March is offering a continuous celebration of traditional arts across NH. From sapping and sugaring off parties, to St. Patrick’s celebrations of Irish culture and heritage, there is a renewed energy for artistic projects as we shake off winter sluggishness in the advent of spring. March is also Arts-in-Education Month, an opportunity for us to think about how we can share our heritage arts with communities young and old. Please be in touch and share your events for future newsletters and promotion. Once again, here’s to an ever-inspiring and connected cultural community.
NHSCA Grants & Roster Opportunities
Traditional Arts Apprenticeship Grants assist in the preservation of traditional/heritage-based arts (crafts, dance and music) by funding a master traditional artist to teach an experienced apprentice in one-to-one sessions. Guidelines will be posted by 2/28/14. Deadline 7/11/14.
Traditional Arts & Folklife Listing A juried listing of traditional artists, community scholars and folklorists who are available for presentations, demonstrations, lectures, performances and workshops. Many organizations reference this listing when planning for their events. Applications will be posted by 2/28/14. Deadline 7/11/14
Arts in Education Artist Roster a juried roster of artists that represent diverse disciplines, cultures, and regions of the state can bring new ideas, skills, energy, and creativity to schools and communities in New Hampshire. Applications will be posted by 2/28/14. Deadline 4/11/2014.
Traditional Irish Music Sessions
Many of the following restaurants and venues have special musical performances the weekend before and on St. Patrick ’s Day. Please visit their websites to see who is playing!
Many of the following restaurants and venues have special musical performances the weekend before and on St. Patrick ’s Day. Please visit their websites to see who is playing!
Kathleen’s Cottage Irish Pub & Restaurant, Bristol, Fridays 7pm
The Press Room, Portsmouth, Fridays 5-9pm
Salt Hill Pub, Hanover, Thursdays 6pm
Harlow’s Pub, Peterborough, Tuesdays start 7-7:30 pm
Ri-Ra Irish Restaurant And Pub, Portsmouth, Sundays 5-8pm
Mel Flanagan’s, Rochester, Fridays 7:30pm
May Kelley’s Irish Cottage, North Conway, Sundays 3:30-7pm
Salt Hill Pub & Restaurant, Lebanon, Tuesdays 6-9pm
The Shaskeen, Manchester, Saturdays 3-6pm
The Barley House, Concord, Tuesdays start 7-7:30 pm
Dances
This list is compiled from several sources including the calendars compiled by Charlie Seelig and David Millstone. Please visit their websites for more information.
March 2014
Thursday, March 6, 2014 Dance Series: Dover - NH Location: Dover Caller(s): Sarah Mason and Peter Yarensky; Band(s)/Musician(s): The Lamprey River Band;
Friday, March 7, 2014 Dance Series: Wentworth - Squares Location: Wentworth Caller(s): Adam Boyce; Band(s)/Musician(s): Adam Boyce and Sue Hunt;
Saturday, March 8, 2014 Dance Series: Exeter Location: Exeter Caller(s): TBA; Band(s)/Musician(s): Stone Soup;
Saturday, March 8, 2014 Dance Series: Nelson - 2nd Saturday Location: Nelson Caller(s): Luke Donforth; Band(s)/Musician(s): Celticladda (Randy Miller, Gordon Peery, Bill Thomas);
Saturday, March 8, 2014 Norwich, VT Northern Spy featuring guest caller Adina Gordon.Contras, squares, occasional dances in odd formations! All dances taught! Information: Rick Barrows
Saturday, March 8, 2014 Norwich, VT Northern Spy featuring guest caller Adina Gordon.Contras, squares, occasional dances in odd formations! All dances taught! Information: Rick Barrows
Saturday, March 15, 2014 Dance Series: Concord - NH Location: Concord Caller(s): Chris Ricciotti; Band(s)/Musician(s): Sylvia Miskoe, Vince O'Donnell and Justine Paul;
Sunday, March 16 2014 2-5pm The Monadnock Folklore Society presents English Country Dances with the “Dance Around Monadnock.” Bass Hall in Peterborough, with Robin Hayden teaching dances that will appeal to all, from novice to experienced dancers.
Monday, March 17, 2014 Dance Series: Nelson - Monday Location: Nelson Caller(s):
Friday, March 21, 2014 Dance Series: Manchester - 3rd Friday Location: Manchester Caller(s): Band(s)/Musician(s): JumpStart (Gene Albert, Nancy Fiske, Paul Lizotte, Victor Troll);
Friday, March 21, 2014 31th annual Family Dance, West Lebanon, NH
Monday, March 17, 2014 Dance Series: Nelson - Monday Location: Nelson Caller(s):
Friday, March 21, 2014 Dance Series: Manchester - 3rd Friday Location: Manchester Caller(s): Band(s)/Musician(s): JumpStart (Gene Albert, Nancy Fiske, Paul Lizotte, Victor Troll);
Friday, March 21, 2014 31th annual Family Dance, West Lebanon, NH
Location: Lebanon High School cafeteria, Sugar River Band. Family-friendly event for all ages. Great refreshments, and a pie auction follows the dance.
