The best arts & culture spots in Rochester

Todd Bonita Art Gallery keeps things lively with a curated roster of artists like Donald Jurney, Amy Brnger, and Tom Hughes, plus approachable art classes and occasional events, all split between its Portsmouth and Perkins Cove spots. Swing by when you want inspiration without the pretense.

From the Portsmouth newsletter, October 21, 2026

Kittery Art Association has been creating art and community since 1958, with rotating member exhibits, artist spotlights, workshops, artist talks, and a live music series in its Kittery Foreside gallery. Swing in for Shifting Colors, on view Oct 1 to 25, 2026, a thoughtful nod to autumn’s change.

From the Kittery newsletter, October 12, 2026

Don Gorvett Gallery has been championing contemporary woodcuts, drawings, and paintings since 2006, with a focus on Gorvett’s bold reduction woodcuts and work by other standout New England printmakers.

From the Portsmouth newsletter, October 13, 2026

Haley Art Gallery mixes original work with social-impact gifts handmade by women, and right now its Tapestry of Perspectives show runs through October 24, 2026. It’s also a low-key community hub, from artist and author talks to a mellow Victorian Tea-Time Art hang you didn’t know you needed.

From the Kittery newsletter, October 5, 2026

Dog Art Gallery turns pet love into legit fine art, showcasing Kimberly Sarah’s striking portraits of dogs, cats, and the humans who adore them in a spacious Customs House gallery. It’s local, heartfelt, and often supports rescue work, so swing by to get inspired or plot your own commission.

From the Portsmouth newsletter, October 5, 2026

Susann Foster Brown Studio is the kind of spot locals keep in their back pocket, with limited-edition etchings, quilted pillows printed from those etchings, handspun yarn, colorful weaving kits, and cheerful sock dolls that somehow charm both kids and grownups. Perfect for thoughtful gifts or a relaxing project.

From the Sanford newsletter, September 29, 2026

Whether you're hunting for an original piece that actually sparks joy or need that slightly awkward family photo custom framed like a masterpiece, Thornhill Art Gallery delivers with rotating exhibits, hands-on workshops, and open calls for entry that keep Portsmouth-area creatives buzzing.

From the Portsmouth newsletter, September 29, 2026

Kittery Historical & Naval Museum is the kind of small, mighty spot locals appreciate, covering everything from shipbuilding to grand hotels and lighthouses. Check out their presentations and workshops throughout the year, then nerd out later with the free online database and interactive timeline.

From the Kittery newsletter, October 2, 2026

Green Art has been part of Kittery for 27 years, now shifting into a new chapter that blends stone and bronze sculpture, scientific illustration, and landscape design with an eye for the coast. Think Thomas Berger’s studio energy, sea shell greeting cards with David Adilman, and those Life in the Gulf of Maine posters.

From the Kittery newsletter, September 29, 2026

Rocking Horse Studio brings award-winning, world-class recording and production to our backyard in scenic Pittsfield.

From the Barnstead newsletter, September 25, 2026

For locals, PCAC is UNH’s hub for visual art, music, theatre and dance, with student productions, faculty recitals, workshops, and the Traditional Jazz Series on the calendar. Grab tickets when something grabs you, then wander in and be part of the experience at Paul Creative Arts Center.

From the Durham newsletter, September 24, 2026

Just Us Chickens is a member-run artist cooperative that’s been in Kittery since 2005, stocking unique, handcrafted work and small-batch goodies from 30-plus local makers. Swing by this month for fresh pieces and a guest-artist spotlight, and feel good knowing they support Footprints Food Pantry.

From the Kittery newsletter, October 20, 2026

Skip the tourist crush and let Wentworth-Gardner Historic House Association show you the South End you walk past every day, with seasonal guided tours through adjacent 18th-century homes and a historic warehouse.

From the Portsmouth newsletter, September 21, 2026

New Hampshire Art Association keeps things lively with rotating member and open-juried exhibitions, First Friday Art 'Round Town receptions, and a Second Saturday Speaker Series. There's even a Dinner Club that pairs a meal with a gallery visit, plus regular calls for art if you've got work ready to hang.

From the Portsmouth newsletter, September 27, 2026

Run by the Friends of the Alfred Shaker Museum, the museum spotlights the area's Shaker roots and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, with community energy peaking around the 2026 Shaker Hill Apple Festival... a solid reason to swing by between errands.

