MacDowell Opens Studios for Medal Day Honoring Anthony Braxton

MacDowell, the oldest multidisciplinary artist residency in the U.S., will open its doors to the public on Sunday, June 28, for Medal Day in Peterborough, New Hampshire. The event celebrates composer Anthony Braxton, who receives the Edward MacDowell Medal. Founded in 1907 by composer Edward MacDowell and pianist Marian MacDowell, the program has hosted over 8,800 Fellows across seven disciplines. Medal Day includes a picnic, open studios, and a performance by Pulitzer Prize-winning composer Tyshawn Sorey, who chaired the selection panel. Preceding events include a farmers market on June 25 and studio tours in Historic Harrisville on June 27. Executive Director Chiwoniso Kaitano emphasized the residency's unique environment of freedom, time, and space for artists. The medal, awarded since 1960, honors outstanding contributions to the arts, with past recipients including James Baldwin, Leonard Bernstein, and Georgia O'Keeffe.