Saturday, March 22, 2014 Dance Series: Ossipee - 4th Saturday Location: Ossipee Caller(s): TBA; Band(s)/Musician(s): Fiddling Thomsons; Note:
Friday, March 28, 2014 Dance Series: Milford - NH Location: Milford Caller(s): Open mic ; Band(s)/Musician(s): Milford Town Hall Band; Note: Sit-in musicians welcome
Friday, March 28, 2014 Norwich Family Dances, Marion Cross School, Sugar River Band.
Friday, March 28, 2014 Norwich Family Dances, Marion Cross School, Sugar River Band.
Thursday, April 3, 2014 Dance Series: Dover - NH Location: Dover Caller(s): Sarah Mason and Peter Yarensky; Band(s)/Musician(s): The Lamprey River Band;
Friday, April 4, 2014 Dance Series: Keene Location: Keene Caller(s): Brendan Taaffe;
Friday, April 4, 2014 Dance Series: Wentworth - Squares Location: Wentworth Caller(s): Adam Boyce; Band(s)/Musician(s): Adam Boyce and Sue Hunt;
Saturday, April 5, 2014 Dance Series: Deerfield - NH Location: Deerfield Caller(s): TBA;
Saturday, April 5, 2014 Dance Series: Peterborough - Play Ball Location: Peterborough Caller(s): Adina Gordon and Steve Zakon-Anderson; Band(s)/Musician(s): Notorious (Eden MacAdam-Somer, Larry Unger) w/Jeremiah McLane and Perpetual e-Motion (John Coté, Ed Howe);
Monday, April 7, 2014 Dance Series: Nelson - Monday Location: Nelson Caller(s): TBA;
Friday, April 11, 2014 Dance Series: Londonderry Location: Londonderry Caller(s): Alice Morris; Band(s)/Musician(s): Flaire Eire
Saturday, April 12, 2014 Dance Series: Exeter Location: Exeter Caller(s): TBA; Band(s)/Musician(s): Stone Soup
Saturday, Arpril 12, 2014 Norwich, VT Northern Spy. Contras, squares, occasional dances in odd formations! All dances taught! Information: Rick Barrows
Monday, April 14, 2014 Dance Series: Nelson - Monday Location: Nelson Caller(s): TBA;
Friday, April 18, 2014 Dance Series: Manchester - 3rd Friday Location: Manchester Caller(s): Gale Wood; Band(s)/Musician(s): JumpStart (Gene Albert, Nancy Fiske, Paul Lizotte, Victor Troll);
Saturday, April 19, 2014 Dance Series: Albany - NH Location: Albany Caller(s): TBA;
Saturday, April 19, 2014 Dance Series: Concord - NH Location: Concord Caller(s): TBA; Band(s)/Musician(s): The Dorsey-Parrott PIck-Ups;
Monday, April 21, 2014 Dance Series: Nelson - Monday Location: Nelson Caller(s): TBA;
Friday, April 25, 2014 Dance Series: Milford - NH Location: Milford Caller(s): Open mic ; Band(s)/Musician(s): Milford Town Hall Band; Note: Sit-in musicians welcome
Saturday, April 26, 2014 Dance Series: Ossipee - 4th Saturday Location: Ossipee Caller(s): TBA; Band(s)/Musician(s): Puckerbrush;
Monday, April 28, 2014 Dance Series: Nelson - Monday Location: Nelson Caller(s): TBA; Band(s)/Musician(s): TBA
Friday, April 4, 2014 Dance Series: Keene Location: Keene Caller(s): Brendan Taaffe;
Friday, April 4, 2014 Dance Series: Wentworth - Squares Location: Wentworth Caller(s): Adam Boyce; Band(s)/Musician(s): Adam Boyce and Sue Hunt;
Saturday, April 5, 2014 Dance Series: Deerfield - NH Location: Deerfield Caller(s): TBA;
Saturday, April 5, 2014 Dance Series: Peterborough - Play Ball Location: Peterborough Caller(s): Adina Gordon and Steve Zakon-Anderson; Band(s)/Musician(s): Notorious (Eden MacAdam-Somer, Larry Unger) w/Jeremiah McLane and Perpetual e-Motion (John Coté, Ed Howe);
Monday, April 7, 2014 Dance Series: Nelson - Monday Location: Nelson Caller(s): TBA;
Friday, April 11, 2014 Dance Series: Londonderry Location: Londonderry Caller(s): Alice Morris; Band(s)/Musician(s): Flaire Eire
Saturday, April 12, 2014 Dance Series: Exeter Location: Exeter Caller(s): TBA; Band(s)/Musician(s): Stone Soup
Saturday, Arpril 12, 2014 Norwich, VT Northern Spy. Contras, squares, occasional dances in odd formations! All dances taught! Information: Rick Barrows
Monday, April 14, 2014 Dance Series: Nelson - Monday Location: Nelson Caller(s): TBA;
Friday, April 18, 2014 Dance Series: Manchester - 3rd Friday Location: Manchester Caller(s): Gale Wood; Band(s)/Musician(s): JumpStart (Gene Albert, Nancy Fiske, Paul Lizotte, Victor Troll);
Saturday, April 19, 2014 Dance Series: Albany - NH Location: Albany Caller(s): TBA;
Saturday, April 19, 2014 Dance Series: Concord - NH Location: Concord Caller(s): TBA; Band(s)/Musician(s): The Dorsey-Parrott PIck-Ups;
Monday, April 21, 2014 Dance Series: Nelson - Monday Location: Nelson Caller(s): TBA;
Friday, April 25, 2014 Dance Series: Milford - NH Location: Milford Caller(s): Open mic ; Band(s)/Musician(s): Milford Town Hall Band; Note: Sit-in musicians welcome
Saturday, April 26, 2014 Dance Series: Ossipee - 4th Saturday Location: Ossipee Caller(s): TBA; Band(s)/Musician(s): Puckerbrush;
Monday, April 28, 2014 Dance Series: Nelson - Monday Location: Nelson Caller(s): TBA; Band(s)/Musician(s): TBA
Concerts & Performances
Friday, March 7, 7pm - Acoustic Folk Trio Annalivia presented by the North Woods Committee for the Arts, Colebrook. Described as an "American roots and branches string-band" which creates its own brand of new acoustic folk music, Annalivia are masterful performers and have long histories with traditional music, ranging from bluegrass to Irish, Scottish, and Old-Time Appalachian music.
