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About Us

We want to be a safe, creative space where everyone is welcome.

Our volunteer staff works endlessly to create an enjoyable and welcoming experience from the moment you walk through our doors. Our quality sound engineering and venue acoustics help us to provide countless unforgettable performances.

We are here to share with you the wonderful array of talent that your friends and neighbors have to offer, along with some regional artists! But our mission goes beyond entertainment: We want YOU to take part in the experience…not only as audience members, but also as creators and we can provide that education here!

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”The long-term vision is to have a stand-alone facility that can be a source of pride, if nothing else, for the community. To serve the community and educate in the performing arts. We’re not looking to be another touring act kind of venue, but if we can generate a sense of community with the four legs of our stool — music, dance, theater and cinema — and get people working together…It’s about coming together as a community and being another place where we can bond together.

- Bryon Knight: President of SCPA

4 Legs of Our Stool

MUSIC

Local, regional and national artists will fill the center with their talents!

  • The admission price will be of nominal cost or funded by sponsor donations.
  • Music clinics, lectures, exhibitions, and open mics and jam sessions will be held at little or no cost.
  • Space for private functions will be available to rent.

CINEMA

Aaannd, ACTION!

  • Regional digital and film producers will present their programs with a Q&A afterward.
  • Classes will be offered to budding filmmakers in pre-production, production, and post-production standards and editing techniques.
  • Lectures from film and digital greats… would be great!
    (Hey! Steven Spielberg frequently moors his yacht in New Bedford Harbor!) … just sayin’!

DANCE

Ballet, Ballroom, Square Dancing and more!

  • There will be open areas for rehearsals and performances in various styles.
  • Programs and recitals will be presented in the main hall by and for local artists.
  • Regional and national troupes will be hosted for clinics and master classes.

THEATER

Dramatic performances!

  • Plays, poetry readings, storytelling, comedy, and musicals will be rehearsed and/or presented within the facility.
  • Educational presentations on Stage Crafts such as Theatrical Lighting/Sound techniques, Set design/fabrication, Stage Management, Costume Fabrication, Stage Combat, etc.

The Shepherd Center for the Performing Arts is a 509(a)(2) Public Charity under the Internal Revenue Code Nonprofit Section 501(c)(3) .

If you would like to support our efforts to have a truly “Community-Focused” Performing Arts Center,
you can make a donation here! If you are interested in volunteering with us, please contact volunteer@shepherd.center

Meet Our Board of Directors

President – Bryon Knight

Chairman – Dave McKinley

Treasurer – John Mota Sr. 

Secretary – Jason Dana Costa

Our Mission

The Shepherd Center for the Performing Arts was founded in 2022 to educate, enrich and support the performing arts community in Fairhaven, MA and the surrounding communities. We provide clinics, rehearsal space, lectures, and outreach programs that give emerging artists opportunities to perform and grow. We distribute materials, instruments and instruction that are designed to entertain, educate, support, and inspire artists, patrons and the community.

34 Center Street
(William Street Entrance)
Fairhaven, MA 02719

508-894-SHEP (7437)

team@theshepherdcenter.org

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The Shepherd Center for the Performing Arts is a 509(a)(2) Public Charity under the Internal Revenue Code Nonprofit Section 501(c)(3).
© 2025 The Shepherd Center for the Performing Arts