Creative Collective Explores

Creative Collective Explores Celebrating Creative Collective members across Essex County - the local businesses, makers, and events that make the North Shore special. Check out our program.

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Okay, Essex County, here's your week. Pace yourself. Wednesday, we go loud — Super Smash Bros at Bit Bar Salem, $10 in, ...
06/03/2026

Okay, Essex County, here's your week. Pace yourself.

Wednesday, we go loud — Super Smash Bros at Bit Bar Salem, $10 in, all skill levels (yes, even you, still maining Kirby).
Thursday slows down with hidden histories at The Stevens Coolidge place and an artist talk with Bobbie Bush Portrait Artist at Salem Arts Association.

Friday's a toss-up: boots and line dancing at The Bell Inn & Tavern, or 30 plays in 60 minutes with the Neo-Futurists at Peabody Essex Museum.
Saturday brings books + brews at Copper Dog Books with Granite Coast Brewing Company and the Estefan story at North Shore Music Theatre (bring tissues).
Then Sunday, we land it soft — Preservation Hall Jazz Band at The Cabot.

That's the week, and we've barely cracked the door. Go find your sevening. 💛

Three North Shore shops are on our heavy rotation right now. Each is worth the drive.Copper Dog Books (Copper Dog Books)...
06/02/2026

Three North Shore shops are on our heavy rotation right now. Each is worth the drive.

Copper Dog Books (Copper Dog Books), located in Beverly, is an independent bookstore where the staff picks are the whole point. Walk in for one book, leave with three.

Hestia Creations (Hestia Creations), located in Marblehead, makes hand-painted keepsakes built around New England landmarks. The kind of gift people frame.

Stephanie's Scents (Stephanie's Scents LLC), located in Gloucester, has small-batch artisan candles. Scents that make a room feel like the season you wish it was.

All three are Creative Collective members—Independent businesses and makers across Essex County. You can find more great content in our weekly newsletter and at creativecollectivema.com.

06/01/2026

Salem's home, built just for artists, threw its doors open — and what a day.

Gallows Hill Artist Studios brought the third and fourth floors of a historic former tannery to life, with 30 working artists welcoming visitors into the spaces where they create their art. Painters, photographers, ceramicists, fiber artists, glass workers, puppeteers — all of it, all under one roof.

Studio tours. An art market. Gallery exhibitions. And the makers at NorthShore Glass School and North River Design Group rounded out the day.

This is where Salem's artists work — and for one Saturday, it was ours to explore. Already counting down to the next one.

06/01/2026

The 18th annual Salem Arts Festival is almost here — and we can't wait to see you there.

100+ artists and makers. Live music and dance on outdoor stages. The Mural Slam at Artists' Row. The Tiny Art Spree. Community art. All of it free and open to the public across a full weekend in downtown Salem.

Friday June 5, 5:30–8:30 PM
Saturday June 6, 11 AM–7 PM
Sunday June 7, 11 AM–6 PM

This is the Salem 400+ Special Edition. 18 years in, and it just keeps getting bigger. See you there 🎨
salemartsfestival.com
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Title Sponsor:
Festival Partner:
Creative Directors: , , and
Produced by and

05/30/2026

Central Square came ALIVE this Art Week. 🎨RAW Art Works' Block Party turned downtown Lynn into one big celebration — art-making, music, dancing, and a building-wide installation that had to be seen to be believed.

But the real stars? The youth artists. This year's Block Party was bigger than ever, and watching the Class of 2026 take a bow surrounded by their whole community… that's Lynn at its best.
Hats off to Raw Art Works and every young artist who poured into this. 💛

05/29/2026

300+ young voices. One unforgettable night.

BLOOM just happened, and it delivered on every bit of what that name promises. Express Yourself Inc. and the Massachusetts Department of Mental Health brought 300+ youth to the stage, performing alongside Ricky Duran (The Voice), The Pack Drumline, STOMP, Boston Children's Chorus, and Lilly Pulitzer print artist Melissa Sixma Lingo.

This is what creative freedom looks like when young people are actually given the room to use it!

'Sevening' starts Wednesday. Essex County, your whole week just got sorted.We've got GLBTQIA+ youth finding their people...
05/28/2026

'Sevening' starts Wednesday. Essex County, your whole week just got sorted.

We've got GLBTQIA+ youth finding their people in Lynn, margaritas and candle pouring, a sober sister circle in an actual yurt, a deep dive into tarot's hidden layers, glowing sand and black lights for the kid in all of us, free live music (three acts, zero dollars), q***r feminist slasher fiction with the author in the room, real-life heroes doing stand-up, and Roomful of Blues closing out Sunday the way 55 years of horn-powered blues should.

Eight events. Five days. One Essex County. Swipe through and pick your 'sevening.'

To find more fun events in your area, check out the calendar on our website, the link is in bio!

Create & Escape DIY Workshops
Mindful Constitution: Integrative Wellness Coaching
Pentagram: Witchcraft & Magick Shoppe
Sandmagination
Gulu-Gulu Cafe
Nocturne
The Cabot
Firehouse Center for the Arts

05/28/2026

Today we had our coffee at the collective with and had a chance to talk to their amazing owner Emily! Make sure to go show your support at their pride market happening June 14th, and if you are interested in being a vendor please reach out!

Three North Shore restaurants are on our heavy rotation right now. Each is worth the drive.Peabody: La Frontera Sabrosa ...
05/28/2026

Three North Shore restaurants are on our heavy rotation right now. Each is worth the drive.

Peabody: La Frontera Sabrosa () is a family-run scratch kitchen, the kind that earns the repeat visit before dinner's over.
Beverly: The Castle () is a historic estate doing dinner like an occasion. The night you make something of.

Rowley: Briar Barn Inn () is the owner of Grove (). It has a working farm, a fireplace, rooms upstairs, and a restaurant built around what's growing that week.

All three are Creative Collective members, independent businesses and makers across Essex County. More places to eat live in our weekly newsletter and directory at creativecollectivema.com.

05/27/2026

This Saturday in Salem, you're invited behind the scenes. 🎨

Gallows Hill Artist Studios is opening its studios on May 30 from 11 AM to 6 PM — and it's completely free.

Step inside a historic former tannery at 16 Proctor Street (3rd & 4th floors) and meet 30 resident artists in the spaces where they actually work. Tour studios, browse gallery exhibitions, and shop an art market featuring local makers including NorthShore Glass School and NRDG Woodturners.

This is one of those events that reminds you why Salem is such a special place to live and visit.

Accessibility accommodations available — contact Gallows Hill Artists in advance to arrange freight elevator access.

What kind of art are you hoping to discover? Drop it in the comments! 👇

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