Gloucester Education Foundation

The Gloucester Public Schools partners closely with the Gloucester Education Foundation (GEF). GEF has raised over $9 million since 2005 to drive innovation, inspire creativity, expand student opportunities, and empower educators to strengthen teaching and learning in our district. Learn more about GEF and their transformational programs here. 

Gloucester Student Arts Festival Coming

Gloucester Education Foundation and the Gloucester Public Schools announced that the Gloucester Student Arts Festival will return on Saturday, May 13, from noon to 5 p.m., with a new look and feel after three years off.

The 2023 Arts Festival, a free event open to the public, will feature an arts-driven block party on Warren Street with interactive arts workshops, live music from Gloucester students, and an incredible lineup of local food vendors. This is in addition to displays of visual art from all Gloucester schools at City Hall and the Cape Ann Museum, as well as theater performances and a curated show of GHS seniors’ artwork at MAGMA.

Founded in 2008 by the Gloucester Education Foundation and the Gloucester Public Schools, the Arts Festival is a popular annual event that showcases student work from across the district’s schools. It was canceled in 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic, and was held in a virtual format in 2021.

GEF and GPS took 2022 to revisit the event, reflect on past successes and challenges, and assemble a planning team to relaunch it bigger and better in 2023. Thanks to generous sponsorships from Institution for Savings, BankGloucester and Gloucester 400+, as well as funding from GPS and GEF, this vision will become a reality.

This year’s event will feature:

● Art-Making activities: print-making, cyanotypes, kite-making, Gloucester 400+ poetry project, Dance through the Decades with MAGMA, and more!

● Student performances: the Grades 4+5, O’Maley and GHS bands; elementary, O’Maley and GHS theater; 3rd grade recorders; Gloucester PreK Flash Mob; spoken word, poetry and more!

● Food Vendors: Butter Ur Biscuit, Holy Cow Ice Cream Cafe, Five Star Phresh Phoods, Castaways Cafe, Rhea Pizzeria Napoletana, and more!

“Our goal is to make the Arts Festival a daylong celebration of the arts, and a destination for the whole community,” explained Emily Siegel, GEF’s Executive Director. “Attendees should plan to spend a few hours downtown, participating in art workshops, viewing fantastic work by our students, enjoying local food, and taking in performances from our music and theater programs.”

“The planning team has worked hard to create an event that both celebrates our student artists and arts educators, and brings excitement to downtown Gloucester,” said Arts Festival Coordinator Toni Waldron.

Gloucester Public Schools Assistant Superintendent Amy Pasquarello, a member of the planning team, concurred.

“Our teachers have dedicated their time to make sure the festival returns strong, and the addition of a student representative on the planning team - GHS Senior Allie Nicastro - has been so valuable,” Pasquarello said.

The Cape Ann Museum, MAGMA, Gloucester 400+, and the City of Gloucester have been partners to GEF and GPS in the planning process.

Gloucester Education Foundation drives innovation, inspires creativity, expands student opportunities, and empowers educators to strengthen teaching and learning in the Gloucester Public Schools. Since 2005, GEF has raised over $9 million in donations and grants, sponsoring new and innovative programs for all ages throughout the Gloucester schools. Learn more at www.thinkthebest.org.

IF YOU GO:

What: A daylong celebration of visual and performing arts in the Gloucester Public Schools

When: Saturday, May 13, 12- 5.p.m (Rain Date: Saturday, May 20, 12-5 p.m.)

Where: City Hall (9 Dale Ave), Cape Ann Museum (27 Pleasant Street), MAGMA (11 Pleasant Street), and all along Warren Street

Who: Gloucester students, educators, families, friends, artists, and community members

Schedule: a final schedule will be posted at https://thinkthebest.org/news1/artsfest23 by May 1, 2023