The Redefining of New Hampshire

After the Old Man of the Mountain fell New Hampshire was left with an unanswered question — what defines us? No, it is not tax-free shopping or the lack of a motorcycle helmet law — but the arts that makes us unique. New Hampshire was home to the White Mountain Art Movement that for almost century defined our state, built its economy, and launched our tourism industry and our conservation movement. New Hampshire was a very lucky state because the White Mountain Art Movement not only defined who we are but introduced us to the world.  And, as we rebuild our economy, the arts can and will lead us again.

Hundreds of painters from all over were once drawn to the White Mountains, and their paintings spread around the world introducing everyone to the beauty and wonder of New Hampshire.  The railroads followed, and so did the tourists — launching the era of the Grand Hotels. It also built the Mount Washington Cog Railroad, and launched the M/S Mount Washington. At the same time Augustus Saint-Gaudens came to Cornish to paint a farmer who looked like Abraham Lincoln. Saint-Gaudens was so taken the beauty of the area that he decided to establish a studio there.   Soon his friends and fellow artists in New York following him to found the Cornish art colony.  Not far away in Peterborough the MacDowell colony welcomed artists from all over to the beauty of the Monadnock region.   At the same time the new League of NH Craftsmen brought together most talented artists and craftsmen in the state and launching their annual crafts fair that still defines New Hampshire.

But it did not end there – the Palace Theatre helped kick start the rebirth of downtown Manchester in the late 1970s, as did the Capital Center for the Arts in Concord leading up to the city’s transformative Main Street Project. Today, according to the late Van McLeod, New Hampshire still has more artists and writers per capita than any other state in America.

It is a big deal, it is who we are and something we need to be proud of. New Hampshire today is defined by the arts, and we need to invest more in the arts economy and recognize what a huge part it is of our image.