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The Umbrella Community Arts Center

The Umbrella Community Arts Center
40 Stow Street
978-371-0820

Our Mission

Emerson Umbrella enriches lives and builds a vibrant community through the arts.

We inspire creativity, learning, and personal growth through arts education programs, performing and visual arts presentations, and community collaborations.


Recent News

2024/25 Season Subscriptions on Sale Now!

2024/25 Subscriptions On Sale Now! For a limited time reserve your FULL SEASON FLEX SUBSCRIPTION - All four shows - Premium seats - Lowest price of the season - Full subscriber benefits - Choose your personal dates and seats…

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Umbrella Arts Center News - A Look Back at Jerry Wedge's Leadership

On June 30, 2024, Jerry Wedge will step down as Executive Director, following a 12-year tenure, as well as a nearly 20 year presence as an architect and painter in the vibrant studio artists community. Jerry was hired as the Executive Director of…

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The Umbrella Community Arts Center News - April 10, 2024

Take 5 with Dr. Linda Booth Sweeney on "Tapped In" The inspiration for TAPPED IN is deeply personal for me. With the news filled with the impacts of climate change - extreme weather events, melting ice caps and so much more - I felt like a woman…

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Umbrella Community Arts Center News - April 11, 2024

Dear Friends, I’m writing today on behalf of The Board of Directors of The Umbrella Arts Center to announce the appointment of Eileen Williston as the Center’s next Executive Director. An experienced arts administrator with over 16…

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The Umbrella Community Arts Center News - April 2024

April is when The Umbrella bursts to life -- with the return of the annual Artrageous Art Auction & Gala, April School Vacation Week program, two new climate-themed art exhibitions and a Youth Forward Climate Action Day, a vibrant Spring classes…

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The Umbrella Community Arts Center News - March 2024

BTCA NAMES "THE MINUTES" CRITICS' PICK! The Boston Theater Critics Association -- a non-profit organization of print, online, and broadcast theater critics who present the Elliot Norton Awards for outstanding achievements in greater Boston…

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Save the Date - Spring Class Registration Opens Soon

SAVE THE DATE Registration for spring classes for adults and youth (including April Vacation Week) opens Wednesday, March 6 at 12pm! PREVIEW…

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The Umbrella Community Arts Center News - February 2024

February inspired us to celebrate YOU - all the members of our community who make us YOUR Umbrella by volunteering, subscribing, partnering with us, and supporting us in more ways than we can count. As we wrap up this month of valentines and…

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Jeremy Jordan, Award-Winning Actor and Musician, Joins the Umbrella Arts Center for Our Annual Broadway Concert!

Jeremy Jordan, award-winning actor and musician, joins The Umbrella Arts Center for our annual Broadway Concert! With his effortless and soaring voice, Jordan takes audiences on a decades-spanning journey of the best of Broadway featuring songs…

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The Umbrella Community Arts Center News - January 4, 2023

HAPPY NEW YEAR Still looking for resolutions for 2024? Find new ways to discover your arts at The Umbrella all year round! - Join us for January's Free Family Day at The Umbrella this Saturday, January 6 - The Winter session of classes start…

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The Umbrella Community Arts Center News - December 28, 2023

"The Umbrella is a beacon of artistic creativity and opportunity not just for the Concord area, but regionally as well." Bob C. The Umbrella Arts Center is a resilient, strategic, and growing organization. Since successfully navigating the…

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A Special Announcement from The Umbrella's Board Chair

Dear Friends, I am writing today on behalf of the Board of Directors of The Umbrella Arts Center to share that Executive Director Jerry Wedge has announced that, following the successful completion of the strategic goals and plans set forth during…

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The Best Days of the Season - Winter Market 2023

STROLL THROUGH YOUR HOLIDAY SHOPPING The Umbrella Arts Center kicks off the holiday season this week with the return of Concord's traditional Winter Market, an annual three-day show and sale of artist, artisan, and hand-crafted work on all…

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The Umbrella Arts Center Looking Ahead: November 2023

November is right around the corner, and it feels like fall is settling in. A time for good stories, inspiring art, and being together. There are still a few more chances to catch the Stage Company’s fabulous fall line-up of Lizzie and White…

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The Umbrella Names Its Main Gallery and Other Happenings

THE EXTRAORDINARY IN THE ORDINARY THROUGH JORDAN KESSLER’S LENS by Pam Ellertson Jordan Kessler Photographed by Pam EllertsonIn his exhibition running through November 12 at The Umbrella Arts Center, fine art photographer Jordan Kessler…

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The Umbrella Community Arts Center: Save the Date - The Umbrella Welcomes Brandi Carlile!

