A Brief History

In 1916 William and Emmeline Atwood built a special exhibition space called the Gallery-on-the-Moors. This replaced dark lofts, stables, coops, and other make-shift spaces that artists had been using. Gordon Grant, Frank Duveneck, John Sloane, Stuart Davis, Frederick Mulhaupt, Theresa Bernstein, and Cecelia Beaux were some of the earliest notable painters to exhibit.

Because of the Gallery’s success it soon became too small to serve the increasing demand of a thriving art community.

In 1922 Thomas Reed purchased a former livery which was converted into a two-story gallery. The North Shore Arts Association of Gloucester, Inc. began with 140 artists and sculptors and their first exhibition - the first large art collection in Gloucester.

The founding artists wisely saw the possibilities of this new location. Majestically situated on the water’s edge, the NSAA Gallery overlooks Gloucester’s inner harbor and Smith’s Cove, the entrance to historic Rocky Neck Art Colony. Great artists such as Winslow Homer, Fitz Hugh Lane, and John Twachtman lived and painted here. Childe Hassam, Jane Metcalf Petersen and other American Impressionists were summer residents.

Gloucester’s distinctive skyline rising above the harbor, has been painted many times from the NSAA by some of the foremost painters of our time. The sea-faring era was captured on paper, canvas, and in bronze for the generations to come.

In addition to exhibitions, the NSAA presented lectures, demonstrations, parties, and musical programs provided by such greats as Arthur Fiedler, George Copeland and others. Our heritage is rich and diverse.

Today's Association
Today’s Association has a thriving artist membership of nearly 400 contemporary artists recognized nationally and worldwide. They come from throughout the USA, Canada and Japan.

Just as in the first exhibition, this wonderful, historic old building provides the opportunity to view the largest collection of paintings and sculpture on Cape Ann. At any time visitors can enjoy over 400 pieces of art on display.
As an active art association the exhibitions include all media with a wide variety of styles and types of work. Other activities include demonstrations, workshops, classes, lectures, critiques, art auctions and a musical presentations.