Staff at the Cape Ann Art Haven recently cleaned out the nonprofit’s space at 20 Maplewood Ave. location as they prepare to move the organization to its new location less than a mile down the road at 44 Whittemore St.
“Basically what we have is an improved location in general, 20 Maplewood was a utilitarian space and it was centrally located but it had some limitations,” Executive Director Traci Thayne Corbett said.
Cape Ann Art Haven had been on Maplewood Avenue since 2022 after moving there from the corner of Main and Pleasant streets. Thayne Corbett said Art Haven leadership began looking for a new location that had fewer limitations and would allow for more parking.
“It’s not as industrial feeling as the last area and it just really made a lot of sense for us to make this move when this became available,” she said.
Included in the new space are two free-flowing rooms and an office space, additional parking and big windows for more natural light.
“We have a lot more parking spaces which doesn’t sound like the biggest deal in the world but we’ve received a lot of feedback that people want more adult programming in the evenings or on weekends,” Thayne Corbett said. “Now we can be much more creative and offer much more.”
Services offered will largely remain the same but Thayne Corbett said they will be made better because getting to and from the new location will be much easier for drivers.
There is still unpacking to be done. However, Art Haven is set to host its first adult class at 44 Whittemore St. on June 17 and its first kids class June 29.
“Then we have nine weeks of programming in the summer out of this space ,in addition to several programs out in the community,” Thayne Corbett said.
Programs in the community include working with Maritime Gloucester, Pathways for Children and other community partners to bring art to kids.