City Council… took it under our insurance, and offered free access to the remaining shanty renters to keep it alive for the rest of the year.” While permits were obtained, it was I and numerous other concerned artists who went before the city to advocate for the extension of the permit through the holiday season. If not for us, I believe the program would have been shut down for the holiday season. Furthermore, once the permit was reissued, the Chamber’s engagement was nonexistent, leaving the remaining artists feeling that the program was abandoned for the rest of the year. In my view, the offer of “free access” wasn’t a gesture of support, but rather a consequence of their complete abandonment and failure to provide support.

This abandonment manifested in several ways, including failing to book all shanties, disrupting the setup for essential shopping days (Black Friday, Newburyport Invitation Nights), significant delays in fixing essential lighting, a lack of holiday decoration, failing to include Santa’s Workshop in the shanty courtyard, and critically, no advertising to the public, especially when they advertised Santa’s Workshop but made no mention of the shanties whatsoever (even though it was placed right next to them). Specifically, the significant delays in fixing the string lights prevented us from staying open after dark during the dinner hour, costing us crucial foot traffic during a key shopping time. Adding insult to injury, they moved all the shanties very close together without consulting artists, causing overlap on the shanty doors – an essential place for us to hang our work – simply to set up a huge tent for an event that lasted only a few hours. This tent was completely sealed off from the shanties, providing absolutely no foot traffic to us during their event. My personal experience with this mismanagement led to a devastatingly poor holiday season, reinforcing my lack of faith in the Chamber’s capacity or willingness to truly support the artist community.

The most immediate and impactful changes for this year are the physical ones. The program has been reduced from five shanties to just three. I’ve been told that the two missing shanties are being used for storage in other parts of the city. This immediately translates to fewer opportunities for local artists to participate and share their work. More disheartening is the relocation from the dynamic and successful shell courtyard location. The Chamber offered the explanation that “as we learned more about the city’s plans for Phase III of the Waterfront Park project, it became clear that the cottages would eventually need a new home. Rather than wait and risk losing this kind of opportunity for local creators altogether, we got to work on something better and more sustainable.” While acknowledging future city plans, this reasoning for an immediate move feels premature and unnecessary. Phase III is years away, and there was no reason to move the shanties when the old courtyard remains empty anyway. I question if the urgency cited truly necessitated such a dramatic immediate shift away from a proven, successful location.

Beyond the physical, the very spirit and original intent of the program seems to have been lost in this “rebrand” to “Commerce Cottages.” The Chamber claims it’s “more inclusive than ever before,” open to “nonprofits, students, small businesses, church groups, makers, and entrepreneurs of all types,” not just artisans. But the program should remain for artisans. Newburyport desperately needs more dedicated spaces to showcase and support art within the community, and the old program was perfect. Opening it to all businesses dilutes its original mission of supporting specific artistic talent.

The Chamber lists other supposed benefits: “Rent is more affordable than previous years,” “Vending is available 7 days a week,” it’s “centrally located on Pleasant Street,” and it’s “built for long-term impact and accessibility.” The claim of being “more affordable” is blatantly false, especially considering the lack of options and the lost value of the old location. The old program allowed artists to rent a shanty for $60 a weekend (Friday, Saturday, and Sunday), providing flexibility and affordability crucial for many. Now, it appears the only renting option is $500 a month. This new rate is more than twice the cost. There appears to be no such crucial weekend flexibility offered in their current application found on the Chamber’s website, making the program significantly less accessible and affordable for many independent artists who cannot commit to or afford a full month or 7- day-a-week presence. The “centrally located” claim ignores the unique benefits of the shell courtyard’s proven foot traffic, and the new location’s size is small and limiting. The Chamber referred to this new location as a “beautiful green courtyard” in their announcement – I’ll let you be the judge if this looks like a beautiful green courtyard. Despite having all winter and spring to prepare and beautify this new site, the Chamber did not, leaving it as a less-than-ideal space.

While organizational changes are sometimes necessary, I sincerely hope the Newburyport Chamber of Commerce can acknowledge the shortcomings of this transition and turn the program around. The reason I wrote this article isn’t simply to air grievances, but because I genuinely want to see the arts community receive respect, and succeed in this city. If anyone has ideas on how we can better achieve that goal or build truly supportive initiatives for artists in Newburyport, please feel free to get in touch.

You can click here to see more images of the stark difference between the two locations.

Keith Viglione
Newburyport resident and photographer

For more information about the Commerce Cottages, and to learn more about the program, visit the Chamber of Commerce’s website. The Townie is actively looking for perspectives from the Chamber, or participants in the new program, to ensure all viewpoints are represented.