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Feb
21
Fri
Lobster Days- School Vacation Week @ New Bedford Fishing Heritage Center
Feb 21 @ 10:00 am – 4:00 pm

Stop by the Fishing Heritage Center on Thursday, February 20th and Friday, February 21st from 10:00am- 4:00pm for some lobster-themed family fun! Join us for lobster story time, lobster crafts, and the chance to learn about lobstering from the pros. All programs are free and open to the public.

11:00am- “Going Lobstering” storytime

1:00pm- “A Day in the Life” presentation by Dave Casoni (Thursday, February 20) and Steve Holler (Friday, February 21) from the Massachusetts Lobstermen’s Association

10:00am- 4:00pm- Crafts ongoing

11:00am- 3:00pm- Dave Casoni (Thursday, February 20) and Steve Holler (Friday, February 21) from the Massachusetts Lobstermen’s Association will be at the Center to answer questions and talk all about lobstering

This event is sponsored by the Massachusetts Lobstermen’s Association and Liberty Lobster

Dock-u-mentaries: Mark Sweitzer: Lobstering on the Erica Knight @ New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park
Feb 21 @ 7:00 pm – 8:30 pm
Dock-u-mentaries: Mark Sweitzer: Lobstering on the Erica Knight @ New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park

Mark’s first job in the fisheries – unloading the day’s catch from vessels returning to Point Judith, Rhode Island – was just a temporary way to earn some money while visiting friends after college. He simply never intended to become a commercial fisherman, and yet some 40 years later he is still at it, fishing his own boat, the Erica Knight. In this film, Mark discusses his daily life as a lobsterman and some of the challenges he faces on a daily basis. This film is part of a larger series documenting the commercial fishery in Point Judith for the Library of Congress. Filmmaker Markham Starr will speak briefly about the film and answer any audience questions.

Films about the commercial fishing industry and other aspects of the working waterfront are screened on the third Friday of each month at 7:00 p.m. in the theater of the New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park’s Corson Maritime Learning Center, located at 33 William Street. Presented by New Bedford Fishing Heritage Center and New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park. The program is free and open to the public.

Mar
7
Sat
Volunteer Orientation Event @ New Bedford Fishing Heritage Center
Mar 7 @ 8:30 am – 10:00 am
Volunteer Orientation Event @ New Bedford Fishing Heritage Center

Interested in volunteering with the Fishing Heritage Center? Join the crew! From 8:30 – 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, March 7th, prospective volunteers are invited to attend an orientation session. The session will include an overview of the mission and activities of the Center as well as an introduction to the commercial fishing industry. Light refreshments will be provided.

In the coming months, volunteers will have opportunities to participate in insider tours to learn first-hand about the commercial fishing industry, along with periodic talks presented by industry experts.

Volunteer opportunities include welcoming visitors, staffing the reception area and gift shop, engaging visitors with the exhibits, assisting with educational programs, and helping with special events. Additionally, volunteers may assist the Center in doing historical research and maintaining a growing archive of photographs and documents. Training is provided.

For those with a fishing industry connection, there are opportunities to share your knowledge with visitors by leading walking tours, speaking to school groups, and demonstrating skills such as net mending, knot tying, or model boat making, etc.

Volunteers are needed during Center operating hours (Thursday-Sunday 10-4) and for occasional evening programs and special events. Volunteer hours are flexible and can be scheduled according to individual availability and particular areas of interest.

For more information please contact the Fishing Heritage Center at: operations@fishingheritagecenter.org or call (508) 993-8894.

Mar
8
Sun
Cribbage Tournament @ New Bedford Fishing Heritage Center
Mar 8 @ 2:00 pm
Cribbage Tournament @ New Bedford Fishing Heritage Center

Break out your boards and sign up now for our Cribbage Tournament! This will be a points-based tournament, so those who score the most points will win gift cards to Oxford Creamery and the Fishing Heritage Center gift shop — plus bragging rights! Chowder will be provided by Oxford Creamery.

Reserve your spot for free using the Brown Paper Tickets link or by calling the Center at 508-993-8894.

Mar
11
Wed
Matthew Byrne in Concert @ New Bedford Fishing Heritage Center
Mar 11 @ 7:00 pm – 8:30 pm

Matthew Byrne is a traditional singer, storyteller, & guitarist from Newfoundland. Storytelling through song is a fundamental duty of traditional music and Matthew Byrne does this brilliantly. His repertoire has been shaped by his musical upbringing and Byrne supports this tradition with powerful vocals, polished guitar work, and a presence that fills the room.

