An invitation to the artistic

Don’t just come to observe art, experience it. Here, creativity flows beyond gallery walls and off the stage, spilling into alleyways, parks and public squares. Visitors are welcomed not as spectators, but as co-creators in a region where art lives, breathes and belongs to everyone. Here the arts are a unifying presence, a driver of economic vitality and an invitation to all.

As you approach downtown Newport via Route 103, you’ll be greeted by the town’s newest postcard-style mural — a vibrant “Welcome to Newport” that sets the tone for an art-forward adventure.

That’s no accident.

Kate Luppold, executive director of the Library Arts Center, says that its mission is not just to present to patrons but to get everyone involved.

“We’re really known for our community arts focus, so we do a lot to bring the arts to the whole community,” Luppold says. “It’s not just that we bring the arts to the whole community, but also to engage the whole community in the arts.”

Founded in 1967 by visionary Marjorie Dorr, the Library Arts Center transformed an aging carriage house tucked behind the town library into a catalyst for creative expression. The center offers a mix of traditional programs — gallery shows, movie nights, art classes, artist talks — and playful events like its wildly popular annual Peeps Diorama Contest.

Its efforts to connect arts and people can no longer be contained by one building. In 2022, the center led an effort to reproduce the Newport Heritage Mural (originally painted in 1997) that had fallen into disrepair. The revival evolved into a celebration of community. More than 30 artists recreated the panels during a Mural Festival. A Historical Society quiz helped festivalgoers engage with the history within the artwork.

“That project ignited an excitement in our community, in our organization, but also a deeper community understanding how art wakes up a space,” Luppold says. “This project brought a lot of community pride, a lot of community ownership to an area that was underutilized.”

Since then, Newport has leaned in to commissioning new murals, inviting public input on what should be depicted and encouraging visitors to explore the town through its colorful lens. This summer, more than 20 murals will be installed along Korn Alley, which connects Main Street to the riverside area.

“It’s really neat to see what people consider iconic of this region and what they love about the region,” Luppold says.

That sense of community isn’t exclusive to locals; even visitors will feel like they’re part of something here. A 2022-23 report of Sullivan County, where the Sugar River Region is located,

shows that the arts contributed $10.2 million in economic activity, and a total attendance of more than 134,700.

“Our arts are very highly used by locals, but we also have an above-state and above-national average of drawing people to our region,” Luppold says. “Our arts are being done at a caliber that brings people in, but also being done in a way that’s welcoming and encouraging to getting people to participate.” Library Arts Center, 58 N. Main St., Newport (behind the library). libraryartscenter.org

An expansive artistic community

The Library Arts Center was also among the partners to create the Sunapee Region Arts Atlas, a comprehensive guide to more than 100 arts and cultural locations along the Sugar River, Lake Sunapee and Mount Kearsarge. Stops include the Center for the Arts, New London Barn Playhouse, John Hay Fells Estate, libraries, meetinghouses and historical societies. Printed copies of the map are available at many locations, including the Library Arts Center and regional chambers of commerce. An interactive map website is coming soon.

A history of artistic excellence

Fantastic art across an array of disciplines is not a new feature of the region. Heritage craftsmanship dates back centuries, best-in-class artists have called the region home and performances continue in breathtaking theater spaces. Here are a few of the can’t-miss stops:

Saint-Gaudens National Historical Park

Augustus Saint-Gaudens was an immigrant who became one of the preeminent American sculptors of the late 1880s. He created hundreds of works, including the Diana top Madison Square Garden. His family summered in Cornish and founded the Cornish Artists Colony. Saint-Gaudens retired to his estate there after a cancer diagnosis in 1900.

Now, at the Saint-Gaudens National Historic Park, visitors can learn about the art, history and nature that inspired the illustrious artist. Explore his home, studio and grounds with a peaceful walk through the gardens, a fun art activity with a ranger or a tour through American history.

Special programs are held throughout the year, including summer concerts on Sundays. The Saint-Gaudens Memorial, an organization that partners with the National Parks Service, sponsors a concert series and art exhibitions. It also underwrites an artist’s fellowship, educational programs and art acquisition.

