Administrative History
Established in 1907 in Peterborough, New Hampshire, the MacDowell Colony was founded as an artist colony by Marian MacDowell (1857-1956) in honor of her husband, American composer Edward MacDowell(1860-1908). The land for the Colony comes from the farm purchased by the MacDowell’s in 1896, which served as their summer retreat and allowed Edward to focus on his creative pursuits. As his health declined in 1905, Edward dreamed of an artist’s retreat so that others could create art in the same peaceful setting that he had. In the final year of his life, the Edward MacDowell Association was formed to administer the colony and the first artist studio was built. Beginning under the direction of Marian MacDowell, the MacDowell Colony has expanded throughout the years, with additional studios, artist fellowships, and fundraising events.