In the 1930s, Gloucester’s Rocky Neck was part of one of the country’s oldest, continuous, and scenic art colonies, where artists could spend summers living simply and focusing on becoming good artists rather than selling pictures. Sally Avery recalled that there were no galleries in those days, no expectation of selling artwork, and little need for money; she remembered renting a little house in Gloucester for $30.00 a month and living through the whole summer for about $150.00. The area also includes studios and galleries among residential homes, shops, and restaurants, with the North Shore Art Association, the Gloucester Stage Company, and the Gloucester Writers’ Center all within walking distance.