March 8, 2014 7:30-9:30 March Mandolin Concert Concord Community Music School
Featuring Joe Walsh, Marla Fibish, Eric McDonald, and David Surette, with special guest Susie Burke. Admission included for Festival participants; general admission tickets for others available through the Music School (www.ccmusicschool.org or 603-228-1196).
March 9, 7:00 pm, Chanterelle, public concert featuring Josée Vachon, Donna Hébert, Liza Constable and Alan Bradbury. Chanterelle has embodied traditional and original Franco-American fiddle and song all their lives. Nelson Town Hall Admission is $15/$12(senior, youth or in advance). Sponsored by the Monadnock Folklore Society
March 8, 2014 7:30-9:30 March Mandolin Concert Concord Community Music School
Featuring Joe Walsh, Marla Fibish, Eric McDonald, and David Surette, with special guest Susie Burke. Admission included for Festival participants; general admission tickets for others available through the Music School (www.ccmusicschool.org or 603-228-1196).
March 9, 7:00 pm, Chanterelle, public concert featuring Josée Vachon, Donna Hébert, Liza Constable and Alan Bradbury. Chanterelle has embodied traditional and original Franco-American fiddle and song all their lives. Nelson Town Hall Admission is $15/$12(senior, youth or in advance). Sponsored by the Monadnock Folklore Society
March 14 & 15 the Arts Alliance of Northern New Hampshire is bringing Rani Arbo & Daisy Mahem for a North Country tour. Community concert Friday, March 14 at 7:30pm at the Littleton Opera House and a children's concert Saturday, March 15 at 10am at Jean's Playhouse in Lincoln. You can buy advance tickets for the children's concert here and for the community concert here. Email us at programs@aannh.org for details -- and check out the band's fantastic sound at www.raniarbo.com.
March 15, 3:00 pm - 5:30 pm Traditional Irish Singing Workshop with Mai Hernon
If you ever wanted to sing a traditional Irish song, but felt you did not have the right material, the right confidence, or the right technique…this class is for you! $40 Registration required (purchase ticket below, or call 603-924-3235, or stop by the Center during open hours Wed – Sat 10 – 4. http://monadnockcenter.org
March 15, 7:30 pm Music in Bass Hall: Mai Hernon and Celtic Font
Mai Hernon & Celtic Font are what happens when traditional Irish singing meets the heartland of America. A unique combination of the old and the new. And what a fine way to celebrate St. Paddy’s weekend! Tickets $12-$15 Phone: 603-924-3235 Website:http://monadnockcenter.org
Monday, March 17, 7pm - Winter Warmers Concert Series: Islay Mist Ceilidh
March 15, 7:30 pm Music in Bass Hall: Mai Hernon and Celtic Font
Mai Hernon & Celtic Font are what happens when traditional Irish singing meets the heartland of America. A unique combination of the old and the new. And what a fine way to celebrate St. Paddy’s weekend! Tickets $12-$15 Phone: 603-924-3235 Website:http://monadnockcenter.org
Monday, March 17, 7pm - Winter Warmers Concert Series: Islay Mist Ceilidh
A great night of Irish and Celtic music on St. Patrick's Day at the Colebrook Country Club. Islay Mist Ceilidh, is a regional ensemble that will get you kicking up your heels to jigs, reels and more. Special this year will be a sing-along with the audience of a host of familiar tunes from the Emerald Isle. For tickets or more information visit North Woods Committee for the Arts
Monday, March 17, Salt Hill Pub in Newport & Lebanon have music and events happening all day on St. Patrick’s Day. Visit their website for more information about musical acts such as Jordan Tirrell-Wysocki, Jim Barnes, O'HANLEIGH, & BEL CLARE
Monday, March 17, Salt Hill Pub in Newport & Lebanon have music and events happening all day on St. Patrick’s Day. Visit their website for more information about musical acts such as Jordan Tirrell-Wysocki, Jim Barnes, O'HANLEIGH, & BEL CLARE
Monday, March 17, 8-11pm The Stone Church in Newmarket, the Jordan Tirrell-Wyscocki Trio. Authentic Celtic music with a jam band twist. Get your Irish on and don't miss this fun night!
Thursday, March 20 6pm – 9pm The Stone Church in Newmarket Live Irish Music with Jim Prendergast, Jordan Tirrell-Wysocki, and more! Family friendly fun & entertainment.
