In 2019, Fabric Arts Festival had its year zero. It presented an artistic program that left a legacy designed for the public space with murals and installations by artists Alberonero, Br.ulio Amado, Elian Chali and Rene Gagnon. It presented immersive installations, films and exhibitions, as well as music with the likes of such artists as Kelsey Lu, Lula Pena, Mal Devisa, Downtown Boys and even a 4 philharmonic band collaborative project - United Bands Project - composed of all four philharmonic bands of the city. It has also set the beginning for Pushing Forward, a series of short films about Fall River directed by Diogo Lima and the production of a new city guide named Made in Fall River, mapping its unique cultural experiences.

Fabric Arts Festival merged Fall River’s past and present narratives and showcased them across the city’s urban structures and dynamics. As it strived to preserve tradition by crossing it with new artistic forms, the festival drew from the city’s cultural and geographic contexts to establish a synergistic dialogue with its territory and local communities, extending an invitation to direct participation in the city’s population and its visitors.


The artistic program was divided into 3 sections and composed of the following artists:
ART: Alberonero, Bráulio Amado, Elian Chali, Jonathan Saldanha & Catarina Miranda, WSDIA, Rene Gagnon
FILM & EXHIBITIONS: AZ RAP: Sons of the Wind by Diogo Lima, I don’t belong here by Paulo Abreu, East Atlantic by Miguel C. Tavares & José Alberto Gomes, Timeshores by Diana Vidrascu.
MUSIC: Kelsey Lu, Lula Pena, Mal Devisa, Downtown Boys, Medeiros/Lucas, Nick Schiarizzi, The Island Man, United Bands Project (Saint Anthony’s Band, Our Lady of Light Band, Senhora da Conceição Mosteirense Band, Santa Cecilia Band)



FALL RIVER: PUSHING FORWARD is a series of 3 short episodes directed by Diogo Lima focusing on some of the city’s people. As they walk us through some of their daily activities, they share their thoughts or insights on their city.
Episode.1 - VANSON LEATHERS
Episode 2 - SCOTT LOPES, PETER CÂMARA
Episode 3 - DOWNTOWN BOYS