in the community

Congratulations to Umbrella Studio Artist Louise Arnold whose oil painting Woodshed II earned First Prize in the Cambridge Art Association 2023 National Prize Show! This show is juried by former editor of ARTnews, Robin Cembalest, and features artists from around the country. 

Our annual Umbrella Open Studios is a wonderful Concord tradition, a free and family-friendly opportunity to meet some 55+ working artists here at 40 Stow Street, learn about their process, and share in celebrating their work.

For this year's Open Studios, March 18 & 19 from 12-5PM, our Studio Artists have mixed things up with a lively program including a live music both days, a schedule of hands-on artist demos, a Ceramics Studio sales, and a beautiful gallery exhibition of new works, Openings.

The First Parish in Concord social action community and Concord Public Schools are pleased to host Bill McKibben to speak in-person on Climate Change, Migration and Racism. For over 30 years, McKibben (website) has been at the forefront of climate activism, having founded the organizations 350.org and ThirdAct.org, and with numerous books beginning with The End of Nature (1989) to his most recent The Flag, the Cross and the S

After two years of expanding our popular Go Out Doors - Neighbors public art installations throughout Metrowest and Greater Boston, The Umbrella Arts Center wants to bring this community-building event to our neighbors all throughout Concord.

This year, The Umbrella Arts & Environment is partnering with OARS to host fun outdoor activities for Riverfest 2021! Join us at The Old Manse on Sunday, June 20 at 1PM to make fish and turtles out of recycled materials. Pick up the One Revolution Art Challenge, copresented by The Umbrella and Minute Man National Historic Park, using our activity sheet to fill in an imagintive drawing of the nearby Old North Bridge.

In recognition of Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month, in a year that has been particularly trying for so many members of our community, The Umbrella appreciates and supports the work of AAPI artists who have shared their talent with us before and especially throughout the pandemic.

We are so happy to congratulate Elise Woodward, former chair of our Building Committee, as the Town of Concord’s 2021 Honored Citizen. 

This week, The Umbrella's Executive Director Jerry Wedge will join Barry Alexander, Chairman and Chief Operating Officer at Alexander & Buono International, and Lena Galperin, Director of Visitor Experience at ARTECHOUSE™, for a virtual Sip & Chat hosted by Arts Administration Association New England. Together, these three will reflect on the challenges they have faced during the COVID-19 pandemic, and how they are continuing to move forward.

Join us on Thursday, January 14 from 4-5 PM EST

This holiday season, the Garry Marshall Theater is hosting Holidaze Harmony, a virtual concert directed by friend of The Umbrella, Joseph Leo Bwarie! A must for music-lovers, Holidaze Harmony is a celebration of friendship and music starring Broadway veterans Terron Brooks (Phil Collins world tour) and Kamilah Marshall (Bette Midler world tour).

CONCORD, MA – Sponsored by the Friends of the Concord Free Public Library, the 28th annual Concord Festival of Authors (CFA) goes LIVE online to celebrate the written and spoken word with a global audience. CFA events will take place via Zoom from October 16 to October 31, 2020 after months of collaborative planning with organizations in and beyond Concord. Event information and registration links can be found at www.concordfestivalofauthors.org.