Thursday, March 20 6pm – 9pm The Stone Church in Newmarket Live Irish Music with Jim Prendergast, Jordan Tirrell-Wysocki, and more! Family friendly fun & entertainment.
Sunday, March 30, 2014 The Strathspey and Reel Society of New Hampshire, the Granite State's oldest Scottish music organization, meets on the last Sunday of every month from September to June at the Concord Community Music School in Concord. These Gatherings start at 1:00 and typically feature a workshop on some aspect of Scottish music playing or arranging until 3:00. Then, after a 20-minute tea break, members and guests jam until 5:00. Everyone is welcome to attend a Gathering to play along or just to listen. Best of all it's free! Visit http://www.srsnh.org to learn more about having fun with Scottish music.
April 6, 3:00 pm Music in Bass Hall: The Strathspey and Reel Society of New Hampshire Celebrates Tartan Day. SRSNH was founded in 1988 to encourage the learning and preservation of traditional Scottish music. Though based in Concord, NH, the Society draws membership of over 100 people from throughout central New England. In addition to the musical performance, there will be a couple of short narrative pieces talking about Scottish heritage in New Hampshire: many early settlers here were of Scottish origin. This was especially true in Peterborough, and concert attenders can expect to come away with a little bit of history, nicely seasoned with jigs, reels, airs, and strathspeys. http://monadnockcenter.org
Community Events
March 15 & 16 NH Preservation Alliance Old House & Barn Expo This one-stop-shopping trade show helps old house and barn owners and enthusiasts with appropriate and affordable solutions. Create your own show “itinerary” and explore garden, architecture, history and preservation strategies through free hourly lectures, over 60 exhibitors and many traditional arts demonstrators.
March 15 & 16 NH Preservation Alliance Old House & Barn Expo This one-stop-shopping trade show helps old house and barn owners and enthusiasts with appropriate and affordable solutions. Create your own show “itinerary” and explore garden, architecture, history and preservation strategies through free hourly lectures, over 60 exhibitors and many traditional arts demonstrators.
Sunday, March 16, 2014 Mt. Kearsarge Indian Museum Monthly Craft Day. Noon till? Bring your beadwork or any craft to work on. It's more fun to socialize while you craft! Potluck (we encourage you to bring your own place setting if you're able).
Strawbery Banke presents Preservation Series The series takes place in the Tyco Visitors Center. Each 5:30 pm talk is open to the public, with a suggested donation at the door of $10 ($5 for members). Light refreshments.
March 18-James Garvin, Strawbery Banke: the Early Years. James Garvin, the first curator of Strawbery Banke Museum, saw what not many experienced and won’t see again: the houses on the 10-acre museum site as they were left by residents and were largely untouched.
April 1-Peter Michaud, Preservation Practices in and Evolving Portsmouth
April 17- Richard Candee and Bob Chase,Preservation in the North End of Portsmouth
May 6- John Schnitzler and Elizabeth Farish, Tour of Strawbery Banke’s Thales Yeaton House
March 18-James Garvin, Strawbery Banke: the Early Years. James Garvin, the first curator of Strawbery Banke Museum, saw what not many experienced and won’t see again: the houses on the 10-acre museum site as they were left by residents and were largely untouched.
April 1-Peter Michaud, Preservation Practices in and Evolving Portsmouth
April 17- Richard Candee and Bob Chase,Preservation in the North End of Portsmouth
May 6- John Schnitzler and Elizabeth Farish, Tour of Strawbery Banke’s Thales Yeaton House
March 22 & 23 NH Maple Weekend, Over 110 sugar houses will be open for the 20th Annual NH Maple Weekend. Join the fun and learn why we are celebrating the sweetest season of the year!! Learn about sapping, boiling, sugaring off, and the many delicious treats that can be made from our trees. Many farms have traditional music and activities for kids.
Canterbury Shaker Village now accepting applications for the 3rd annual Canterbury Artisan Festival on Saturday, September 13, 2014, 10:00 am-5:00 pm. The Festival celebrates traditional arts with a juried Artisan Craft Fair & Farmers’ Market, music, artisan food and demonstrations. First application deadline: May 16, 2014. Second application deadline: August 1, 2014. Craft Fair Categories include:Clay, Fiber/Fabric, Metal, Wood, Jewelry, Glass, Baskets, Leather , Toys, Photography, Printmaking, Drawing, Oils, Watercolors, Acrylics, Sculpture, Multi-Media.
Canterbury Shaker Village now accepting applications for the 3rd annual Canterbury Artisan Festival on Saturday, September 13, 2014, 10:00 am-5:00 pm. The Festival celebrates traditional arts with a juried Artisan Craft Fair & Farmers’ Market, music, artisan food and demonstrations. First application deadline: May 16, 2014. Second application deadline: August 1, 2014. Craft Fair Categories include:Clay, Fiber/Fabric, Metal, Wood, Jewelry, Glass, Baskets, Leather , Toys, Photography, Printmaking, Drawing, Oils, Watercolors, Acrylics, Sculpture, Multi-Media.
American Independence Festival looking for local artisans & craftsmen. We are searching out vendors that embody the creative spirit of Colonial era craftsmen and merchants. We are looking for local artisans, craftsmen and entrepreneurs to add to the atmosphere and fun of the day. The 24th Annual American Independence Festival will be held July 12, 2014, on the grounds of the American Independence Museum, on Water Street, and at Swasey Parkway. This is a family event attended by approximately 3,000 people and is filled with historic reenactments, music, Traditional Arts demonstrations, children’s activities, and more!
