Your Week at FAWC and in Provincetown
The week’s schedule will be included in your welcome packet and is available online here.
You should plan on arriving at FAWC for Check-in anytime between 4:00 and 6:00 PM on Sunday. If you’re staying with us we’ll assign you a parking space (if you requested it) and help you get settled into your apartment. And whether you’re staying with us or not, we’ll give you an informational packet to help get you up to speed before the week starts.
When you arrive at FAWC, at 24 Pearl Street, look for the main entryway to the administrative offices in the building on your left as you enter the property. There will be a big ‘Welcome’ sign outside the entryway to guide you, and staff will be there to greet you.
You may leave your luggage in the Student Lounge, which will be open and unlocked for your use, until check-in begins at 4:00 PM. Unfortunately, staff will not be available to check you in early.
Orientation is our first gathering together, and it takes place from 6:00 PM – 6:45 PM or so on Sunday in the Stanley Kunitz Common Room. Orientation is where you’ll meet staff and instructors as well as your fellow students, and where we’ll run through the week with you. After the orientation session, you will have a short meeting with your instructor and classmates in your studio, followed by a welcome reception on the deck.
A continental breakfast is provided from 8:30 AM–9:00 AM, Monday through Friday. There is also a welcome reception featuring light snacks and drinks on Sunday, and a Student Night reception featuring light snacks and drinks on Thursday. All other meals are your responsibility.
There are several small grocery stores within walking distance and a Stop & Shop within biking/driving distance. The addresses for these stores will be provided in your welcome packet.
We maintain a modest pantry in the Student Lounge, where faculty and students can find basics like olive oil, spices, and other non-perishables that students and faculty from the previous weeks have left. You can leave any leftover food you have from your stay, as well.
Oh boy, don’t get us started. There’s SO much to do in Provincetown. Read below to get a sense of what’s available. We also have a lot of wonderful local partners. Check out our local partners page on our website to see who they are and the discounts they offer to FAWC students.
Bike Rentals. Riding a bike is one of the best ways to get around P-town. There are several bike rental companies in town. We will provide discount coupons to Arnold’s Bikes.
Bike Paths. There is a great system of bike paths that go out through the dunes and to the two National Seashore beaches, Race Point and Herring Cove. Definitely worth exploring!
Dune Tours. Art’s Dune Tours will take you way off the beaten path and give a history of Provincetown’s famous dunes!
Theme Weeks. Many of the summer weeks in P-town have a theme, such as Bear Week, Family Week, Provincetown Portuguese Festival, Womxn of Color Weekend, and more.
Gallery Stroll. During Gallery Stroll, which is on Fridays beginning at 6 PM, most galleries in Provincetown are open. Check out as many as you can, from the East End to the West End.
Restaurants. All FAWC apartments come with a kitchen to make your own meals. However, Provincetown has an array of restaurants to eat at, from establishments with counter service like Rosie’s, The Canteen, or Grab & Go, to sit-down restaurants you might want a reservation for, like Sal’s or Victor’s. There’s plenty in-between, including coffeeshops, brunch options, pub food and, of course, seafood. Here’s a great list of affordable restaurants in P-town. Not on this list is Far Land Provisions, a staff go-to and a great small grocery store and sandwich shop, only 2 blocks from the Work Center. Other great, relatively affordables spots not on that list are Cafe Heaven, and Liz’s Cafe.
Book Stores. For a small town, Provincetown boasts a lot of bookstores! Be sure to check out East End Books, The Provincetown Bookshop and Tim’s Used Books!
Theater. In town, you can check out what’s happening at the Provincetown Theater. Nearby in Truro, Payomet has plenty of performing arts offerings, and in Wellfleet, see what’s happening at Wellfleet Harbor Actors Theater and Harbor Stage Company
Cinema. There is one arthouse cinema in Provincetown, the Waters Edge Cinema. The next closest option is the Wellfleet Cinema, in South Wellfleet, which is right next door to the Wellfleet Drive-In! Yes, there’s a drive-in only a 30 minute drive from Provincetown. On weekend days it becomes a flea market.
Water Activities. Dolphin Fleet Whale Watch offers 3-4 hour naturalist-guided trips. You can catch the sunset on the sea with Hindu Sunset Sails, choose from one of several fishing charters, and rent kayaks, surfboards, and stand-up paddleboards with Coyote Kayaks
BeachesProvincetown is on the Cape Cod National Seashore – check out the beautiful beaches, bayside or oceanside!
What’s Scheduled at FAWC Besides my Workshop?
Thursday night is student night, which includes Open Studios and open-mic Student Night Readings. Student Night begins at 4:30 PM. Details of Student Night will be included in your welcome packet. (We celebrate Student Night on Thursday because many students leave directly after class on Friday, and we want everyone to have the opportunity to share their work).
Instructors will give readings or artist talks at 5:00 PM on either Monday, Tuesday, or Wednesday evening. Details will be provided in your welcome packet.
We will schedule occasional ‘Brown Bag’ lunch-time events, which are free and totally voluntary. Bring your own lunch, and enjoy talks, walks, and educational, cultural or other activities. Details will be provided in your welcome packet and at Orientation.
There is a computer lab, art gallery, a small bookstore, laundry facilities, and a student lounge with kitchen facilities. The computer lab, student lounge, and kitchen facilities are available 24 hours a day. The laundry facilities are available for a few hours on select evenings.
The computer lab (which is inside the Student Lounge) has Mac computers, printers, a scanner, and a copy machine. We ask for a ten cent donation per copy.
Yes, if you’re staying with us on-site. We have washer and dryers through the doors to the right of the Student Lounge. You can do laundry during evening hours. Details will be in your welcome packet.
Yes. The laundry facilities are coin-operated. Please bring quarters and laundry detergent.
Yes. If you need to receive any mail while you are taking a workshop, please address the package to yourself at 24 Pearl Street, Provincetown, MA 02657. Packages received for students and faculty will be placed in the Student Lounge.
Yes. All students and faculty are welcome to use the bike racks on the property.
No. We encourage you to bring your own bike. All FAWC Summer Workshop participants can get discounts at local bike rentals. Details are in your Welcome Packet.
Yes. There are two bathrooms (one ADA accessible) just off of the Stanley Kunitz Common Room.
Yes. There are water bubblers with hot and cold water in the lounge and in all workshop studios. There is also a drinking fountain adjacent to the public bathrooms.
