A Home for Dance,
the Performing Arts,
And Creative Community Participation

The Yard is a creation and performance platform for artists from around the globe, and we offer exhilarating, wide-ranging, and educational arts experiences through performances, residencies, and community activities.

We present performances by international, national, and local artists; provide paid residencies for artists; offer inter-generational engagement programs and classes for our island community; and bring dance and creativity centered education programs into schools.

The Yard Arts summer season runs late May through early September, and The Winter Yard brings performances to Martha’s Vineyard from November to April. Making It, The Yard’s acclaimed dance-making and creativity initiative for youth,  has been welcomed into all island schools. Our community programs run year-round and can be found on The Yard’s campus, at the YMCA of Martha’s Vineyard, in Island libraries, at the FARM Institute, in the island’s senior and assisted living centers, and in other partner locations.

Our History

The Yard was founded in 1973 by the late choreographer Patricia N. Nanon. Ms. Nanon envisioned The Yard as "a playground without walls, a place to explore, to experiment, construct...a space in which to come together and to be alone." Her vision of providing creative “new work” residencies and performance opportunities for choreographers and dance companies has had a lasting impact on the national dance field.

OUR MISSION

The Yard supports diverse, contemporary dance-makers and related artists in their creative processes through paid, creative residency, public performance, long term education, and artist driven civic engagement. We serve all ages and cultural populations on Martha’s Vineyard, and work collaboratively with artists, producers, and other cultural organizers within regional, national, and international contexts.

Our Values