New Music at Fiddleheads - A Great North Woods Shoppe, 110 Main Street, Colebrook
(603) 237-9302 Tuesday-Saturday, 10am-5pm www.fiddleheadsusa.com
(603) 237-9302 Tuesday-Saturday, 10am-5pm www.fiddleheadsusa.com
Promoting the talents of local, regional and national artisans in all mediums. The fundraising CD, titled The Fireside Fiddlers, Volume 1: Common Fiddle Tunes of Coos County New Hampshire, is available, the sales of which will benefit the new Tillotson Center for performing, visual and heritage arts in Colebrook.
Wednesdays, January 8-March 26, 6pm - International Dinner and Adventure Series Appalachian Mountain Club AMC Pinkham Notch Visitor Center, Route 16, Pinkham Notch (603) 466-2721
www.outdoors.org/about/calendar/ A weekly dinner series of international cuisine, followed by an inspiring presentation. The after dinner program is a cultural and inspirational adventure presented by local and regional guides, explorers and travelers. Reservations are recommended; all dinner menus can be found online at www.outdoors.org. Lodging packages are available. After dinner, sit back & enjoy the evening program. January 29 - Turkey: Land of the Crescent Moon, with Sue Rose, and the Cuisine of Turkey. Programs are free & open to the public. Call for more information or to make a reservation. This schedule is subject to change.
Workshops/ Classes
Workshops/ Classes
March 7 through 9, 2014 12th Annual March Mandolin Festival/Workshop, Concord Community Music School . This year, the festival features Joe Walsh, Marla Fibish, Eric McDonald, and David Surette, with special guest Susie Burke. This two-day event offers group lessons and workshops on a variety of topics, jam sessions, and an evening concert.
League of NH Craftsmen Classes and Workshops
Education is an essential part of the League's mission and an integral part of everything we do. We have classes, workshops, and demonstrations that are open to everyone. There are opportunities for people of all ages and skill levels. If you want to read about craft or are conducting research, visit the League's headquarters on 49 South Main Street, Suite 100, in Concord. The Kira Fournier Library Resource Center includes more than 2000 craft-related books and periodicals, the Archives provide a wealth of information, and The Grodin Permanent Collection Museum displays a fascinating show of historical craft objects.* Please visit the League website to see class descriptions as there are classes offered in Concord, Sandwich, Littleton, Hanover, Meredith, North Conway, and Nashua
WREN Workshops & Technology Classes 921 Main Street, Berlin (603) 869-9736 http://www.wrencommunity.org At WREN, improving lives and livelihoods is not just about financial empowerment, it is also about personal enrichment. WREN members are invited to share their area of expertise with others, by offering classes and workshops on any topic of interest. Please visit WREN’s website to see a full offering of arts classes.
Quilting: There are over 28 Quilting Guilds across NH. Visit the NH Quilt Guild website to find monthly meeting dates for each guild.
Woodworking: Guild of NH Woodworkers general meeting February 15, Nottingham, NH There are many subgroups of the guild of NH Woodworkers including: Beginners & Intermediate Group (BIG), Boat Builders, Period Furniture Group (PFG), Granite State Woodturners (GSWT), Granite State Luthiers, Hand Tools, Windsor Chairmaking, Woodworking as a Pro
Resources & Opportunities
Creative Ground spotlights the rich range of creative people and places at work in the six New England states. This online directory includes profiles for cultural nonprofits like libraries and theaters, creative businesses like recording studios and design agencies, and artists of all disciplines such as performing arts, visual arts, and crafts. But the best way to get to know CreativeGround is to use it! You can:
•Get Listed by creating a new user account and profile, or updating an existing profile
•Use the Search and Explore features to browse the many profiles already on the site
•Find out more ways to support CreativeGround on and offline by clicking Get Involved
Humanities to Go Lectures with a focus on Cultural Heritage
Humanities to Go is the Humanities Council's speakers bureau bringing more than 200 humanities programs to non-profit and community organizations throughout New Hampshire. Below you will find events related to NH History and Traditional Arts. You can see a full list of their events on their website.
Humanities to Go Lectures with a focus on Cultural Heritage
Humanities to Go is the Humanities Council's speakers bureau bringing more than 200 humanities programs to non-profit and community organizations throughout New Hampshire. Below you will find events related to NH History and Traditional Arts. You can see a full list of their events on their website.
Friday March 7, 2014
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7:00 PM
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Moved and Seconded: Town Meeting in New Hampshire
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Contact: Dottie Bean 332-5521
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Drawing on research from her book, Moved and Seconded: Town Meeting in New Hampshire, the Present, the Past, and the Future, Rebecca Rule regales audiences with stories of the rituals, traditions and history of town meeting, including the perennial characters, the literature, the humor, and the wisdom of this uniquely New England institution.
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Location: Goodwin Library, 422 Main St., Farmington
*This talk is offered on several other dates across the state. Please visit the Humanities Council website for a full list of offerings. | |||
2:00 PM
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Baked Beans and Fried Clams: How Food Defines A Region
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Contact: Katie Gallagher 209-1774
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Baked Beans, fried clams, fish chowder, Indian pudding - so many foods are distinctive to New England. This talk offers a celebration of these regional favorites along with an examination of how contemporary life has distanced us from these classics. What makes them special and how do these foods define our region?
