The 17th annual celebration brings art, healing, and economic opportunity to the heart of Salem, Massachusetts
A Creative Renaissance When Our Community Needs It Most
Salem’s most vibrant celebration of creativity and community connection is returning for its 17th year, transforming downtown into an artistic haven from June 6-8, 2025. The Salem Arts Festival has become more than just a cultural event—it’s a vital platform for community healing and economic revival during challenging times.
Over 8,000 visitors will experience the diverse talents of local and regional artists through multiple festival elements:
- A juried gallery exhibition at the historic Old Town Hall
- Vibrant outdoor performances across multiple stage venues
- An expansive artist and artisan street fair
- The wildly popular Mural Slam competition
- A unique collaborative public art installation
“The Arts Festival has become such an important community event over the years because our community IS the focus,” explains Kylie Sullivan, Executive Director of Salem Main Streets, which co-organizes the festival. “We have such an incredible breadth and depth of creativity within our Salem community and the surrounding area, and we take our commitment to showcasing that very seriously.”
Fostering Economic Resilience Through Creative Expression
This year’s festival strengthens its collaboration with Creative Collective, a program dedicated to empowering creative professionals through economic opportunities and community building—elements that have become increasingly crucial in today’s economic landscape.
John Andrews, founder of Creative Collective, emphasizes the festival’s deeper purpose: “The Salem Arts Festival embodies what our community needs most right now. We’re creating a space where everyone belongs—where diverse creative voices find not just appreciation, but real economic opportunity.”
Andrews adds, “When we celebrate local artists from all backgrounds, we’re investing in a Salem where creativity and inclusion fuel each other. This festival reminds us that by building bridges across our community, we create cultural vibrancy and economic resilience, especially when feeling connected matters more than ever.” Summer Festival season in Salem starts now!
“Hissstory”: A Community-Built Art Installation
For the 11th consecutive year, the festival will feature a collaborative public art installation. This year’s “Hissstory” project is led by public artists Linda Mullen and Claudia Paraschiv.
The innovative installation repurposes vinyl banners from past city events, inviting community members to craft individual snake segments and add their artistic touches. These segments will be assembled into a larger snake installation—a powerful metaphor for transforming fear and uncertainty into collective beauty while promoting sustainability.
Support That Makes It Possible
The festival thrives through partnerships with local organizations and businesses. Special thanks go to this year’s festival partner, the Peabody Essex Museum, and title sponsor Jenni Stuart Fine Jewelry. Additional supporters include The Lobster Shanty, Goldberg Properties, Prime Group Shetland Park, Witch City Walking Tours, Salem Rainbow Stroll, and grants from the Massachusetts Cultural Council and Salem Cultural Council.
How You Can Participate
While applications for performers, street fair vendors, and the annual mural slam have closed, visual artists interested in the juried gallery can still get involved. An on-site review process will be held May 30 through June 1, the weekend before the festival.
Artists should complete an Intent to Apply form online at salemartsfestival.com to receive the most up-to-date information about the gallery process.
Over 100 volunteers also make the festival possible! To join the volunteer crew, visit www.salemartsfestival.com/volunteer.
Join the Celebration
Mark your calendars for June 6-8, 2025, and be part of this essential community celebration that does more than showcase art—it builds bridges, creates economic opportunities, and helps heal our community through creative connection. Summer Festival season in Salem starts now!
For more information, visit www.salemartsfestival.com or contact Kylie Sullivan at kylie@salemmainstreets.org or (978)744-0004 (x115).
About the Organizers:
Salem Main Streets works to revitalize downtown Salem as a vibrant, year-round retail, dining, and cultural destination through business retention, recruitment, and promotion of the downtown district. Learn more at www.salemmainstreets.org.
Creative Collective connects creativity, community, and commerce throughout Essex County’s creative ecosystem. They empower local creators through business support, networking, and advocacy, building inclusive spaces where diverse creative voices thrive. Visit www.creativecollectivema.com to learn more.
