MARION — The statewide ArtWeek festival won’t be happening this year, but that can’t stop the Marion Art Center from bringing over a week’s worth of artsy activities to the Tri-Town. 

In lieu of ArtWeek, the art center is collaborating with over two dozen local organizations to put on South Coast Spring Arts — a 10-day arts festival.

Spring Arts activities will run from May 7-16, and feature virtual, in-person and hybrid events. 

To kick off the festival on May 7 from 6-8 p.m., there will be gallery tour of the MAC’s new contemporary printmaking exhibit, followed by a conversation with the art center’s Executive Direcor Jodi Stevens and art dealer Cade Tompkins. 

On May 8 from 2-3 p.m., fiber artist Kristina Goransson will host felting workshop where participants can learn how to make three dimensional art out of wool. 

Also on May 8 is live outdoor concert from 7-8:30 p.m. at the Bandstand at Island Wharf in Marion. There, the MonteiroBots will perform jazz-funk for a socially distanced crowd. 

On May 13 from 6-7:30 p.m., there will be an outdoor staged reading at the bandstand of “LZ Bravo: A Vietnam Tour of Duty,” an original, one-act drama from John Heavey, local actor and drama director at Tabor Academy. 

On May 14 from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m., the MAC will host a virtual workshop called “Taking Better Photos with Your Smartphone” with artist Deb Ehrens. Ehrens will teach participants how to tell a story with photos, while making the most of a free photo editing app call Snapseed. 

On May 15 from 3-6 p.m., participants can paint the sunrise while tasting local wines in the “Paint and Sip” workshop with artist Barbara Healy. 

To close out the festival on May 16 from 3-4 p.m. there will be an encore virtual concert of the Tri-County Symphonic Band’s performance of Cape Cod composer Michael Donovan’s “Postcards from Buzzards Bay.” The concert, originally recorded in 2019, will be accompanied by images of Buzzards Bay. 

Attendees will see both vintage postcards and original art while listening to the concert, a celebration of the body of water that shapes the region. 

Following the concert, there will be a live Q&A session, plus interviews with multiple composers. 

Additionally, the MAC will host a performance by the Toe Jam Puppet Band for kindergarten, first, and second graders at Sippican School in Marion.

To register for Marion Art Center events, head to the MAC’s website at marionartcenter.org. Find out more by emailing info@marionartcenter.org. More info on South Coast Spring Arts can also be found at southcoastspringarts.org.