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Location: Langdon Town Hall/Meetinghouse, 5 Walker Hill Rd., Langdon
*This talk is offered on several other dates across the state. Please visit the Humanities Council website for a full list of offerings.
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Tuesday March 11, 2014
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7:00 PM
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Comics in World History and Cultures
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Contact: Ruslyn Vear 673-2288
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Marek Bennett presents a whirlwind survey of comics from around the world and throughout history, with special attention to what these vibrant narratives tell (and show) us about the people and periods that created them. Bennett engages and involves the audience in an interactive discussion of several sample comics representing cultures such as Ancient Rome, Medieval Europe, the Ancient Maya, Feudal and modern Japan, the United States in the early 20th century, and Nazi Germany during World War II. The program explores the various ways of creating and reading comics from around the world, and what these techniques tell us about the cultures in which they occur.
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Location: Amherst Town Library, 14 Main St., Amherst
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Wednesday March 12, 2014
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6:30 PM
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A Night of Music with Two Old Friends
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Contact: Naella MaCloughlin 279-1500
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Over the centuries immigrants from the British Isles have come to the Americas bringing with them their musical styles and tastes as well as their instruments. With the concertina, bodhran, mandolin, octave mandolin, guitar, and banjo, Emery Hutchins and Jim Prendergast sing and play this traditional Celtic music, but they also perform American country music in the way it was conceived in the early twentieth century. Through stories, songs and instrumental melodies, they demonstrate how old time American mountain tunes are often derived directly from the songs of the Irish, yet are influenced by other cultural groups to create a new American sound.
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Location: Meredith Bay Colony Club, 21 Upper Mile Point Dr., Meredith
*This talk is offered on several other dates across the state. Please visit the Humanities Council website for a full list of offerings. | |||
7:30 PM
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Family Stories: How and Why to Remember and Tell Them
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Contact: William Earnshaw 472-3866
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Telling personal and family stories is fun - and much more. Storytelling connects strangers, strengthens links between generations, and gives children the self-knowledge to carry them through hard times. Knowledge of family history has even been linked to better teen behavior and mental health. In this active and interactive program, storyteller Jo Radner shares foolproof ways to mine memories and interview relatives for meaningful stories. Participants practices finding, developing, and telling their own tales.
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Location: Bedford Public Library, 3 Meetinghouse Road, Bedford
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Thursday March 13, 2014
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7:30 PM
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Cannon Shenanigans and New Hampshire's Muster Day Tradition
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Contact: Lisa Rothman 487-3867
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New Hampshire's Muster Day tradition ended in 1850, as did some of the related localized rivalries that involved the stealing of cannons. Muster Day was a day of drills, marching, and sham battles for local militias in NH. This spectator event was accompanied by entertainers, vendors, gamblers, and a great deal of alcohol. Throughout 19th century NH, demand for cannons for Fourth of July, election celebrations, demonstrations of civic pride, and for the sheer cussedness of making noise, often exceeded supply. Various town and regional rivalries sprang up over the possession of particular cannons and were constant headaches for local authorities. Jack Noon will explore the vestiges of this tradition that survived well into the 20th century.
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Location: New Boston Historical Society (Wason Mem. Bldg), 2 Central Square, New Boston
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Monday March 17, 2014
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7:00 PM
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Traditional Matryoshka Nested Doll Making: from Russia to New Hampshire
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Contact: Taylor Community 524-5600
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Marina Forbes shares many examples of Matroyshka nested dolls, including examples of her own work and from her extensive collection, as she examines the rich folk tradition and symbolism of the dolls' appearance. She explores the link between doll making and other traditional Russian art forms. There will be a quick stop at the 1900 World's Fair in Paris that made Russian nested dolls and Fabergé eggs famous, followed by an illustrated tour of a working doll-making factory in rural Russia.
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Location: Taylor Community (Woodside Bldg.), 435 Union Ave., Laconia
*This talk is offered on several other dates across the state. Please visit the Humanities Council website for a full list of offerings. | |||
Wednesday March 19, 2014
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1:00 PM
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Imperial Russian Fabergé Eggs
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Contact: Polly Fife 228-6956
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This illustrated presentation by Marina Forbes focuses on the life and remarkable work of Russian master jeweler and artist, Peter Carl Fabergé. The program features a photo-tour of Fabergé collections at the Constantine Palace in St. Petersburg and from major museums and private collectors around the world. Explore the important role of egg painting in Russian culture and the development of this major Russian art form from a traditional craft to the level of exquisite fine art under the patronage of the tsars. Forbes also discusses the fascinating history of these eggs, their role in the dramatic events of the last decades of Romanov rule in Russia, and in the years following the Bolshevik Revolution.
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Location: Horseshoe Pond Place Senior Ctr., 26 Commerical St., Concord
*This talk is offered on several other dates across the state. Please visit the Humanities Council website for a full list of offerings.
