CELEBRATE THE “CHARACTERS OF SALEM” with OUR 2026 Community Art Project!
"Characters of Salem" is the featured Community Art Project for the 18th annual Salem Arts Festival
About the Project
Led by public artist Linda Mullen, “Characters of Salem” celebrates the Salem 400+ by decorating free-standing letters spelling S-A-L-E-M-400+, ultimately creating a whimsical assortment of friendly monster “characters.” The letters have been constructed by the Salem High School CTE program, and individual letters will be decorated by different community groups reflecting Salem’s diversity and creativity.
Participating community groups currently include the Phoenix School, Salem High School Art Honor Society, Brookhouse Home, and Gallows Hill Artist Studios.
All the individual “characters” will be displayed and eventually unified in downtown Salem during the 2026 Salem Arts Festival (June 5-7) and beyond, creating a unique public art installation that represents the collective creativity of the Salem community.
Support
This project is made possible with the support of:
Salem Cultural Council
The Witchery
The Phoenix School
Marblehead Bank
About the Community Art Project
The Community Art Project is one of the core features of the Salem Arts Festival. Each year, a new project incorporates hundreds of individual pieces constructed with upcycled materials by the community and assembled into one final installation, embodying the festival's commitment to accessibility, sustainability, and community engagement.
Join us in celebrating the “Characters of Salem” at the 2026 Salem Arts Festival!
