Take art into your own hands from April 27 to May 6 as Marion celebrates ArtWeek -- a statewide festival that features interactive creative experiences that offer behind-the-scenes access to the arts, culture, and the creative process.

Check out the April 26 edition of Sippican Week for a special pullout guide with everything you need to know about ArtWeek!

All events are held at the Marion Art Center, 80 Pleasant Street, unless otherwise indicated. For the many events for which registration is required, visit marionartcenter.com/artweek if no other directions are given.

Friday, April 27

Senior Art Show & Sale

The Marion Council on Aging is celebrating ArtWeek with a Senior Art Show & Sale, which will remain up through the month of May at the Benjamin D. Cushing Community Center, 465 Mill Street. The show kicks off with a reception on Friday, April 27, from 2 to 6 p.m.

Creative Movement for Kids

From 4 to 5 p.m., MAC dance instructor Teah Keogh will get the little ones ages 5-8 moving with Creative Movement for Kids. The free-of-charge event will feature dance games and will finish with a musical meditation. Registration is required.

Jazz Jam @ the MAC

Hear a New Orleans-style jazz jam session performed by musicians Phil Sanborn, Matt Richard, David Zinno, and Gary Johnson on Friday, April 27, from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. Play an instrument? Sit in with the band by emailing artweek@marionartcenter.org or calling 508-538-1240. Or... just enjoy the tunes. Tickets cost $12. Registration is required.

Saturday, April 28

Create a Sea Creature Headdress

Like to craft? Enjoy a great costume? Show off your artistic skills and create a sea creature headdress from 10 a.m. to noon.

Designed for children age seven and older and their families, participants will use papier-mache forms and beads, shells, sequins, and fabric to create colorful headdresses.

The headdresses will be used by actors in "Seascapes," the MAC's summer production. After the play concludes, the headdresses will be returned to their creators. Organizers note: "This could be the beginning of the most awesome Halloween costume ever."

Admission is $10, which covers the cost of materials. Registration is required.

Circle of Songs with Hugh Hanley

Hugh Hanley presents the Circle of Songs for toddlers and preschool-aged children and their families from 3 to 4 p.m. The event features songs, stories, finger plays and other musical activities. Admission is free. Registration is required.

Sunday, April 29

Tea at Marion's Romantic Art Colony

Marion Village attracted many well-known artists during the late 19th and 20th centuries -- a time period known as the Romantic Era. On Sunday, April 29, from 2 to 4 p.m., learn about the members of the town's former art colony. A short theatrical sketch to introduce the artists will be followed by tea with the performers in character. Admission is $5. Registration is required.

Community Theater Audition Workshop

Have you wanted to try out for a community theater production, but the thought of the audition gives you butterflies? The MAC has you covered. Join theater director Kate Fishman from 7 to 9 p.m. for a workshop for amateur actors who want to sharpen their audition skills.

The workshop will cover auditioning with monologues, cold reads, or prepared scenes; preparing for your audition and following up; evaluating the theater, the director, and the play; and performing auditioning exercises.

Free to attend, but don't forget to register!

Monday, April 30

Improvisation and Theater Games for the Performer

Calling all amateur actors: Theater director and actor John Heavey will teach a series of improvisation exercises and theater games to energize your acting performances. You'll leave with a new toolkit of techniques to use with any future role or performance challenge. This free workshop runs from 7 to 9 p.m. Registration is required.

Tuesday, May 1

Contribute to Community Art Project

Stop by the Elizabeth Taber Library, 8 Spring Street, throughout the day to participate in the library's first ever community art project. Create a ceramic tile for the library. For more information, call the library at 508-748-1252.

Collage Workshop at the Council on Aging

The Marion Council on Aging will host a collage workshop with COA member and artist Mary Ross from 9 to 11 a.m. at the Benjamin D. Cushing Community Center, 465 Mill Street. Contact the Council on Aging at 508-748-3570 to sign up.

Multi-Medium Workshop

New Bedford artist Catherine Carter will lead a multi-medium workshop at 3 p.m. at the Elizabeth Taber Library, 8 Spring Street. Participants will create an image of undersea life and/or an abstract image based on a name. To register, call the library at 508-748-1252.

Character Development for Amateur Actors

Learn how to create strong characters that engage you and your audience from 7 to 9 p.m. Theater director Kate Fishman will focus on dentifying the personality and motivations of the character you’re portraying.  What is his/her history? How did this story create the person the audience meets onstage?  Who are the other characters?  How does your character relate to them?  How do they relate to your character?  What goes on for your character when he/she is not part of the scene? Workshop is free. Registration is required.

Wednesday, May 2

Art & Science Nature Journaling

Middle-schoolers in grades five through eight can explore nature with Peter Stone, a Marion resident and award-winning artist and writer. Stone will host Art and Science Nature Journaling from 4 to 5 p.m.

"Fire up your imagination and join us to experience the outdoors in a whole new way," MAC organizers said.