Park buildings are open Thursday through Monday from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. beginning Memorial Day weekend until Oct. 31. nps.gov/saga/index.htm

Opera North at Blow-Me-Down Farm

Adjacent to the Saint-Gaudens National Park is Blow-Me-Down Farm. In 2017, the park service selected Opera North of Lebanon, the only full-time, professional opera company in New Hampshire, as a partner bringing performances to a tent on the grounds once owned by arts patron Charles Beaman Jr.

The 2025 summer season includes The Little Prince (June 27-29), The Marriage of Figaro (July 13-18), Man of La Mancha (July 24-27) and Tap, Rhythm and Roll (July 5) to the tent. operanorth.org

Claremont Opera House

For more than a century, the Claremont Opera House, a Victorian-era building, has been an entertainment center for the region. Its early success was attributed to Harry Eaton, who arranged theatrical and musical acts, variety shows and films to perform. That similar spirit is alive today. Nearly every week, you can find some sort of show from community or school theater productions, traveling plays, concerts, comedy and more. Over the summer, Impact

West Claremont Center for Music and the Arts

The West Claremont Center for Music and the Arts (WCCMA) brings professional music and arts experiences, diverse musicians and equitable educational opportunities to audiences for free or low-cost admission. A recent campaign allowed the center to expand into a new space at the historic former Claremont National Bank Building, 56 Opera House Square, at the heart of the city center, walkable to offices, retail and dining establishments. Programs introduce all ages to the range of art from cartooning workshops to Sacred Harp singing. Don’t miss its summer concert series or HopStop events. wcc-ma.org

Newport Opera House

In 1904, a three-story stage was added to Newport’s town hall and courthouse, and with that, the Newport Opera House became the largest stage north of Boston. Since 1974, the Opera House Association has promoted the performing arts at the facility, supported by many in town and neighboring communities. Executive Director Laura McCrillis Kessler says that thousands of volunteer hours go into the productions, like the spring 2025 musical, Rodgers and Hammerstein’s “Cinderella.”

“This particular production shows community theater at its finest,” she says. The Opera House also hosts community favorites Dancing with the Newport Stars, Taste of Sullivan County and the Winter Carnival Pageant. Newportoperahouse.com

Claremont Makerspace

This community-oriented creative hub helps members give shape to ideas. Members get access to specialty and hitech tools, education, room to work and a community of like-minded creative people. Even non-members can get in on the action through workshops and special programs, like their artist-in-residence program with gallery display. claremontmakerspace.org

The Livery

The Livery, a former horse barn for the Harbor House Hotel, is the last surviving large commercial structure remaining from Sunapee’s steamboat era — its existence a reminder of the grand and legendary time when an astonishing number of visitors sought out Sunapee as a premier tourist destination. In 2021, the Sunapee Heritage Alliance reopened the building after an extensive renovation as a performance space and community hub. Don’t miss concerts by popular New England musicians, yoga or workshops. The Naturally New England Artist Show & Sale curated by the Center for the Arts will be held July 12 to 20, 2025, too! thelivery.org

Heritage trades

League of NH Craftsmen

There are more than 700 juried artists and makers who work in shops and home studios across the state. You can find many of the jewelry makers, basket-weavers, woodcarvers, painters, fiber artists and experts in even more specialties all in one place. The annual League of NH Craftsmen Fair is held the first week of August at Mount Sunapee Resort in Newbury. The fair began in 1933 and runs for nine days each year, featuring the work of hundreds of members with sales booths, interactive demonstrations and curated exhibitions. nhcrafts.org

Fort at No. 4

What was daily life like for the pre-Revolutionary colonists who pushed westward into the woods of New Hampshire? You can experience it yourself at Fort at No. 4, a living history museum in Charlestown. Historical interpreters and reenactors demonstrate daily work and war at this fortified settlement near what was once the northwest border of the American colonies. It’s open to the public seasonally and to groups by appointment. (Learn more on page 34.)

MJ Harrington & Co.

Michael J. Harrington established the store in 1948 where he put his skills as a watchmaker to work. Eventually, Harrington sold the business to his brother-in-law, James Lantz, and now the business is run by one of Lantz’s six sons, David Lantz. David is a certified Gemologist Appraiser from the American Gem Society and a certified Bench Jeweler from Jewelers of America, one of the fewer than 10 jewelry professionals in the country to be awarded both credentials. MJ Harrington is committed to craftsmanship and quality customer service. mjharrington.com