About Rocky Neck Art Colony
For over 170 years, Rocky Neck has been a thriving creative community where artists work, teach, and connect on Gloucester's historic waterfront. We nurture excellence in the arts through exhibitions, residencies, and educational programs—while fostering a spirit of inclusiveness, innovation, and collaboration that keeps this special place alive.
Our Mission & Vision
Mission
The Mission of the Rocky Neck Art Colony, Inc. is to nurture excellence in the arts and to celebrate the artistic history and culture of Rocky Neck.
Encouraging free expression and open mindedness, we provide opportunities for educational and professional development in the arts, including lectures, workshops, exhibitions, and residencies.
Rocky Neck Art Colony proudly works in partnership with other arts institutions, funding agencies, neighbors, and businesses.
Vision
The Rocky Neck Art Colony's vision is to be a preeminent center for creative achievement and inspiration, sustained by a rich cultural history and the commitment of its community.
Values
The essential values underlying our vision and mission include high standards of creative achievement, community, professional development, innovation, and volunteerism, all within a spirit of inclusiveness.
Dozens of working artists maintain studios and galleries throughout Rocky Neck, from painters and potters to textile designers, photographers, and jewelry makers. Step into their studios and you'll find artists at work, happy to share their process and passion.
Our three exhibition spaces—the Cultural Center at Rocky Neck, Cove Gallery, and Salted Cod Arthouse—showcase rotating shows that celebrate both established art colony members and emerging talents.
Beyond the art, Rocky Neck pulses with the authentic energy of a working waterfront neighborhood. Waterfront restaurants serve fresh local seafood with harbor views, live music fills weekend evenings, and the peninsula's winding paths invite exploration. As part of Gloucester's Rocky Neck Cultural District, the colony offers a vibrant blend of creativity, community, and coastal beauty—a place where visitors don't just observe art, they experience it being made.
Experience Rocky Neck
Exhibition Locations
Cultural Center at Rocky Neck
The Cultural Center at Rocky Neck is a vibrant hub for art and community. Open to all, it hosts exhibitions, art talks, workshops, live musical performances, pop-up shows, poetry readings, yoga, and more. A historic gathering place, it welcomes visitors from February to mid-December.
Open weekends, May through mid-October. The Cove Gallery has changing exhibitions of contemporary work by Rocky Neck member artists. This space generously provided by Mark Goetemann in honor of his artist parents, Gordon and Judith Goetemann.
Cove Gallery
Where art meets atmosphere, at the Salted Cod Arthouse you can enjoy coffee/tea, wines, beers, cocktails, and great food while viewing work by local artists in what has become one of the best vibe places in Gloucester.
Salted Cod Arthouse
Discover More
Explore Our History
Walk in the footsteps of Winslow Homer and discover 150+ years of artistic legacy.
Meet Our People
Get to know the staff, board members, and committees who keep Rocky Neck thriving.
Plan Your Visit
Find directions, parking, and everything you need to experience Rocky Neck.
Get Involved
Support Rocky Neck through membership, volunteering, donations, or engagement.
For organizational documents and policies, visit our Governance page.