Stone, author of Dreams to Dance in Moonlight: Ways of Feeling, Seeing, and Imagining, will encourage participants to explore symbols in nature through journaling. Participants will create pen and watercolor artwork in journals and begin writing writing their own stories.

Admission is free and all materials are provided. Registration is required.

Painting with Acrylics for Beginners

Barbara Healy hosts Painting with Acrylics for Beginners, a relaxed workshop from 7 to 9 p.m. at the MAC. Learn how to use these water-based paints on canvas. Participants will paint a coastal scene -- and everyone's sky will be a bit different!

The cost to participate is $25. Materials are included. Registration is required.

Thursday, May 3

Dyeing to Wear It
HURRY! SEATS FILLING QUICKLY

“Environmental Alchemist” Rhonda Fazio hosts this workshop from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. that focuses on the design and function of the classic silk scarf. Participants will learn dyeing techniques and will use dyes created from natural, raw materials to dye a scarf and create a piece of wearable art. The workshop will also address ways to wear the scarf. The cost is $35. All materials included. Registration is required.

Community Theater Tech: Sound

Learn about handling sound for the stage: cue microphones, sound effects, and music, and balance the show's sound from 3 to 5 p.m.

Engineer Steven McManus will explore the principles of sound engineering for live theater, from the selection of the right microphones for the job to integrating live and recorded sound. You’ll get hands-on practice with the equipment, experimenting with the interactions between microphone and speaker placement, and work on equalization and avoiding feedback. Workshop is free. Registration is required.

Community Theater Tech: Lighting

Help create the magic of theater! The person behind the light board highlights characters, creates transitions from one scene to the next, and helps set the tone for the entire production. Learn techniques from engineer Steve McManus from 7 to 9 p.m.

McManus will teach use, care, and safe rigging of lighting instruments; operating control systems, dimmers, and DMX; creating appropriate lighting angles; and programming it all into a show. Participants will get hands-on practice setting up a lighting scene, including hanging and focusing lights, running cables, and programming the light board. Workshop is free. Registration is required.

Friday, May 4

Open Studio & Painting Demonstration

Stop by Anthi's Drawing Room, 11 Spring Street, for a painting demonstration by Bobbi Heath. Explore the collections, see new artisan work, and engage directly with the artist. This event is free and takes place from 5 to 7 p.m.. RSVP by May 1 by e-mailing info@anthif.com.

Saturday, May 5

Taking Better Photos with Your Smartphone -- SOLD OUT

Hosted by Deb Ehrens from 10 to 12:30 p.m., this is a basic level workshop that will focus on the elements visual storytelling. It will begin with a short talk demonstrating how focus, exposure and composition are used on a smartphone to create stronger images. You don’t need a particular app, you need to take creative control! Workshop is $15.

Creating with Flowers -- SOLD OUT

From 2 to 4:30 p.m., award-winning floral designer Sylvia Strand will show you how to transform an ordinary arrangement into a creative statement and break out of traditional floral designs.  You’ll also learn about sourcing flowers and greens—even from your backyard. Workshop is $15.

Lighting Your Home & Your Art

Hosted by Anthi's Drawing Room, 11 Spring Street, Evelyn Audet of Evelyn Audet Lighting Design will present on the aspects of light and how good lighting design can transform your home. She will share her many years of experience with information about fixture selection and working with a lighting designer.

Event is from 3 to 4 p.m. Light refreshments will be served. RSVP to info@anthif.com by May 1.

"Color and Light" Workshop

Join painter Bobbie Heath at Anthi's Drawing Room, 11 Spring Street, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. This workshop will address the interaction of light with the subject matter in a painting. Participants will learn how to "see" this light pattern and recreate it on the canvas, how the color of an object is affected by the light, and how to mix rich, clean color that matches what you see.

Create compelling paintings through a series of exercises that build on one another and take home one or two small paintings of you own.

Students may paint in oil, acrylic, pastel, or water color and must bring their own supplies. Registration at anthifrangiadis.com/pages/events is required. The workshop fee is $110. Lunch and light refreshments will be provided.

Direct workshop-specific questions to bobbiheath@gmail.com and registration questions to info@anthif.com.

Interactive family concert: Open Music Lesson and Recital

On Saturday, May 5, from 4 to 5 p.m., musician and educator Colin Bradley and his students ages 5 through 15 will host a recital that will also serve as an open music lesson. Admission is free. Registration is required.

Works will include original compositions as well as contemporary, classical, and Broadway tunes.

Bradley will demonstrate musical phrases and challenge the audience and his students to recreate them.

"Whether you're an accomplished musician, an aspiring one, or a lover of music," organizers note, "you'll enjoy this fun family event."

Sunday, May 6

Soundscapes at the MAC

On Sunday, May 6, from 7 to 9 p.m., musicians Putnam Murdock, Barry Gross, and Colin Bradley present Soundscapes at the MAC. Designed to engage the audience in the creative process, the group will "take you on a musical journey, creating soundscapes laced with lyric and story," organizers said.

Admission is $12 per person. Registration is required.