Boston-born theater artist and musician Ian Andrew Askew presents Unnamed Leagues, a short performance that responds to PEM’s collections while considering contrasting histories of land and the sonic legacy of maritime trade. Askew will be in residence at PEM for a week in September, developing the performance alongside their ongoing project SLAMDANCE garage, an exploration of race and performance in punk subculture. Stay after the performance for a Q&A led by David Snider, our Director of Learning and Community Engagement.

PEM Presents seeks to surprise and delight audiences with world-class artistry in music, theater, dance, film and more. This series allows audiences to learn about the artistic process and supports the development of artists with local, regional, national and global perspectives. PEM Presents further activates the museum as a global center for art, culture and creativity with artist residencies, live performances, lecture series, symposia and conferences. PEM Presents is a collaboration between Learning and Community Engagement and the Present Tense initiative.

The Lowell Institute generously supports this program.

PEM Presents 2024-2025: Peabody Essex Museum’s dynamic series showcasing world-class artistry in music, theater, dance, film, and more.

Key features:

• Weeklong artist residencies culminating in Sunday 2pm showcases (4-5 annually)
• Guest speaker events and musical performances (3-4 annually)
• Live music in the atrium (2-3 times monthly)

Program goals:

• Surprise and delight audiences with diverse artistic expressions
• Support artist development from local to global perspectives
• Engage audiences with the creative process
• Activate PEM as a vibrant cultural and creative hub

All events are free, with the aim of making art accessible to the community. Residencies focus on artists with specific creative goals and upcoming premieres, extending PEM’s impact beyond its walls.