Art, music and theater gifts for all ages
There are plenty of opportunities to shop locally for handmade, one-of-a-kind gifts this month. Some art galleries host special holiday exhibits focused on small and affordable works of art, with gift shopping in mind. Pop-up holiday arts markets and craft fairs have a little of everything, including photography, pottery, woodwork, textiles, jewelry, glass, metal, fine art, mixed media and more. New Hampshire also has a number of retail shops that sell items created by local artists and craftspeople.
“Buying handmade and local not only supports the local economy, and our neighbors’ livelihoods, but also presents an opportunity to gift unique, one-of-a-kind, heartfelt gifts that are so much more personal than things you may find in a bigger retail environment,” said Jessica Moores, owner of Manchester Craft Market.
Arts markets and craft fairs
• The annual holiday showcase at Twiggs Gallery (254 King St., Boscawen), “Sleighbell Studio,” is open now through Dec. 18, featuring a wide selection of fine art, jewelry, cards, books, honeys, soaps and more, all locally made and priced affordably for gift buying. Gallery hours are Thursday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Sunday from noon to 4 p.m. Visit twiggsgallery.wordpress.com or call 975-0015.
• “Small Works —Big Impact,” the annual holiday exhibit at Creative Ventures Gallery (411 Nashua St., Milford), is going on now through Dec. 31, in person at the gallery and virtually on the gallery’s website (creativeventuresfineart.com/product-category/small-works-show). The exhibit features non-juried small works of art in a variety of media and styles, created by area professional and nonprofessional artists, priced affordably for holiday gift buying. Visit creativeventuresfineart.com or call 672-2500.
• Two Villages Art Society (46 Main St., Contoocook) has its Holiday Art Show and Sale now through Dec. 23, featuring handmade gifts by more than 30 local artists, including paintings, pottery, mixed media, photography, fabric art and more. Gallery hours are Thursday through Sunday from noon to 4 p.m. Visit twovillagesart.org.
• The Craftworkers’ Guild’s Holiday Fair is open now through Dec. 23, with in-person shopping at the historic Kendall House (3A Meetinghouse Road, Bedford), open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and an online shop. The fair will feature seasonal decor, photography, fine art and prints, cards, gourmet treats, woodworking, fiber and fabric, stained and fused glass, mixed media, jewelry and more by juried local artists and craftspeople. Visit craftworkersguild.org.
• The Great Holiday Shopping Extravaganza is Friday, Dec. 10, from 5 to 9 p.m., and Saturday, Dec. 11, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., at Hampshire Hills Athletic Club (50 Emerson Road, Milford). More than 80 local crafters and artisans will sell jewelry, scarves, home decor, woodwork, pottery, metal art and more. Visit hampshirehills.com.
• The Holly Jolly Craft Fair takes place at DoubleTree Hotel (2 Somerset Parkway, Nashua) on Saturday, Dec. 11, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. More than 80 exhibitors will sell jewelry, wreaths, metal art, pottery, children’s items, candles, scarves and more. Admission costs $3 for adults, $2 for seniors and is free for kids under age 16. Visit joycescraftshows.com.
• The New Hampshire Audubon hosts its Holiday Fair on Saturday, Dec. 11, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the McLane Center (84 Silk Farm Road, Concord). A number of local artists will show and sell their work, including jewelry, pottery, nature photography, greeting cards, quilted items and more. Visit nhaudubon.org.
• The Artisan Market at The Cider Mill Gallery (24 Francestown Road, New Boston) is going on now through Dec. 24, open Friday through Sunday, and, for last-minute gift shopping, Monday, Dec. 20, through Thursday, Dec. 23, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., each day. Call 487-5522 or visit eileenbelanger.com.
Handmade gift shops
• Creative Vibes (2 Pauls Way, Amherst, 557-2457, creativevibesnh.com, open Tuesday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.)
• Currier Museum of Art gift shop (150 Ash St., Manchester, 669-6144, currier.org, open Thursday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Friday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.)
• The League of New Hampshire Craftsmen Fine Craft Galleries (nhcrafts.org)
• Concord (36 N. Main St., 228-8171, open Monday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.)
• Hooksett (530 W. River Road, 210-5181, open daily from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.)
• Nashua (98 Main St., 595-8233, open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Monday through Wednesday and Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m on Thursday and Friday, and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday)
• Meredith (279 Daniel Webster Hwy., 279-7920, open Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday from noon to 5 p.m.)
Locally Made
• Salem (99 Rockingham Blvd., Salem, 890-7141, locallyhandmadesalemnh.com, open Monday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., and Sunday from noon to 6 p.m.)
• Merrimack (80 Premium Outlets Blvd., Merrimack, 377-7610, facebook.com/LHMerrimackNH, open Monday through Thursday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.)
• Manchester Craft Market (Mall of New Hampshire, 1500 S. Willow St., Manchester, manchestercraftmarket.com, open Monday through Thursday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., and Sunday from noon to 6 p.m.)
• Spriggs Shoppe (Twiggs Gallery, 254 King St., Boscawen, 975-0015, twiggsgallery.wordpress.com, open Thursday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Sunday from noon to 4 p.m.)
• Studio 550 Art Center (550 Elm St., Manchester, 232-5597, 550arts.com, open Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday from noon to 8 p.m. Closed Wednesday and Sunday.)
