Arts on Main has transformed its Artist-in-Residency program to a virtual program in response to the global coronavirus pandemic.

Begun in 2019 with funding from the Cook Foundation, the program spent 14 months hosting artists in person in Gloucester before the pandemic required that people shelter in place. The artists, who worked in many creative formats, were from Europe and across the U.S.

“We are working now with our 2020 and 2021 artists to bring their creativity here virtually,” said AIR Director Mollie Stewart. “Once it becomes safe for travel again, we will bring our Artists in Residence to Gloucester in person.”

During this shelter-in-place interim, the AIR program has already virtually hosted writer Dan Berne of Oregon, who has shared some pages from the novel he’s currently writing on the Arts On Main website, and painter Abigail McBride will soon offer an online version of the portraiture class she had originally scheduled live at Brent & Becky’s Bulbs.

“W...