The most hoppin’ Art and Cultural Center in Greater New Bedford.
Where you can make art, friends and memories while exploring culture, learning new things and discovering endless possibilities.
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Private Parties
Birthdays
Special Celebrations
Friends Night Out
Corporate Bonding
Classes
and
Workshops
An Outstanding Selection
Special Events
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Paint Nights
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Mural Slam Competition
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Gallery Showings
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Outsourced Workshops (we come to you)
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Home School Workshops
Our Instructors
Our Outstanding local talent. They are versatile, personable, gifted, generous and . Each one a treasure.
NBACE Founder, Director, Instructor
Karen Charbonneau Zukas
Watercolor, oil painting, drawing, clay, paper marbling, needle felting, quilling, crepe paper flowers, basket weaving, Nantucket bracelets, decoupage etc.
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Karen Charbonneau Zukas is a graduate of Tufts University and The School of the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston with a master’s degree in education from Western New England University. She is a recognized portrait painter and potter and former columnist for the Bulletin in Boston. She has been teaching various subjects, primarily advanced ESL, fine art, writing, test prep, debate and humanities; at universities, preparatory, public, private and international schools and community ed in Boston and now locally for over 35 years. She and her family moved back to the south coast in 2013. She is currently working on a book which is a series of short animal stories from her personal experiences. She is the proprietor of Peasantware Pottery in New Bedford and the founder of The New Bedford Art and Cultural Emporium at Kilburn !
NBACE Instructor
James Watkins
Growing Mushrooms, Micro Greens
​
Jim Watkins, is the owner of Nurcha Foods LLC based in Fall River MA. He's been an avid gardener for almost two decades, has chaired the conservation committee of the Taunton Garden Club, and over a decade ago began to really be intrigued by the mushrooms he found growing in his yard. This led him down the mushroom growing rabbit hole, including running a Living Systems Lab for SCIL makerspace, where they grew mushrooms and even began work on combining mushroom growing with Aquaponics. In 2021 he left his full time Product Manager position to pursue his love of growing good, delicious, healthy food
NBACE Instructor
Sarah Gifford
Book Binding, Accordion Books, Junk Journals, Botanical illustration
​
Sara Gifford is an art education graduate from Bridgewater State University. She has been studying nature through the lens of watercolor painting for several years. Her specialties include watercolor illustration of subject matter such as birds, mushrooms and flora. She learned through referencing the world around her as well as through countless nature books. Her work has been published in The Bridge, and has been displayed at UMass Boston’s University Hall Gallery. She is currently studying for her Master's degree while working in her field.
NBACE Instructor
Phil Zukas
Piano, Harmonica
Phil Zukas, our jazz pianist, studied music education at Berklee College of Music in Boston. In addition to being an accomplished solo player, he has accompanied vocalists, worked with small and large combos, and conducted and played with bands in a variety of settings. Phil began teaching piano, electric keyboard and organ to students of all ages and abilities in 1981. Phil has performed traditional classical works, as well as a variety of contemporary styles, including jazz, blues, rock n’ roll and improvisation. He has also enlarged his musical experience by taking up the banjo and most recently, the ukulele.
NBACE Instructor
Jackie Cannon Pullo
Acrylic Painting
Jackie Cannon Pullo is a graduate of U.Mass Dartmouth, where she majored in painting and education. She has always been an artist, and solidified her career in college. She is a competent water color artist as well as an acrylic painter focusing on loose realism with a passion for neurographic art. She has spent much of her time teaching and assisting at ORRHS in Mattapoisett where she currently resides. She is a native of Swansea Ma. and has always summered locally.
NBACE Instructor
Danya Bischel
Linoleum Block Printing, Pet Portraits, Cyanotype Printing, Modern Calligraphy
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Danya Bichsel, a native of Mattapoisett, has been creating art her whole life. She graduated from UMass Amherst with a BFA in Art Education and a minor in Art History. She specializes in painting, drawing, and hand lettering, but has also recently gotten into pottery and darkroom photography. Sharing her passion for art is what makes her feel most inspired in this world. Danya is currently a teaching assistant at ORRJHS.
NBACE Instructor
Cigar Box Guitars, Chinese Calligraphy, The Royal Game of Ur, Bird Carving
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Jason Charbonneau has been making and playing cigar box guitars for many years as a pastime. He has been a professional state line painter for over 20 years, is a trained cabinet maker, home builder as well as a true outdoor enthusiast. Besides making and repairing guitars, his interests also include, travel, history, Chinese Water color, clay hand work, acrylic painting, film making, agriculture, wood carving, wood burning; Jason is a true Renaissance Man.