• Wild Little Art Shop (Wild Salamander Creative Arts Center, 30 Ash St., Hollis, 465-9453, wildsalamander.com, open Wednesday from noon to 4 p.m., Thursday from 1 to 7 p.m., Friday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., Saturday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., Sunday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.; closing at 5 p.m. on Dec. 23.)
Performance venues
For the theater-lover in your life, consider tickets to an upcoming show that you know they would like.
“Giving the gift of theater and allowing someone to have a night out and away from the daily grind of life is a great thing,” said Robert Dionne, artistic director for The Majestic Theatre, a theater company based in Manchester.
Or let the recipient choose a show themselves with a gift certificate for a local entertainment venue.
“Entertainment is a great gift because it’s providing an experience that is always unique, and it’s a flexible option that can satisfy the tastes of any recipient,” said Dan Darling, executive director of the Franklin Opera House.
• Capitol Center for the Arts (44 S. Main St., and Bank of New Hampshire Stage, 16 S. Main St., Concord, 225-1111, ccanh.com)
• Franklin Opera House (316 Central St., Franklin, 934-1901, franklinoperahouse.org)
• Hatbox Theatre (270 Loudon Road, Concord, 715-2315, hatboxnh.com)
• Palace Theatre (80 Hanover St., Manchester, 668-5588, palacetheatre.org)
• The Music Hall (Historic Theater, 28 Chestnut St., and Loft, 131 Congress St., Portsmouth, 436-2400, themusichall.org)
Art classes/workshops
Give the gift of knowledge to an aspiring artist, actor or musician with a gift certificate for a local art studio, theater program or music school, which they can use for workshops or classes to improve their craft.
“Perhaps someone played an instrument many years ago and has been wanting to pick it up again,” said Dionne, who is also the administrator at Ted Herbert Music School in Manchester. “Our teachers [work with] all ages, abilities, and musical styles. Whether you are learning for fun or to further a music career, we are here to lead you in the direction you wish.”
• AR Workshop Manchester (875 Elm St., Manchester, 573-9662, arworkshop.com/manchester) Offers DIY workshops for creating custom wood signs, canvas pillows, centerpiece boxes, canvas tote bags and more.
• Currier Museum of Art, Art Center (180 Pearl St., Manchester, 669-6144, currier.org) Offers seasonal weekly classes, master classes and one-day workshops for kids and adults in all kinds of media.
• Kimball-Jenkins School of Art (266 N. Main St., Concord, 225-3932, kimballjenkins.com) Offers weekly classes, master classes and one-day workshops for kids and adults in all kinds of media.
• The League of New Hampshire Craftsmen Fine Craft Galleries (98 Main St., Nashua, 595-8233; 279 Daniel Webster Hwy., Meredith, 279-7920, nhcrafts.org) Offer weekly classes and one-day workshops for a variety of crafts.
• Muse Paintbar (42 Hanover St., Manchester, muse paintbar.com) Offers paint-and-sip workshops and step-by-step painting workshops for families.
• Studio 550 Art Center (550 Elm St., Manchester, 232-5597, 550arts.com) Offers classes and workshops for all ages and experience levels in pottery, clay, painting, stained glass and more.
• Time to Clay (228 Daniel Webster Hwy., Nashua, timetoclay.com) Offers pottery workshops for all ages.
• The Voice of Clay (16 Meetinghouse Hill Road, Brookline, 672-2626, voiceofclay.com) Offers pottery classes for all ages and experience levels.
• You’re Fired (25 S. River Road, Bedford, 641-3473; 133 Loudon Road, No. 101, Concord, 226-3473; 264 N. Broadway, Salem, 894-5456; 204-5559; yourefirednh.com) Offers open studio times and materials for pottery and mosaic projects.
• The Canvas Roadshow (25 S. River Road, Bedford, 913-9217, thecanvasroadshow.com) Offers DIY workshops for creating custom wood signs, canvas paintings, sea glass art and more.
• Wild Salamander Creative Arts Center (30 Ash St., Hollis, 465-9453, wildsalamander.com) Offers a variety of art classes and workshops for all ages.
Music and performing arts classes/workshops
• Concord Community Music School (23 Wall St., Concord, 228-1196, ccmusicschool.org)
• The Majestic Theatre (880 Page St., Manchester, 669-7469, majestictheatre.net)
• Manchester Community Music School (2291 Elm St., Manchester, 644-4548, mcmusicschool.org)
• Manchester Music Mill (329 Elm St., Manchester, 623-8022, manchestermusicmill.com)
• Nashua Community Music School (5 Pine St. Ext., Nashua, 881-7030, nashuacms.org)
• New Hampshire Theatre Project (West End Studio Theatre, 959 Islington St., No. 3, Portsmouth, 431-6644, nhtheatreproject.org)
• NH Tunes (250 Commercial St., No. 2017, Manchester, 660-2208, nhtunes.biz)
• Ted Herbert Music School (922 Elm St., Manchester, 669-9191, tedherbert.com)
• The Flying Monkey (39 Main St., Plymouth, 536-2551, flyingmonkeynh.com)
Featured Photo: Shop handmade gifts at The Craftworkers’ Guild’s holiday fair. Courtesy photo.