Museums and Galleries in Nashua

People searching for museums in Nashua NH are often surprised by what they find. New Hampshire's second-largest city does not have a single big flagship museum. Instead, its culture is spread across a new downtown performing arts center, artist-run studios, a long-running community theater, a regional orchestra, hands-on craft spaces and murals painted on the walls of downtown buildings. For visitors willing to look beyond the traditional museum model, Nashua has a lot to see and do.

This guide covers the arts venues, galleries, studios and public art that make up Nashua's cultural scene, using places from our directory. Fall, when the indoor season is getting started and downtown is pleasant for walking, is a great time to explore.

Nashua at a glance

Nashua is a city in Hillsborough County with 91,322 residents at the 2020 census, the second-largest city in New Hampshire after Manchester. It sits where the Nashua River meets the Merrimack, and like many New England river cities it grew around textile mills in the 19th century. Its nickname, the Gate City, reflects its position as a gateway to New Hampshire from Massachusetts.

The city's location at the confluence of the Nashua and Merrimack rivers shaped its history. The area was first settled around 1654 as a fur trading town called Dunstable, and water power later drew the mills that defined Nashua's growth. The Broad Street Parkway, a newer road connecting the F.E. Everett Turnpike to downtown, was built partly to open up the old millyard for redevelopment, and arts spaces such as Picker Artists now sit near that corridor.

Today the downtown along Main Street is the center of the city's arts life, and most of the places below are within walking distance of it or a short drive away.

Nashua Center for the Arts

The Nashua Center for the Arts on Main Street is the newest major cultural venue in the city. It opened in April 2023 after years of planning; city aldermen approved a $15.5 million bond for the project in December 2018.

The center's main hall, the Bank of America Theater, has 750 seats and can hold up to about 1,000 people in a standing configuration. The venue presents concerts, comedy, theater and other touring and local programming. For a visitor, it anchors a downtown evening: dinner on Main Street, then a show.

Public art: Positive Street Art

You do not need a ticket to see some of Nashua's best art. Positive Street Art is a nonprofit, incorporated on January 19, 2012, that uses art as a tool for community building and creative placemaking. Its murals appear on buildings around downtown Nashua, turning blank walls into large-scale works.

The organization also runs workshops in urban dance and art and organizes community art events. Walking downtown to find the murals is one of the easiest and most rewarding things to do in Nashua, and it costs nothing. Its website includes more about the murals and current programs.

Artist studios: Picker Artists

For a closer look at working artists, visit Picker Artists, a collective of artist studios on Pine Street near the Broad Street Parkway. Its members work in a wide range of media, including quilting, photography, stained glass, jewelry and woodworking, and the building is home to both studios and shared space.

Picker Artists also offers classes in disciplines such as stained glass, metal clay and quilting. Studio visits and open events are a good way to meet artists and buy work directly from the people who made it. Check its website for current classes and open studio events.

Hands-on art: Time to Clay

If you want to make something yourself, Time to Clay on Daniel Webster Highway is a paint-your-own-pottery studio. You choose a piece of unpainted pottery, decorate it, and the studio glazes and fires it for pickup later. Walk-ins are welcome, and the studio notes that it has been in business for 25 years.

Time to Clay is a good choice for families, rainy days, birthday groups and anyone who wants a creative break. It is also a reminder that the arts in Nashua are not only for watching.

Community theater: Actorsingers

Actorsingers has been producing community theater in Nashua since 1955. Its mainstage musicals are performed at the Keefe Auditorium, and the group also has its own home base, Actorsingers Hall. Since 2015 it has added smaller fringe productions alongside its mainstage shows.

Community theater is one of the best ways to experience a city's culture from the inside. Performers, crews and audiences are often neighbors, and the energy in the room reflects that. Check the Actorsingers website for the current season.

Orchestral music: Symphony New Hampshire

Symphony New Hampshire is a professional regional orchestra with offices on Church Street in Nashua. Its music director is Adam Kerry Boyles. The orchestra performs a season of concerts, and its website lists current programs and venues. For classical music lovers, it is one of the most important arts organizations in southern New Hampshire.

Putting together an arts day in Nashua

Because so much of Nashua's cultural life is downtown, it is easy to build a day around it.

• Morning: Paint a piece at Time to Clay, or check for an open studio or class at Picker Artists.
• Midday: Walk Main Street and nearby blocks looking for Positive Street Art murals, with lunch downtown.
• Afternoon: Explore the shops and riverside areas of downtown.
• Evening: Catch a show at the Nashua Center for the Arts, an Actorsingers production, or a Symphony New Hampshire concert.

Why Nashua works for arts lovers

Nashua's arts scene rewards curiosity. Its new performing arts center gives the city a downtown venue that draws touring acts. Its community theater and regional orchestra have long, local roots. Its studios and pottery shop invite visitors to make something, not just look. And its murals mean that art is part of the streetscape itself. That combination is different from a traditional museum day, but it can be just as memorable.

The city is also convenient. It is right on the Massachusetts border along the F.E. Everett Turnpike, making it easy to reach from Boston and the rest of southern New Hampshire. Combine an arts day here with other Merrimack Valley stops, such as Manchester's museums to the north.

Frequently asked questions

Does Nashua have an art museum?

Nashua does not have a major art museum. Its arts scene centers on the Nashua Center for the Arts, artist studios, community theater, a regional orchestra and public murals. Manchester, a short drive north, has the Currier Museum of Art.

Where can I see murals in Nashua?

Positive Street Art has painted murals on buildings around downtown Nashua. Walking Main Street and nearby blocks is the easiest way to see them.

Can I make my own art in Nashua?

Yes. Time to Clay is a paint-your-own-pottery studio that welcomes walk-ins, and Picker Artists offers classes in stained glass, metal clay, quilting and more.

What is the largest performing arts venue downtown?

The Nashua Center for the Arts, which opened in 2023, has a 750-seat main theater that can hold about 1,000 people standing.

Sources

• Nashua population, history and nickname: Wikipedia, "Nashua, New Hampshire" (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nashua,_New_Hampshire)
• Nashua Center for the Arts history (opening, bond) and capacity (venue website) and capacity: Wikipedia, "Nashua Center for the Arts" (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nashua_Center_for_the_Arts) and https://www.nashuacenterforthearts.com/
• Positive Street Art: https://www.positivestreetart.org/
• Picker Artists: https://www.pickerartists.com/
• Time to Clay: https://www.timetoclay.com/
• Actorsingers: https://www.actorsingers.org/
• Symphony New Hampshire: https://www.symphonynh.org/