“Art is not only about what an artist creates,” said Sarah L. Stewart, N.H. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources Commissioner. “It’s also about how that art changes the lives of those who experience it.”

This October, embrace local art during Choose Indie Art Month hosted by the American Independent Business Alliance. Let’s celebrate all types of Monadnock Region artists: crafters, painters, musicians, actors, writers, and others. Also, let’s boast about artists' positive impacts on you, our community, and our local economy. 

Five Ways to Celebrate

1. Commission Indie Art

Purchasing local and handmade gifts for loved ones is a fantastic way to celebrate.  Have a favorite artist?  Ask if they accept commissions.  If so, commission them to create a one-of-a-kind piece of work using local materials. 

“In this way, you can enjoy being a benefactor twice over: to the local economy—helping to strengthen it—and to the environment,” wrote the Artisans Cooperative, a co-op marketplace featuring handmade goods. “By sourcing local material, your local artisan is passing on your support to other local and regional businesses. What’s good for one is—in this case—good for many!”

2. Choose Indie Art Events

Choose Indie Markets: Seek out opportunities to purchase art and creative works from Monadnock Region artists.  Here’s one option coming up soon: The fifty-second Annual Cheshire Craftsmen Fair, takes place on October 4 and 5 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Keene Recreation Center.  Find unique holiday gifts, including home decor, quilted items, jewelry, soaps, woven items, pottery, fleece, felted crafts, and more.

Love films?  Be sure to attend the twelfth annual Monadnock International Film Festival, October 3 – 5 in-person in Keene and October 7 - 16 online.  See the full schedule. 

Support young artists: Attend MoCo Arts’ annual signature fundraising event, Lights. Camera. Keene! All proceeds benefit tuition assistance and arts programming at MoCo Arts. Also, be sure to check out their online auction starting October 13.

Whether film, theatre, music, or visual arts events, discover them all at discovermonadnock.com/events.

3. Go On Tour

Here are two fantastic chances to meet local artists and see where they work.  The Monadnock Art Tour and Fall Foliage Art Studio Tour.  Both tours happen the weekend of October 11 – 13. 

Take a walk around downtown Keene’s public art murals painted in 2019 by The Walldogs, a group of over 200 sign and mural artists from around the world.

If you prefer a guided tour, register with the Historical Society of Cheshire County.

4. Take a Class

Get your creative juices flowing by signing up for an art class or two.  On October 3, from 6 to 8 p.m., stop by MAXT Makerspace in Peterborough for their Fall Open Day with tours, demonstrations, and more.  Check out all the offerings happening at MAXT Makerspace. 

“MAXT Makerspace is here for everyone,” shared Program Manager David Broughton in Monadnock Table Magazine. “From free and low-cost open studios to accessibly priced classes and memberships for makers.”

Jaffrey Civic Center will offer a “Pet Portraiture with Kris Stewart” series starting October 10.  Learn more. 

From dance classes to theatre coaching, find more educational opportunities.

5. Show Off Your (And Others) Art

Share your creative spirit with your friends, family, and coworkers. Ask others to show you their art. Give a social media shoutout to the local artists who inspire you.  Tag your posts with #chooseindieart so we can share them with others.

Discover more local art at shop.tlcmonadnock.com/product-category/arts and monadnockartsalive.org/dma.

“There’s perhaps nothing more personal than a gift of the arts,” said Cynthia Freese, Artists Sunday Director. “Give something special, unique, and handcrafted this holiday season and support local artists and the local economy.”

Four Reasons to Celebrate

The arts mean business: In 2023, the art sector made up 4.2 percent of the US economy -- greater than education, transportation, or agriculture industries -- and supported 5.4 million jobs.  The arts also mean revenue for other local businesses, as each arts event attendee spends an additional $38.46 at neighboring stores, restaurants, and hotels.

Art boosts our well-being: A national opinion poll from the Americans for the Arts found that 69 percent of us believe the arts “lift me up beyond everyday experiences,” and 81 percent shared that the arts are a “positive experience in a troubled world.”  Recognizing the healing power of art, half of US hospitals offer arts programming.

Art brings us together: 72 percent of Americans believe “the arts unify our communities regardless of age, race, and ethnicity,” and 63 percent agree that the arts “helps me understand other cultures better.”

Art inspires creativity:  A Journal of Business Research study found that displaying art in the workplace boosted employees’ creative thinking.

Discover more reasons

“The arts are the lifeblood of our communities, raising morale, creating community cohesion, and providing comfort during dark times while also delivering a huge economic footprint,” said Nolen V. Bivens, former president and CEO of Americans for the Arts. “And it is more important than ever that everyone take part to recognize the creative and cultural value of the arts and humanities in our communities.”

Stay tuned for more Choose Indie Arts news, events, and inspiration 

Choose Indie Art is part of a larger Choose Indie Local year-round movement.  Together, we inspire our communities to take positive action and boost the ripple effects our neighborhoods, towns, and cities receive when we spend and invest more of our dollars at locally owned, independent businesses.