NBACE Instructor
Carolyn Picanzo
Resin Jewelry, Macrame, Candle Making, Wreath Making
Carolyn is a South Dartmouth native with extensive experience in all things art and craft related. Carolyn is a lifelong craftsman, she has gone through decades of trends as well as the classics within crafting and selling her wares at fairs and trade shows. She is the former owner of several restaurants, day cares and boutiques, and is the owner of Artistic Design Originals where she makes and sells her creations. She is also currently a teaching assistant at Quinn Elementary in Dartmouth, and is co-owner of Lazer Works !! There is no moss on this girl...unless she put it there with a glue gun!!
NBACE Instructor
Paul Zukas
Essential Auto Maintenance
​
​Paul Zukas is a graduate of Universal Technical Institute in Norwood MA, and has been a certified, licensed automechanic for several years. Growing up in Boston, he has experience working with Jack Madden Ford and Cadillac, then as a fleet mechanic at Charles River Auto which is part of the MBTA Ride service, and currently at Boston Logan Airport working for Techtron and Jet Blue on their fleet vehicles, and yes planes sometimes! He is certified in inspections, and specializes in steering, suspension, allignment, brakes, preventive maintenance, diagnostics and electrical systems. Paul is also a former lifeguard at the New Bedford YMCA (you may recognize him !! )
NBACE Instructor
Barabara Cory
Sewing ~ all levels
Babara is NBACE's resident Master Tailor and Sewing Instructor. She attended Chamberlayne Jr. College in Boston and received a degree in applied sciences, later, she attended UMass Dartmouth and received a Bachelors of Fine Arts focusing on Metal smithing. She has worked in the garment industry, for private clients, Jos. A. Banks, Cherry and Web and became a master Tailor during her years at Nordstrom's in Providence.
NBACE Instructor
Alyson Therrien
Dotted Mandala Painting
​
Alyson Therrien is a Southcoast artist who has been drawing and painting since she was a child. She is also a writer and reiki master who creates mandala art using found beach stones, plaster, paper, ornaments, and virtually any decorative object. Her body of work also includes photography, architectural illustration, and works in acrylics, pastel, and watercolor. A Fairhaven, Massachusetts native, Alyson received her Architecture degree from Wentworth Institute of Technology and has practiced design and construction in Boston and D.C. for nearly 25 years. She currently creates and writes from her New Bedford home studios.
Our Instructors
Our Outstanding local talent. They are versatile, personable, gifted, generous and unique. Each one a treasure.
NBACE Founder, Director, Instructor
Karen Charbonneau Zukas
Watercolor, oil painting, drawing, clay, paper marbling, needle felting, quilling, crepe paper flowers, basket weaving, Nantucket bracelets, decoupage etc.
​
Karen Charbonneau Zukas is a graduate of Tufts University and The School of the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston with a master’s degree in education from Western New England University. She is a recognized portrait painter and potter and former columnist for the Bulletin in Boston. She has been teaching various subjects, primarily advanced ESL, fine art, writing, test prep, debate and humanities; at universities, preparatory, public, private and international schools and community ed in Boston and now locally for over 35 years. She and her family moved back to the south coast in 2013. She is currently working on a book which is a series of short animal stories from her personal experiences. She is the proprietor of Peasantware Pottery in New Bedford and the founder of The New Bedford Art and Cultural Emporium at Kilburn !
NBACE Instructor
James Watkins
Growing Mushrooms, Micro Greens
​
Jim Watkins, is the owner of Nurcha Foods LLC based in Fall River MA. He's been an avid gardener for almost two decades, has chaired the conservation committee of the Taunton Garden Club, and over a decade ago began to really be intrigued by the mushrooms he found growing in his yard. This led him down the mushroom growing rabbit hole, including running a Living Systems Lab for SCIL makerspace, where they grew mushrooms and even began work on combining mushroom growing with Aquaponics. In 2021 he left his full time Product Manager position to pursue his love of growing good, delicious, healthy food
NBACE Instructor
Sarah Gifford
Book Binding, Accordion Books, Junk Journals, Botanical illustration
​
Sara Gifford is an art education graduate from Bridgewater State University. She has been studying nature through the lens of watercolor painting for several years. Her specialties include watercolor illustration of subject matter such as birds, mushrooms and flora. She learned through referencing the world around her as well as through countless nature books. Her work has been published in The Bridge, and has been displayed at UMass Boston’s University Hall Gallery. She is currently studying for her Master's degree while working in her field.
