HARWICH – The Seaside Marketplace at Saquatucket Harbor will open this week and the Harwich Cultural Center is now accepting applications from artisans interested in leasing one of the four sheds on a weekly basis.
The marketplace was a major component of the landside renovations at the waterfront facility and will make it more of a destination for residents, visitors, and boaters, said Erica Stzepek, program aide at the Harwich Cultural Center.
The artisan sheds will further advance the town’s already vibrant cultural center programs, and serve as an anchor to the Harwich Port Cultural District.
The sheds were placed there as part of the renovations with an eye toward helping to grow the creative economy in town.
“It’s so important because it’s going to help with the economical growth, the cultural opportunities that we are providing here in the town,” said Carolyn Carey, Director of the Harwich Cultural Center.
A condition of the lease is that all goods for sale must be original work and handmade goods.
Curated vintage items and one-of-a-kind items are also acceptable.
Manufactured items will not be allowed to be sold by artisans.
While it was anticipated that artists working in the cultural center would take advantage of the sheds to draw public interest in their work, there is no resident requirement; any artisan can access a shed.
According to Stzepek most of the applicants have come from outside the cultural center.
“A lot of people just think of painters and things like that, that’s not all we are looking for,” continued Carey.
“We have some people who make pillows, some people who make jewelry, we have people who are doing horseshoe crabs, and there is a whole host of people already signed up.”
Sheds are available for lease a week at a time from July 3rd through Labor Day, the weekly lease is $200, with a $25 non-refundable administrative application fee, and a memorandum of understanding must be signed.
There is also a jury process for applicants who must provide a portfolio outlining qualifications and intent of use.
Three to five digital images must also be provided.
If selected, vendors will move into the sheds on Wednesday morning and are expected to move out the following Tuesday night.
The plan is to have the sheds open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
However with written permission the shed could remain open later into the evening, Stzepek said.
Applications can be obtained online at www.harwich-ma.gov/harwich-cultural-center.
The applications can be returned to the community center or emailed to [email protected]
Acoustic performers are also being sought, and the Harwich Historic Society and Brooks Free Library are expected to do pop-up exhibits.
By: LUKE LEITNER, CapeCod.com News Center
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