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Tuesday March 25, 2014
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7:00 PM
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New Hampshire's Grange Movement: Its Rise, Triumphs and Decline
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Contact: Bob Haefner 889-1553
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Much of rural New Hampshire in the late 19th century was locked in a downward spiral of population decline, abandonment of farms, reversion of cleared land to forest and widespread feelings of melancholy and loss. The development of the Grange movement in the 1880s and 1890s was aided greatly by hunger for social interaction, entertainment and mutual support. As membership surged it became a major force in policymaking in Concord, and its agenda aligned closely with the Progressive politics that swept the state in early 20th century. Many Grange initiatives became law, placing the state at the leading edge in several areas of reform. Steve Taylor analyzes the rapid social and economic changes that would eventually force the steep decline of the once-powerful movement.
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Location: Hudson Grange Hall, 4 Old Windham Rd., Hudson
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Saturday March 29, 2014
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7:00 PM
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Old Time Rules Will Prevail: The Fiddle Contest in New Hampshire and New England
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Contact: Kathie Bonor 747-3372
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Fiddle contests evolved from endurance marathons to playing a set number of tunes judged by certain specific criteria. Whether large or small, fiddle contests tried to show who was the "best," as well as preserve old-time fiddling and raise money for local organizations. In recent years, the fiddle contest has declined significantly in New England due to cultural changes and financial viability. The greatest legacies of these contests were recordings made during live competition. A sampling of these tunes is played during the presentation, as well as some live fiddling by the presenter, Adam Boyce.
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Location: Bath Village School, 61 Lisbon Rd., Bath
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Tuesday April 1, 2014
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7:30 PM
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New Hampshire's Grange Movement: Its Rise, Triumphs and Decline
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Contact: Laura Martin Gowing 778-2335
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Much of rural New Hampshire in the late 19th century was locked in a downward spiral of population decline, abandonment of farms, reversion of cleared land to forest and widespread feelings of melancholy and loss. The development of the Grange movement in the 1880s and 1890s was aided greatly by hunger for social interaction, entertainment and mutual support. As membership surged it became a major force in policymaking in Concord, and its agenda aligned closely with the Progressive politics that swept the state in early 20th century. Many Grange initiatives became law, placing the state at the leading edge in several areas of reform. Steve Taylor analyzes the rapid social and economic changes that would eventually force the steep decline of the once-powerful movement.
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Location: Exeter Historical Society, 47 Front St., Exeter
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Location: Gilford Public Library, 31 Potter Hill Rd., Gilford
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Friday April 4, 2014
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7:00 PM
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Harnessing History: On the Trail of New Hampshire's State Dog, the Chinook
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Contact: Dottie Bean 332-5521
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This program looks at how dog sledding developed in New Hampshire and how the Chinook played a major role in this story. Explaining how man and his relationship with dogs won out over machines on several famous polar expeditions, Bob Cottrell covers the history of Arthur Walden and his Chinooks, the State Dog of New Hampshire. Inquire whether the speaker's dog will accompany him.
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Location: Goodwin Library (Henry Wilson Museum), 422 Main St., Farmington
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Wednesday April 9, 2014
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1:00 PM
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Songs of Old New Hampshire
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Contact: Emily Whalen 228-6630
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Drawing heavily on the repertoire of traditional singer Lena Bourne Fish (1873-1945) of Jaffrey and Temple, New Hampshire, Jeff Warner offers the songs and stories that, in the words of Carl Sandburg, tell us "where we came from and what brought us along." These ballads, love songs and comic pieces, reveal the experiences and emotions of daily life in the days before movies, sound recordings and, for some, books. Songs from the lumber camps, the decks of sailing ships, the textile mills and the war between the sexes offer views of pre-industrial New England and a chance to hear living artifacts from the 18th and 19th centuries.
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Location: Centennial Senior Center, 254 N. State St., Concord
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Thursday April 10, 2014
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7:00 PM
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12,000 Years Ago in the Granite State
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Contact: Jaffrey Civic Center 532-6527
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The native Abenaki people played a central role in the history of the Monadnock region, defending it against English settlement and forcing the abandonment of Keene and other Monadnock area towns during the French and Indian Wars. Despite this, little is known about the Abenaki, and conventional histories often depict the first Europeans entering an untamed, uninhabited wilderness, rather than the homeland of people who had been there for hundreds of generations. Robert Goodby discusses how the real depth of Native history was revealed when an archaeological study prior to construction of the new Keene Middle School discovered traces of four structures dating to the end of the Ice Age. Undisturbed for 12,000 years, the site revealed information about the economy, gender roles, and household organization of the Granite State's very first inhabitants, as well as evidence of social networks that extended for hundreds of miles across northern New England.
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Location: Jaffrey Civic Center, 40 Main St., Jaffrey
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7:00 PM
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The Ballad Lives!
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Contact: North Hampton Public Library 964-6326
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Murder and mayhem, robbery and rapine, love that cuts to the bone: American ballads re-tell the wrenching themes of their English and Scottish cousins. Transplanted in the new world by old world immigrants, the traditional story-song of the Anglos and Scots wound up reinvigorated in the mountains of Appalachia and along the Canadian border. John Perrault talks, sings, and picks the strings that bind the old ballads to the new.
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Location: North Hampton Public Library, 237A Atlantic Ave., North Hampton
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7:00 PM
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Town by Town, Watershed by Watershed: Native Americans in NH
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Contact: Jennifer Mika 724-1326
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Every town and watershed in New Hampshire has ancient and continuing Native American history. From the recent, late 20th century explosion of local Native population in New Hampshire back to the era of early settlement and the colonial wars, John and Donna Moody explore the history of New Hampshire's Abenaki and Penacook peoples with a focus on your local community.
