The Artists Association of Nantucket is a non-profit cultural organization dedicated to fostering the growth of the visual arts on Nantucket. The island’s transformation from a fishing community to a summer retreat began after World War II. It has attracted artists for many years – John Steinbeck finished East of Eden here, Eastman Johnson, Tony Sarg, Elizabeth Rebecca Coffin, and Charles Green Shaw worked here. In the 1945, local artists and craftspeople formed an association “to develop Nantucket as a recognized art center, and to promote the education and interest of Nantucket artists.” They established a gallery on the island, and set high standards, with loaned exhibitions from the Whitney and the Metropolitan Museum in New York, and guest speakers such as Tennessee Williams and Thornton Wilder. Today, the Artists Association of Nantucket offers year-round educational programming for children and adults at the workshop, a full calendar of exhibitions at the Joyce & Seward Johnson Gallery, maintenance of the historic AAN Permanent Collection, and a lively schedule of special events. With over 240 artist members, we represent the best of Nantucket’s artistic and cultural community. It’s a vital and vibrant association and a rare link to the origins of Nantucket’s artist colony. The AAN relies on membership dues, donations, and fundraising to meet its financial goals. Members are artists and art lovers who take classes, visit our gallery, attend lectures and special events, and keep the arts alive and well on Nantucket.