The Umbrella Arts Center is thrilled to announce that its Fall 2023 Concert, part of The Umbrella’s Concert Series, will be presented in partnership with Salt Lick Incubator, a Boston-based non-profit dedicated to championing and nurturing…

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The Umbrella Community Arts Center Newsletter - October 2023

Looking for fun and artistic ways to celebrate fall? You’ll find them at The Umbrella! Take in a daring ghost story meets rock concert mash-up with LIZZIE, the show Halloween New England and WBUR say is not to be missed. And then come back…

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The Umbrella's Fall Concert - Important Information

Save The Date for The Umbrella's Fall Concert Friday, October 20, 2023 7:30pm Exciting artist announcement Monday, October 2! Advance ticket sales begin Tuesday, October 3 at 10:00am General ticket sales begin Thursday, October 5 at…

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The Umbrella Community Arts Center - Welcome to Fall at The Umbrella!

Welcome to the Fall Semester! There are exciting things happening at The Umbrella this month. From the Ceramics Studio expansion, to renovated education spaces, new class offerings and workshops, free family days, and so much more. If you're…

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The Umbrella Community Arts Center Newsletter - September 2023

Dear friends, It’s back to school time and here at The Umbrella we’re making a fresh start as well. You’ll be seeing some changes to our emails over the next couple of months starting with this monthly round-up of upcoming…

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The Umbrella Community Arts Center: Meet The 'Lizzie' Cast - Tix On Sale Soon

GET THE BEST SEATS WITH A SUBSCRIPTION! Single tickets go on sale Wednesday, August 23 for the first two productions of the 2023/24 Season. Be there for the excitement all Season long with a Subscription or Flex Pass - lock in the best seats and…

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The Umbrella Community Arts Center - Fall Registration Now Open and Exciting Exhibitions!

REGISTRATION FOR FALL CLASSES IS NOW OPEN Sign up now – classes for adults, teens, and youth! REGISTER FOR CLASSES COLORS OF CONCORD: THE GRASSY PLAIN This exhibition features artworks created by our 2022-2023 Umbrella Artist-in-Residence,…

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The Umbrella Community Arts Center : Get Ready For Fall Registration And New Arts Opportunities

Registration for fall classes opens next Wednesday, August 9 at 12pm! Opening Soon! Our next exhibition in the Main Gallery will be Colors of Concord: The Grassy Plain, on view from Aug 21-Sept 22. This is a culmination of work by Umbrella…

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The Umbrella Community Arts Center - Save Even More On Subscriptions

CONVENIENCE. SAVINGS. EXCLUSIVE OFFERS. BENEFIT FROM A SEASON SUBSCRIPTION! CUSTOMIZE your season FEE - FREE tickets at the best discounted rates FLEXIBLE scheduling with the best seating options EARLY ACCESS to other select Umbrella concerts and…

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The Umbrella Community Arts Center - Save The Date For Fall Registration

SAVE THE DATE Registration for fall classes opens Wednesday, August 9 at 12pm! PREVIEW…

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The Umbrella Community Arts Center News - July 13, 2023

Free Film Screening This Friday; Calls For Art; Main Gallery Faculty Exhibition; A Feature In The Concord Bridge; Work With Us! CALLS FOR ART Are you an artist looking for opportunities to exhibit or expand your art? We are currently accepting…

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2023/24 Season Subscriptions On Sale Now!

2023/24 SEASON Don’t Miss a Moment! Treat yourself to a year full of theater! Our subscribers enjoy the best prices, the best seats, and wonderful benefits. - Two celebrated musicals that will have your feet dancing and your heart singing…

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The Umbrella Community Arts Center News - June 22, 2023

Final Weekend Of Points Of Return; Final Curator Tour; Call Of The Orcas Film Screening; A Feature In The Phnom Penh Post; Support The Arts; Community Storytelling And More! FINAL DAYS OF POINTS OF RETURN On Sunday, June 25 at 3pm, join David…

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The Umbrella Community Arts Center News - May 25, 2023

Rave review of The Color Purple, release of the 360 virtual gallery for Points of Return, Summer Ceramics registration starts next week! A huge thank you to Emmy-award winning Arts & Entertainment critic Joyce Kulhawik for her glowing…

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The Umbrella Performing Arts Announcing the 2023/24 Umbrella Stage Company Season!

Get Ready For The Umbrella Stage Company'S 2023/24 Season! Featuring a lineup of plays and musicals that exemplify brave storytelling and reimagine the theater experience. “The stories of the 2023/24 season lift up important questions: What…

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Exhibition - 'Points of Return' Opens May 1!

ABOUT THE EXHIBITION Points of Return, curated by A La Luz, began life during lockdown as an online exhibition, featuring artists from around the world. This year—in collaboration with The Umbrella Arts Center—a large-scale exhibition…

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The Umbrella Community Arts Center News - April 19, 2023

Closing Weekend For Middleton Heights After a virtually sold-out run, the stand-out world premiere play Middleton Heights closes this weekend. Celebrate the closing with us with a special pre-show performance by the Iskwelahang Pilipino (IP)…

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The Umbrella Community Arts Center Welcomes John Mayer!