Tickets are $12/Members, $15/General Public. Buy your tickets at the Brown Paper Tickets link or by calling the Center at 508-993-8894.

Mar
12
Thu
Remembering Fish Mary @ New Bedford Fishing Heritage Center
Mar 12 @ 6:00 pm – 7:30 pm
Remembering Fish Mary @ New Bedford Fishing Heritage Center

Mary Stanley, known as Fish Mary, was a figure on the New Bedford waterfront and the only female lumper in the 1950s and 1960s. Members of Fish Mary’s family and lumpers and fishermen who worked with her will share stories of her life and work.

This program takes place on AHA! Night and is free and open to the public.

Apr
9
Thu
New Bedford’s Working Waterfront, a Virtual Illustrated Talk by Phil Mello
Apr 9 @ 8:00 pm – 9:00 pm
New Bedford's Working Waterfront, a Virtual Illustrated Talk by Phil Mello

Join us (virtually!) on Thursday, April 9th for an illustrated talk by photographer Phil Mello. Phil has worked on the New Bedford waterfront for 40+ years and has been taking photographs of waterfront fellow workers since 1975. As an insider with direct knowledge of the fishing industry, he has access to what is often a closed community. Phil will share photos and stories about the working waterfront.

Join our Zoom webinar to hear and see Phil’s presentation by clicking here

This program takes place on April’s virtual AHA! Night. Learn more by visiting the AHA! website.

May
14
Thu
“We Came to Fish, We Came to Work: Stories of Immigration” Virtual Concert @ New Bedford Fishing Heritage Center
May 14 @ 7:00 pm – 8:00 pm
"We Came to Fish, We Came to Work: Stories of Immigration" Virtual Concert @ New Bedford Fishing Heritage Center

On Thursday, May 14th, the Fishing Heritage Center will launch our latest exhibit, “We Came to Fish, We Came to Work: Stories of Immigration,” with a concert celebrating cultural traditions. Join us at 7:00pm via Facebook Live for a virtual concert featuring local musicians Ana Vinagre, Candida Rose, and Johan Gundersen who will present songs from and about Portugal, Cape Verde, and Norway. This event takes place on May’s Virtual AHA! Night. Click here to visit our Facebook page.

“We Came to Fish, We Came to Work: Stories of Immigration” explores stories of immigration and cultural heritage on New Bedford’s working waterfront. Over the next 8 months, we will look at cultural heritage through a variety of programs including film screenings, cooking and craft demos, performances, and talks, which will be offered virtually until we are able to re-open the Center.

The Center’s 2020 exhibits and programs are funded by the National Endowment for the Arts, the Creative Commonwealth Initiative, and the Dartmouth, Fairhaven, Mattapoisett, and New Bedford Cultural Councils.

May
15
Fri
Virtual Dock-u-mentaries Discussion
May 15 @ 7:30 pm – 8:00 pm
Virtual Dock-u-mentaries Discussion

Join us (virtually!) at 7:30pm on Friday, May 15th for a discussion of our May Dock-u-mentary film, “Big Dreams from Karmøy to Hawaii: The Kaare Ness Story.” Click this link to connect to our Zoom call at 7:30pm for a discussion of the film: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82520526288?pwd=RmdsQXF2U0FpOXpjeFdCSGhUR0dvQT09; Password is 737244

Click this link to watch Big Dreams from Karmøy to Hawaii: The Kaare Ness Story on Youtube anytime before the discussion at 7:30pm: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4qhrSGT1Akg&t=4s

Thank you to BankFive for their support of our Dock-u-mentaries Film Series.

Jun
11
Thu
Illustrated Talk: Portuguese Immigration and the Portuguese Fishing Experience @ Facebook Live
Jun 11 @ 7:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Illustrated Talk: Portuguese Immigration and the Portuguese Fishing Experience @ Facebook Live

Tune into Facebook Live for an illustrated talk on Portuguese immigration and the Portuguese fishing experience featuring Gloria deSa, Peter Pereira, and Ron Fortier. Learn about fishing in Portugal as well as about the Portuguese community in New Bedford today.

This talk is a part of our series of programs related to our latest exhibit, “We Came to Fish, We Came to Work: Stories of Immigration.” This exhibits explores stories of immigration and cultural heritage on New Bedford’s working waterfront. Over the next 8 months, we will look at cultural heritage through a variety of programs including film screenings, cooking and craft demos, performances, and talks, which will be offered virtually until we are able to re-open the Center.

The Center’s 2020 exhibits and programs are funded by the National Endowment for the Arts, the Creative Commonwealth Initiative, and the Dartmouth, Fairhaven, Mattapoisett, and New Bedford Cultural Councils.

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