Upcoming - New Bedford Whaling Museum

Upcoming Programs

Musician Joaquin Santos and The Dope Lotus are known for their distinctive soulful vocals, tight funky grooves, and poetic authenticity to their musical story.

Slow Art Day

April 13, 2024 - April 13, 2024

Did you know that the average visitor only spends 21 seconds in front of a work of art? Let’s change that, together! Celebrate Slow Art Day at the New Bedford Whaling Museum on Saturday, April 14, 2024 and explore our Framing the Domestic Sea: Photographs by Jeffery C. Becton exhibition.

Cardboard Harbor

April 14, 2024 - April 20, 2024

Get ready to become a master architect and help us construct New Bedford’s harbor using only cardboard! From towering buildings to fascinating boats to sea creatures underwater, let your imagination and cardboard creations transform our Harbor View Gallery into a vibrant mini-version of the city we all know and love.

Duncan Simpson, PhD presents a lecture on “Portuguese Society and Salazar’s Political Police (PIDE) Before and After the Revolution of 25 April 1974.” The lecture will be followed by a panel discussion and lite reception.

The Zunzún Trio has an exciting rapport, ranging from modern jazz to Afro- Caribbean rhythms. They will bring original pieces to music by Thelonious Monk and Bebo Valdés.

Join Marina Dawn Wells, the NBWM Photography Collection Curatorial Fellow, as they discuss how the theme of Reflections runs throughout their exhibition of the same name.

Against the backdrop of the Whaling Museum, the South Coast Children’s Chorus (SCCC) concert’s theme of the sea resonates deeply, reflecting the community’s maritime legacy and connection to the ocean.

The Moonbellies perform an entertaining mix of originals, Americana, Old-time, Quebecois, Irish and Cajun music.

A conversation with Ymelda Rivera Laxton and multi-disciplinary artist and curator Cora-Allan Lafaiki Twiss (Niuean/Maori) about a Niuean barkcloth in the NBWM collection and Twiss’ journey as a contemporary practitioner of Hiapo.

MEMBERS’ TRIP ALASKA 2024

June 15, 2024 - June 24, 2024

Join Chief Curator Naomi Slipp on a New Bedford Whaling Museum Members’ Exclusive Trip to Alaska. Enjoy unique insight and access to Alaskan Indigenous art, whaling history, and cultural traditions with stops in Juneau, Sitka, Anchorage and Utqiagvik (Barrow).

Come celebrate Independence Day with the New Bedford Whaling Museum, from our Harbor View Gallery! This 21+ afterhours night out, features access to all museum galleries, followed by a cocktail party with the best harbor view in the city!

The New Bedford Whaling Museum will be hosting our annual summer fundraiser on the evening of Saturday, July 13th. Mark your calendars to join us to celebrate the season and support Museum programming and educational initiatives.

ONE WITH THE WHALE is a thrilling yet heartwarming story of one family’s struggle to rebuild their shattered identities and find a way to live with Ancient Indigenous values in the fast-paced, cruel modern world.

Back by popular demand, Aoife Clancy and Eddie Dillion will return to the music with Celtic and Americana music.

“Stories Lead us Home” is a series of short films presented in conversation with the Wider World and Scrimshaw exhibition, on view at the Whaling Museum from June 14 to November 11, 2024.

Katherine Vaz will discuss her novel ABOVE THE SALT, a labor of love over fifteen years in the making, a fictional account drawing upon the true story of the Madeiran refugees who were adopted by Illinois in the era of the Civil War.

Courtney M. Leonard (Shinnecock, b.1980) is a multi-media installation artist, ceramicist, and filmmaker, who has contributed to the Offshore Art movement. Leonard’s current work embodies the multiple definitions of “breach”, an exploration and documentation of historical ties to water, whale and material sustainability.

Keep Talking (Niugaa Yugaa), directed by Karen Lynn Weinberg, follows four Alaska Native women fighting to save Kodiak Alutiiq, an endangered language now spoken by less than 40 remaining fluent Native Elders.

The Spindle Rock River Rats’ repertoire is an eclectic blend of music genres, that includes bluegrass, gospel, sea shanties, old-time fiddle tunes, folk and blues.

Moby-Dick Marathon 2025

January 3, 2025 - January 5, 2025

SAVE THE DATES! One of the world’s best known live readings of Herman Melville’s iconic American novel Moby-Dick takes place every January at the New Bedford Whaling Museum. The Moby-Dick Marathon draws readers and enthusiasts from around the globe to the Museum’s campus and to viewing online.