From the Sanford newsletter, September 18, 2026

Whether you're eyeing original paintings with real-deal backstories or itching to pick up a brush, SEH Studios Art in Dover balances gallery vibes with hands-on learning through oil painting lessons, watercolor workshops, drawing, beginner pyrography, and intro calligraphy, plus a small-group oil painting experience…

From the Dover newsletter, October 21, 2026

Katzman Contemporary Projects is setting up a contemporary art space in the Dover area, and the 'coming soon' vibes are real. com and get on their radar.

From the Dover newsletter, October 14, 2026

Whether you’re itching to splatter a canvas in the Splatter Space, settle in for live music and guided prompts, or check out powerful portraits celebrating trauma survivors, Aplomb Art Café and Gallery makes creativity feel easy and meaningful.

From the Durham newsletter, October 9, 2026

Whether you want to poke around a beautifully preserved writer’s home or get inspired with neighbors, Sarah Orne Jewett House serves up topic-driven exhibits, a 360° tour, and cozy Jewett House Writing Circle meetups on Oct 14 and Nov 11, plus A Gothic Victorian Christmas on Dec 9.

From the Somersworth newsletter, October 14, 2026

Whether you want a culture fix between errands, Rochester Museum of Fine Arts keeps things fresh with rotating exhibits, a 200+ piece permanent collection, and digital works in The Pixel Room on a 4K display, spread through the James W. Foley Memorial Community Center and Rochester Public Library.

From the Rochester newsletter, October 9, 2026

Skip the usual routine and wander the passageways at Albacore Park, a National Historic Landmark site, aboard the USS Albacore, a research sub once celebrated as the world’s fastest and a blueprint for modern design. Peek through the periscope, poke around the control room, then hit the museum and memorial garden.

From the Portsmouth newsletter, August 4, 2026

When you want theater that feels close enough to touch, Players Ring has a 75-seat black box that pulls you right into the story... no binoculars required. Expect bold direction, sharp acting, and a mix of new voices and reimagined classics that keep Portsmouth’s South End buzzing long after curtain.

From the Portsmouth newsletter, September 11, 2026

Whether you're craving thoughtful stage work or ready to jump into learning, West End Studio Theatre brings New Hampshire Theatre Project’s "theatre that matters" to town with the Elephant in the Room Series, youth education, and Theatre for Life. Consider this your midweek creative recharge.

From the Portsmouth newsletter, August 15, 2026

Portsmouth Historical Society keeps things lively with smart exhibits like Contemporary Currents with NHAA and the delightfully weird, deeply local Betty & Barney show, plus historical walking tours that trace over 400 years of stories, and the John Paul Jones House. Even diehard Seacoast lifers learn something new.

From the Portsmouth newsletter, September 1, 2026

Children’s Museum of New Hampshire keeps the kids busy and brains buzzing with hands-on art, science, and culture exhibits plus programs and classes that make learning feel like play. Toddlerfest runs through October 4, and the brand new 30-foot light-up Climber opens October 2... see you under the glowing steps.

From the Durham newsletter, September 30, 2026

Stroll the historic houses, heirloom gardens, and exhibitions at Strawbery Banke Museum, where costumed roleplayers bring the neighborhood’s 350-plus years to life.

From the Portsmouth newsletter, August 30, 2026

Step into Warner House on a guided tour of a 1716 brick beauty with early-Georgian bones, old-growth paneling, and four colonial wall murals considered the oldest in the country. It’s local history with character, six generations of stories packed into rooms you’ll actually want to linger in.

From the Portsmouth newsletter, August 19, 2026

Portsmouth Historical Society's John Paul Jones House turns 1758-era walls into living history with rotating exhibits and smartly curated shows like Contemporary Currents and the Betty & Barney story, plus guided walking tours that make you see familiar streets differently. A solid excuse to play hooky from errands.

From the Portsmouth newsletter, September 15, 2026

Hackmatack Playhouse turns a historic barn on a 17th-century farm into legit summer stock, with mainstage shows, live music, contra dances, and youth productions that feel wonderfully homegrown. Go for the affordable, high-quality theater, stay for the farm vibes... yes, those are real bison grazing nearby.

From the Sanford newsletter, September 24, 2026

Mill Pond Music Studio is the low-key Portsmouth spot to lay down that song that's been living in your head, with a calm, musician-first approach that keeps takes honest and the vibe relaxed. Great for locals chasing clean demos or polished singles without leaving town.

From the Portsmouth newsletter, September 20, 2026

Nonprofit theater showing plays, musicals & films with special programs for kids & senior citizens.

Whether you’ve walked past it a thousand times or not, Moffatt-Ladd House & Garden is the Georgian mansion John Adams called the grandest house in Portsmouth, with gardens, original family artifacts, and tours that weave five generations of stories, including those of free and enslaved residents.

From the Portsmouth newsletter, August 11, 2026