Cape Cod is well known as one of the most beautiful places on Earth. And now the word is out - - Cape Cod has also been voted one of the top 25 Arts Destination in the US! Cape Cod's exquisite vistas inspire the very best in creative expression.

More than 100 years ago, Charles W. Hawthorne established the first summer arts colony in the United States in Provincetown, a small fishing village at the tip of the Cape. By the 1930s and '40s, Provincetown was known worldwide as the summer home for abstract expressionists including Hans Hofmann, Willem de Kooning and Robert Motherwell. The gallery scene is still vivid in Provincetown, and today there are more than 300 galleries in the Cape's 15 towns and art shows by community arts organizations. Whether you are a browser or a serious collector, the Cape has something for you.

Cape Cod inspires writers and poets with its natural beauty and solitude. The Cape is home to Pulitzer Prize- and National Book Award-winning authors and poets, and the past two Poet Laureates of the United States, Robert Pinsky and Stanley Kunitz. Workshops, readings and performance are also available at a number of locations.

Theatre, music and dance can be found in any season on Cape Cod. Community theatre companies offer Broadway favorites, contemporary works and special children's shows. Looking for music? From reggae to rock, chamber music and chorale groups to the symphony, to acclaimed soloists, and summer band concerts, there's always music in the air. If dance is your interest, the Cape offers a variety of exceptional ballet, jazz, modern and tap shows throughout the year.

Do you know that the Pilgrims first landed in Provincetown before sailing to Plymouth? Even before 1620, explorers Bartholomew Gosnold looked around Falmouth in 1602 and Samuel de Champlain visited Nauset Harbor even earlier. The Cape's museums, historic houses and historical societies offer exhibits and special events to tell the story of how the Cape has been shaped by nature and the people who have lived here.

Art is a way of life on Cape Cod, and whether you are a resident or a visitor you have only to step away from the water to find a rich and vibrant arts scene.

Browse the site, and then Go Explore !!