Ongoing Gallery Exhibit: Sea Monsters: Real and Imagined
July 2023 – March 2024; New Bedford Fishing Heritage Center (38 Bethel Street, New Bedford); Included with price of admission
AHA! Night – Exhibit Opening – Sea Monsters: Real and Imagined
Concert: Sharks Come Cruisin’
Thursday, August 10 • 7 PM • FREE! • New Bedford Fishing Heritage Center, 38 Bethel Street New Bedford MA 02740
Sea Monsters from Classical Times to the Age of Exploration
Thurs., 9/14 7-8 PM Center (38 Bethel Street, New Bedford)
Sea monsters exert a powerful fascination and have done so for millennia. They provide an interesting cultural barometer from classical times through the Age of Exploration. This talk will describe different types of sea monsters and their historical context. Some examples from antique maps will be shown, particularly from the Carta Marina of 1539 from Olaus Magnus.
Glen Gawarkiewicz is a Senior Scientist at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution. He is a physical oceanographer who works closely with the commercial fishing industry. His research focuses on processes that occur on the edge of the continental shelf where it abuts the deep ocean. He has been heavily involved in ocean observatories including science applications of robotic vehicles. He has also worked extensively on issues associated with ocean warming.
Seafood Soirée 2023
Oral Cancer Screenings
Tues. 10/10, 1:00-4:00PM, FHC (38 Bethel Street, New Bedford)
New Bedford Fishing Heritage Center, in partnership with South Coast Health and New Bedford Fishing Partnership Support Services, will be hosting oral cancer screenings for fisherman and community members. The screenings will take place at the Center on Tuesday, October 10 from 1:00pm to 4:00pm. To pre-schedule a screening, please contact Jenny Verde at the Fishing Partnership at (774) 510-4352.
Book Talk: Hometown with John K. Bullard
Thurs. 10/12 7-8PM Center (38 Bethel Street, New Bedford)
Join the New Bedford Fishing Heritage Center and John K. Bullard to hear about his time as Mayor of New Bedford during a tumultuous yet significant period for the commercial fishing industry in a special presentation of his new memoir, Hometown. In this deeply moving and thoughtful memoir, Bullard weaves a tale of family legacy intertwined with the pitfalls and promise of New Bedford. Bullard explores the meaning of public service, greater good, personal responsibility, and the ties that bind people to their hometowns. He grapples with immigration, economics, race, poverty, politics, but also the innermost conflicts and ambitions as we make out way in the world. Available for purchase from Spinner Publications. Learn more on their website: http://www.spinnerpub.com/hometown.html
Dock-u-mentary: The Fish on My Plate
Fri. 10/20 7:00-8:30PM New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park (33 William Street, New Bedford)
New Bedford Fishing Heritage Center’s free Dock-u-mentary series, hosted in partnership with New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park, has returned! On October 20 at 7:00pm, FHC will be featuring The Fish on My Plate, an insightful film that explores fisherman and author Paul Greenberg’s journey to eat only fish for breakfast, lunch, and dinner for a whole year. Total Runtime: 1:24:46.
Dock-u-mentaries are FREE and are typically hosted in the New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park auditorium at 33 William Street in Downtown New Bedford. Doors open at 6:30pm.
Register here (please select one free ticket per family or couple): https://www.eventbrite.com/e/728934912947?aff=oddtdtcreator
Questions? Contact programs@fishingheritagecenter.org or call (508) 993-8894
dNB FallFest: Spooky Sea Monster Arts and Crafts
Fri. 10/28 12-5 PM Center (38 Bethel Street, New Bedford)
Join us on Saturday, October 28 for dNB FallFest and support local businesses in downtown New Bedford! We’ll be offering FREE admission to the Center to kids in costume (and accompanying parent or guardian) from 12:00pm to 5:00pm AND giving away candy at the welcome desk. Take some time to explore our exhibits, including Sea Monsters: Real and Imagined to discover spooky sea creatures that lurk beneath the waves. PLUS, make your own sea monster using recycled plastic bottles.
dNB FallFest is brought to you by Downtown New Bedford Inc., a community-led local nonprofit here to hype our hip, historic downtown in New Bedford, MA. dNB FallFest is sponsored in part by NBcreative & Massachusetts Cultural Council. Check out the dNB FallFest event page below to learn more about the other exciting events happening on the 28th: https://downtownnb.org/dnb-fallfest-2023/
November AHA! Night: Mermaid Drawing Class
Thurs. 11/9 5-7PM Center (38 Bethel Street, New Bedford)
Join the Fishing Heritage Center and local artist Tina Jacobsen deVilliers to learn how to draw your very own mermaid and enter your name in a raffle for a chance to win a hand-painted scallop shell featuring one of deVilliers’ signature mermaids! While you’re here, be sure to explore our newest gallery exhibit, Sea Monsters: Real and Imagined to discover different merfolk from around the world, including Celtic Selkie, Eastern European Rusalka, and West African Mami Wata. In honor of Made in New Bedford, we will also be offering a 10% discount in our gift shop.
The daughter and granddaughter of fishermen who emigrated from Norway, Jacobsen deVilliers’ scrimshaw, drawings, and paintings have been featured in several of New Bedford Fishing Heritage Center’s gallery exhibits. Her mermaids have been featured recently in our exhibit Sea Monsters: Real and Imagined as well as in our 2023 Seafood Soirée and Make Waves Online Auction!
