MANCHESTER, NH – Join us for the first Open Doors Arts and Cultural Tour of 2015 on Thursday, April 30, 2015. These popular and free Trolley Nights, a community endeavor of the Majestic Theater, are organized each year to celebrate the amazing diversity of artistic expression and dynamic museum experiences that the city has to offer.  Two trolleys will circulate the same route between the hours of 5 p.m. and 8 p.m., stopping at each venue about every 30 minutes. The trolleys start at Langer Place at 5:00 p.m., but you can hop on at any venue. Free parking is available at 55 S. Commercial Street and at 200 Bedford Street.

Come and support Manchester’s wonderful arts and cultural community! There’s always something new and surprising to see and enjoy for people of all ages.  Here’s what’s happening at each of the venues to start off our thirteenth season:

Langer Place (55 South Commercial Street): The studio of Althea Haropulos will be featuring an exhibit titled “Tiny Demons”, an artistic exploration of the world beneath the surface.  On display will be photo based works by Bill Whitman and Althea Haropulos with multimedia collages by Karen Bessette.

Millyard Museum (200 Bedford Street): Visit the Millyard Museum to view the permanent exhibit “Woven in Time” that covers local history from Paleo-Indians to the Segway. Also, view the special exhibit,Seeing Me, an exciting new art exhibit by Manchester school children. The exhibit features artwork by local children, grades 5 through 12, enrolled in SEPIA (Student Enrichment Program in the Arts) and BRINGIT! (Bringing Refugees, Immigrants, and Neighbors Gently Into Tomorrow).

SEE Science Center (200 Bedford Street): The SEE Science Center features more than 80 hands-on exhibits for visitors of all ages.  Many of these exhibits blur the lines between science, interactive art and sculpture.  Topics include robotics, magnetism, motion and forces, sound, light and simple machines.  SEE is also home to the award winning LEGO Millyard Project, a model of the Amoskeag millyard circa 1900, made entirely of LEGO bricks. The largest of its kind in the world, the Millyard LEGO Project includes running water in the river and canals, trains, the Pandora Mill, Notre Dame Bridge and more than 6,000 LEGO mini figures in scenes throughout the project.  SEE is open 7 days a week.  200 Bedford St. Manchester, NH.  669-0400. www.see-sciencecenter.org.

E.W. Poore Framing, Inc. (775 Canal Street): Explore this custom framing studio and art gallery housed in the former Manchester Locomotive Works building. E. W. Poore is one of Manchester’s oldest continuously run, family-owned businesses, having been in operation since 1880.  Stop in to help them welcome spring with inspired images from many local artists.

Art 3 Gallery (44 West Brook Street): After this very long white winter, Art 3 Gallery presents “Color-Full”, on display from April 27- July 3.  This group show is a visual delight and features the work of over 70 artists from throughout New England. “Color-Full” embodies vibrant colors and includes paintings, glass, and sculpture that burst with color and movement. Join us for the opening on Thursday April 30 from 5:00-8:00, in conjunction with Open Doors Manchester.

Manchester Artists Assoc. Carol Rines Center (1528 Elm Street): Manchester Artists Association and Granite State Arts Market are having a Pop Up Show at the Carol Rines Gallery, 1528 Elm St. for Open Doors Trolley Night. Members of the Manchester Artists Assoc. will be exhibiting original art in several media and will also have matted prints and cards for sale. Refreshments served.

Framers Market (1301 Elm Street): The Framers Market will be hosting the opening reception for their latest exhibit “Cut It Out”. This show was inspired by a trip to the Museum of Modern Art in NYC to attend Henri Matisse’s “The Cutouts” exhibition, a show comprised of the collage work that he did in his later years. In addition to displaying the work of 4 NH artists, we will be providing paper and scissors for those who wish to try their hand at collage. Come join us for refreshments, great art and some fun! For additional information you can call the gallery at 668-6989, find us on Facebook or atframersmarketnh.com.

NH Institute of Art (77 Amherst Street Gallery):  New Hampshire Institute of Art strives to engage students, artists, scholars, and the community in the arts through quality education, outreach, and access to creative resources, with a focus on the present and a vision on the future.  Stop in to see what students and faculty have been working on!

Studioverne (81 Hanover Street, Odd Fellows Building): Studioverne is a fine art fused glass studio located directly across the street from the Palace Theatre on Hanover Street. This location is Verne’s working studio, where viewers are welcome to visit and see her art in progress. It is the one year anniversary of this location. In support of the arts and the 100 year anniversary of the Palace Theatre, Verne created a special project of glass Broadway playbills. See if you can guess them all displayed in her street level window and enter a drawing for an original piece of fused glass.

GREGORVIOS Graphic Design Studio (83 Hanover Street, Odd Fellows Building):  Founded in 2011, GREGORVIOS Graphic Design Studio is a branding and design studio that focuses on developing print and digital media content for a variety of clients.

Art on the Wall at City Hall (One City Hall Plaza): The Art on the Wall at City Hall is pleased to be showing pastel artist, Nancy Johnson. Nancy was involved to early development of animation in the computer industry and in retirement has turned to her first love, art. After taking courses and pastel workshops with various artists, she fell in love with the brilliance and permanence of the medium and now paints exclusively with pastels.  Her artwork consists primarily of landscapes, florals, and still life.  She enjoys painting landscapes, scenes, and house portraits that others commission using color to capture the mood and create and image that become a permanent memory.  Nancy will host a reception at City hall during Open Doors Trolley Night.

Studio 550 (550 Elm Street): Stop into Studio 550, a community art center that offers classes to people who don’t know they are artists yet. Beginners are always welcome! They will be displaying handmade ceramic vessels for the display of flowers. There will also be a hands-on clay activity available for all ages.

For more information, contact any of the participants, visit www.opendoorsmanchester.com, “like” the Open Doors Manchester Trolley Night Facebook page, or call the Majestic Theatre at (603) 669-7469.