The Umbrella Welcomes JOHN MAYER - LIVE ON STAGE Friday, June 16, 2023 Known for an effortless blend of mind-blowing guitar playing, soulful voice and impeccable songwriting abilities, John Mayer has lit up the charts with numerous massive…

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The Umbrella Community Arts Center News - April 13, 2023

JUST TWO WEEKS LEFT TO SEE MIDDLETON HEIGHTS! "Funny, heartbreaking, well-paced, and full of memorable moments. [This] play left me feeling warm, full, and hungry for more." - Linda Chin, Theater Mirror There are only two weekends left to see the…

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The Umbrella Community Arts Center News - April 6, 2023

Earth Month has officially begun at The Umbrella with Reflections: Listening to Nature, now open in the Main Gallery! With submissions from people of all ages and abilities, Reflections is the community's response to how the arts help us listen and…

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The Umbrella Community Arts Center - 2023 Artrageous Art Exhibition And Auction Now Open!

The Umbrella’s annual Artrageous Art Exhibition and Auction is live and open for bidding! Featuring more than 60 works of art by Umbrella Studio Artists and regional artists, the exhibition is an amazing collection of work and is available…

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The Umbrella Community Arts Center - Community Celebrations, Concord Film Project, Kid-Care Shows, And More

World Premiere on March 31! n the world premiere of an original play commissioned by The Umbrella Stage Company, Hortense Gerardo’s Middleton Heights unravels a wry, charming and honest tale that follows Meena and her Filipino family as they…

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The Umbrella Community Arts Center - Exciting Ceramics Announcement And Last Chance For Laura Benanti

The Umbrella Arts Education Program is excited to announce we are embarking on a significant redesign and expansion of our highly popular Umbrella Ceramics Studio Program! The Ceramics Studio has experienced increased and robust demand since…

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The Umbrella Community Arts Center News - Live Demos for Open Studios and More!

line-up of LIVE DEMOS We're delighted to announce the line-up of LIVE DEMOS for this year's Open Studios! Drop by on March 18 and 19 from 12-5pm to meet our artists, learn about their process, take in a live demo, and share in celebrating their…

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The Umbrella Community Arts Center - Exciting Cast And Gala Announcements, Free Family Fun, More

We are thrilled to announce the cast of The Umbrella's first full-length commissioned play, Middleton Heights! Created by local playwright Hortense Gerardo, this dark comedy follows Meena and her Filipino family as they assimilate to life in a…

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The Umbrella Community Arts Center - Arts Education for All Ages and Up Next in the Gallery!

Openings: New Works by Umbrella Studio Artists February 17 - March 19 Up next in our Main Gallery - Openings: New Works by Umbrella Studio Artists. This annual exhibition showcases recent and ongoing works from our talented community of Studio…

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The Umbrella Community Arts Center News - February 9, 2023

Arts Education is in full swing at The Umbrella! We are currently looking to fill a variety of roles as we head into the Summer Arts Under the Umbrella program. Assistant Camp Director Lead Teacher Assistant Teacher Teen Classroom…

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The Umbrella Community Arts Center News - February 2, 2023

JOIN US FOR DINNER & A MOVIE! Wednesday, February 8 at 7:30pm The tale of an eccentric band of culinary ronin who guide the widow of a noodle-shop owner on her quest for the perfect recipe. This rapturous “ramen western” by…

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The Umbrella Community Arts Center News - January 25, 2023

DON'T LET THE SNOW KEEP YOU INSIDE - GET FIRED UP AT THE UMBRELLA! The Concord Film Project is BACK at The Umbrella! The film series returns on February 8 at 7:30pm with the first film showing since 2020. Mark your calendars - tickets will go on…

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The Umbrella Community Arts Center : Free Gallery Reception Tomorrow plus what's up next!

Join us for a FREE opening reception with the artists TOMORROW, Thursday, January 12 from 5-7pm. Get to know the three Umbrella Studio Artists featured in Earth, Sea, Sky, whose collective time at The Umbrella spans almost 80 years! Suzanne Hill,…

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The Umbrella Community Arts Center : New Year, New Arts Opportunities

Our first Main Gallery exhibition of the new year will be Earth, Sea, Sky, opening January 8! Featuring works by Umbrella Studio Artists Suzanne Hill, Liz Newell and Barbara Willis, this show presents unique visions of landscapes and seascapes in…

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The Umbrella Community Arts Center News - December 26, 2022

The Umbrella offices will be closed December 26-30. Studios will be open for studio artists and our galleries and exhibitions will be open for viewing. Our current exhibit, Lost and Found will be CLOSING December 30. If you haven't had a…

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The Umbrella Community Arts Center : New Matching Opportunity For Our 40th Anniversary Season

Our Gift Of The Arts Could Mean Twice As Much In celebration of our 40th anniversary season, members of the Board have generously put forward a dollar-for-dollar match for all new or increased gifts up to $40,000 received this season. The…

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