Bridging the Gap
The Fabric Arts Festival was founded to unite the three cities of Fall River and New Bedford, Massachusetts, and Providence.
Fabric Arts Festival’s dinner performance. Photo courtesy of Fabric Fall River.
New Bedford and Fall River, Massachusetts, are so close to Providence, yet the two Portuguese-influenced cities feel a world away. The Fabric Arts Festival was founded to help unite the three cities through a series of October concerts, art exhibitions, public art displays, dinners and workshops. The festival is taking place from Oct. 10–13 at various locations with multiple events.
Fabric Arts Festival was co-founded by Portugalia Marketplace co-owner Michael Benevides and Portugal-based curator Jesse James, and it’s organized by Casa dos Açores de Nova Inglaterra and a production team on both continents. Artists, chefs and performers will fly in from Lisbon and other international and North American cities specifically for the event, bringing their eclectic art and performance and innovative cuisine to the area. fabricfallriver.com
FOOD EVENTS
Performative Dinner, Oct. 10
The festival kicks off with a special program dedicated to contemporary Azorean practices, featuring a dinner performance that invites participants to “eat the landscape of the island.” Curated by chefs Hugo Ferreira and Catarina Ferreira, this culinary experience will include live Portuguese music.
Festa de Fabric, Oct. 11
For the first time, Fabric is hosting its own festa (a traditional festival that celebrates culture) involving a collective kitchen and food court, and a dance floor experience. Portuguese sensation Pedro Mafama will lead the party with his pop hits, blending various electronic and urban influences with traditional Portuguese aesthetics.
