Nineteen not-for-profit organizations throughout the South Fork have joined forces to form the Hamptons Arts Network (HAN), designed to create a unified arts community in the Hamptons. The consortium’s goal is to promote collaboration, partnerships, and shared programming among its members, and to advocate for the arts in the areas of economic development, tourism, and education. HAN will create events to shine a light on the year-round cultural mecca located on Long Island’s East End.
THAW FEST is a Hamptons-wide weekend festival to celebrate spring and promote the broadly diverse range of cultural programs and institutions that make the South Fork of Long Island unique. THAW FEST offers three days of exhibitions, theater performances, film, music, garden tours, workshops, community engagement and family-focused events.
New York State Assemblyman Fred Thiele stated, “The East End is blessed with a wide range of cultural institutions and resources that contribute substantially to the diverse and rich quality of life that we enjoy. Not only do the arts bring fullness to our daily lives, they are also a catalyst for our regional economy. Our cultural institutions foster tourism and create jobs across the economic spectrum. The decision of 19 local arts organizations to join together to create a unified arts community will only serve to strengthen their important role in our community and will spur economic activity for our local businesses year-round. I look forward to THAW FEST, as the East End takes the next step forward in celebrating our cultural heritage.”
A map, a list of the member organizations, and more detailed information about THAW FEST can be found on the HamptonsArtsNetwork website.