Marking 35 years of partnership, this flag raising honors the sister city relationship between Salem and Ota, Japan. In partnership with the City of Salem and the Peabody Essex Museum.
ECOC Lecture: The Resplendent Quetzal
Join ornithologist Alan Poole for an exploration into the life and history of the Resplendent Quetzal — a dazzling, legendary bird of the highland forests of Central America. Author of the recent book Quetzals: Icons of the Cloud Forest (2023), Poole will lead us through the nesting and feeding ecology of this renowned bird, its role in Mayan and Aztec …
Native American Heritage Month
Join us for a reading of the book My Heart Fills With Happiness, written by Monique Gray Smith (Cree and Scottish) and illustrated by Julie Flett (Swampy Cree and Red River Métis). What fills your heart with happiness? This bilingual book in English and Anishinaabemowin was written to support the wellness of Indigenous children and families, and encourages readers of …
Nosferatu with Live Orchestra
Sink your fangs into Halloween with Arpeggione Ensemble’s live performance of the score for Nosferatu: A Symphony of Horror. In the 1920s, silent films weren’t silent: They were accompanied by a live piano player, organist or full orchestra. Experience this classic 1922 horror movie with Arpeggione performing on historical instruments from the early 20th century, including harmonium, flute, clarinet and …
Salem Film Fest 2026: A Lineup Worth Your Weekend
By John Andrews, Content Director at Creative Collective — covering the North Shore’s creative economy and cultural programming Every March, something quietly remarkable happens in Salem. A small city on Boston’s North Shore — better known for witch trials and Halloween — transforms into one of New England’s most compelling documentary film festivals. There are no Hollywood blockbusters and no …
She Went to Rome Anyway: Edmonia Lewis, Creative Noncompliance, and Why the Room Matters
By John Andrews | Content Director, Creative Collective | February 2026 On Wednesday night, a group of us stood inside something historic. The Peabody Essex Museum opened its doors for a press and influencer preview of Edmonia Lewis: Said in Stone — the first major retrospective devoted to a nineteenth-century sculptor who was told, in every way a society can tell someone, that …
Poetry, Purpose, and Promise: Inside Salem’s 2026 Inauguration
Mayor Pangallo begins second term at PEM ceremony as poets and performers frame the moment—and the creative sector speaks without being named. On a Monday morning in January, just days before Salem’s official 400+ anniversary kickoff, the city inaugurated its 2026 leadership the way this city does so many things: surrounded by art, grounded in history, and looking resolutely forward. …
Salem Poetry Events: Poet Laureate’s Book Launch at PEM
Salem poetry events are flourishing as the city approaches its 400th anniversary celebration. On Sunday, January 11, the city’s first Poet Laureate, J.D. Scrimgeour, will launch his new book at the Peabody Essex Museum. This special reading marks nearly three decades of literary engagement with Salem. For poetry lovers and community members alike, it’s a meaningful moment. Salem’s First Poet …
Coffee, Capital, and Human Change: What Happens When We Dare to Reimagine Community Support.
The energy in the Peabody Essex Museum‘s atrium on September 4 was unique. Furthermore, it was not the polite enthusiasm of typical morning panels, but the electric charge of people recognizing transformative change. As leaders gathered for Creative Capital: Investing in Community, organized by PEM in partnership with Creative Collective, they weren’t just discussing programs. Indeed, they were witnessing how …
Salem Haunted Happenings 2025: Your Ultimate Guide
Salem Haunted Happenings 2025 transforms Massachusetts’ most bewitching city into the ultimate Halloween destination this October. This month-long celebration brings together over a million visitors for parades, haunted tours, marketplaces, and spooky surprises around every cobblestoned corner. Starting October 1st, Salem becomes a living, breathing Halloween wonderland where history meets modern magic. Experience the Magic of Salem Haunted Happenings 2025 …