NBACE Instructor
Phil Zukas
Piano, Harmonica
Phil Zukas, our jazz pianist, studied music education at Berklee College of Music in Boston. In addition to being an accomplished solo player, he has accompanied vocalists, worked with small and large combos, and conducted and played with bands in a variety of settings. Phil began teaching piano, electric keyboard and organ to students of all ages and abilities in 1981. Phil has performed traditional classical works, as well as a variety of contemporary styles, including jazz, blues, rock n’ roll and improvisation. He has also enlarged his musical experience by taking up the banjo and most recently, the ukulele.
NBACE Instructor
Jackie Cannon Pullo
Acrylic Painting
Jackie Cannon Pullo is a graduate of U.Mass Dartmouth, where she majored in painting and education. She has always been an artist, and solidified her career in college. She is a competent water color artist as well as an acrylic painter focusing on loose realism with a passion for neurographic art. She has spent much of her time teaching and assisting at ORRHS in Mattapoisett where she currently resides. She is a native of Swansea Ma. and has always summered locally.
NBACE Instructor
Danya Bischel
Linoleum Block Printing, Pet Portraits, Cyanotype Printing, Modern Calligraphy
​
Danya Bichsel, a native of Mattapoisett, has been creating art her whole life. She graduated from UMass Amherst with a BFA in Art Education and a minor in Art History. She specializes in painting, drawing, and hand lettering, but has also recently gotten into pottery and darkroom photography. Sharing her passion for art is what makes her feel most inspired in this world. Danya is currently a teaching assistant at ORRJHS.
NBACE Instructor
Cigar Box Guitars, Chinese Calligraphy, The Royal Game of Ur, Bird Carving
​
Jason Charbonneau has been making and playing cigar box guitars for many years as a pastime. He has been a professional state line painter for over 20 years, is a trained cabinet maker, home builder as well as a true outdoor enthusiast. Besides making and repairing guitars, his interests also include, travel, history, Chinese Water color, clay hand work, acrylic painting, film making, agriculture, wood carving, wood burning; Jason is a true Renaissance Man.
NBACE Instructor
Carolyn Picanzo
Resin Jewelry, Macrame, Candle Making, Wreath Making
Carolyn is a South Dartmouth native with extensive experience in all things art and craft related. Carolyn is a lifelong craftsman, she has gone through decades of trends as well as the classics within crafting and selling her wares at fairs and trade shows. She is the former owner of several restaurants, day cares and boutiques, and is the owner of Artistic Design Originals where she makes and sells her creations. She is also currently a teaching assistant at Quinn Elementary in Dartmouth, and is co-owner of Lazer Works !! There is no moss on this girl...unless she put it there with a glue gun!!
NBACE Instructor
Paul Zukas
Essential Auto Maintenance
​
​Paul Zukas is a graduate of Universal Technical Institute in Norwood MA, and has been a certified, licensed automechanic for several years. Growing up in Boston, he has experience working with Jack Madden Ford and Cadillac, then as a fleet mechanic at Charles River Auto which is part of the MBTA Ride service, and currently at Boston Logan Airport working for Techtron and Jet Blue on their fleet vehicles, and yes planes sometimes! He is certified in inspections, and specializes in steering, suspension, allignment, brakes, preventive maintenance, diagnostics and electrical systems. Paul is also a former lifeguard at the New Bedford YMCA (you may recognize him !! )
NBACE Instructor
Barabara Cory
Sewing ~ all levels
Babara is NBACE's resident Master Tailor and Sewing Instructor. She attended Chamberlayne Jr. College in Boston and received a degree in applied sciences, later, she attended UMass Dartmouth and received a Bachelors of Fine Arts focusing on Metal smithing. She has worked in the garment industry, for private clients, Jos. A. Banks, Cherry and Web and became a master Tailor during her years at Nordstrom's in Providence.
NBACE Instructor
Alyson Therrien
Dotted Mandala Painting
​
Alyson Therrien is a Southcoast artist who has been drawing and painting since she was a child. She is also a writer and reiki master who creates mandala art using found beach stones, plaster, paper, ornaments, and virtually any decorative object. Her body of work also includes photography, architectural illustration, and works in acrylics, pastel, and watercolor. A Fairhaven, Massachusetts native, Alyson received her Architecture degree from Wentworth Institute of Technology and has practiced design and construction in Boston and D.C. for nearly 25 years. She currently creates and writes from her New Bedford home studios.