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Location: Pittsfield Historical Society, 13 Elm St., Pittsfield
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Wednesday April 16, 2014
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7:00 PM
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Old Time Rules Will Prevail: The Fiddle Contest in New Hampshire and New England
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Contact: Sally Woodman 382-7574
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Fiddle contests evolved from endurance marathons to playing a set number of tunes judged by certain specific criteria. Whether large or small, fiddle contests tried to show who was the "best," as well as preserve old-time fiddling and raise money for local organizations. In recent years, the fiddle contest has declined significantly in New England due to cultural changes and financial viability. The greatest legacies of these contests were recordings made during live competition. A sampling of these tunes is played during the presentation, as well as some live fiddling by the presenter, Adam Boyce.
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Location: Newton Town Hall, 2 Town Hall Rd., Newton
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Friday April 18, 2014
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7:00 PM
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That Reminds Me of a Story
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Contact: Sheila Jones 539-4071
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Stories speak to us of community. They hold our history and reflect our identity. Rebecca Rule has made it her mission over the last 20 years to collect stories of New Hampshire, especially those that reflect what's special about this rocky old place. She'll tell some of those stories - her favorites are the funny ones - and invite audience members to contribute a few stories of their own.
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Location: Effingham Historical Society Bldg., 1014 Province Lake Rd. (Rte. 153), Ctr. Effingham
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Saturday April 19, 2014
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1:00 PM
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Harnessing History: On the Trail of New Hampshire's State Dog, the Chinook
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Contact: Veronica Mueller 764-9072
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This program looks at how dog sledding developed in New Hampshire and how the Chinook played a major role in this story. Explaining how man and his relationship with dogs won out over machines on several famous polar expeditions, Bob Cottrell covers the history of Arthur Walden and his Chinooks, the State Dog of New Hampshire. Inquire whether the speaker's dog will accompany him.
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Location: Joseph Patch Library, 320 NH Rte. 25, Warren
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Tuesday April 22, 2014
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6:30 PM
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Music in my Pockets: Family Fun in Folk Music
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Contact: Robin Sweetser 464-3595
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Singing games, accessible "pocket instruments" like spoons and dancing puppets, tall tales, funny songs, old songs and songs kids teach each other in the playground are all traditional in that they have been passed down the generations by word of mouth. They will all be seen, heard and learned as Jeff Warner visits 1850 or 1910 in a New England town, with families gathered around the figurative hearth, participating in timeless, hearty entertainment and, almost without the audience knowing it, teaches how America amused itself before electricity.
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Location: Fuller Public Library, 29 School St., Hillsboro
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Wednesday April 23, 2014
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2:00 PM
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Made of Thunder, Made of Glass: American Indian Beadwork of the Northeast
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Contact: Mose Olenik 924-4555
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A long neglected and misunderstood area of American Indian art has been the "souvenir" beadwork produced by the Northeast woodland tribes. Not everyone is aware of the historical context and currents that contributed to the emergence of this type of American Indian artistry. Gerry Biron examines 19th century work produced by the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) from upstate New York and eastern Canada, to the Wabanaki in northern New England and the Canadian Maritime Provinces. Additionally, Biron surveys the close relationship beadworking had with two other cultural phenomena: the rise of tourism in the Northeast and the fashion industry.
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Location: Mariposa Museum, 26 Main St., Peterborough
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Monday April 28, 2014
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8:00 PM
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Rally Round the Flag: The American Civil War Through Folksong
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Contact: Jim McLaughlin 456-3677
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Woody Pringle and Marek Bennett present an overview of the American Civil War through the lens of period music. Audience members participate and sing along as the presenters explore lyrics, documents, and visual images from sources such as the Library of Congress. Through camp songs, parlor music, hymns, battlefield rallying cries, and fiddle tunes, Pringle and Bennett examine the folksong as a means to enact living history, share perspectives, influence public perceptions of events, and simultaneously fuse and conserve cultures in times of change. Showcasing numerous instruments, the presenters challenge participants to find new connections between song, art, and politics in American history. (Note: Please contact Woody Pringle to book this program.)
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Location: Warner Town Hall, 5 East Main St., Warner
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Wednesday April 30, 2014
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7:00 PM
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Family Stories: How and Why to Remember and Tell Them
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Contact: Donna Dunlop 746-3663
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Telling personal and family stories is fun - and much more. Storytelling connects strangers, strengthens links between generations, and gives children the self-knowledge to carry them through hard times. Knowledge of family history has even been linked to better teen behavior and mental health. In this active and interactive program, storyteller Jo Radner shares foolproof ways to mine memories and interview relatives for meaningful stories. Participants practices finding, developing, and telling their own tales.
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Location: Hopkinton Town Library, 61 Houston Dr., Contoocook
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7:00 PM
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That Reminds Me of a Story
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Contact: Alex Robinson 424-4044
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Stories speak to us of community. They hold our history and reflect our identity. Rebecca Rule has made it her mission over the last 20 years to collect stories of New Hampshire, especially those that reflect what's special about this rocky old place. She'll tell some of those stories - her favorites are the funny ones - and invite audience members to contribute a few stories of their own.
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Location: Litchfield Middle School Library, 19 McElwain Dr., Litchfield
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