Culture of Provincetown

passengers up to $45 per one-way trip. Between 2004 and 2007, the Provincetown Art Association and Museum (PAAM) received four Rural Development grants and loans totaling $3 million to increase the museum's space, add climate-controlled facilities, renovate a historic sea captain's house (the Hargood House) and cover cost overruns. As the mission of the Rural Development program is "To increase economic opportunity and improve the quality of life for all rural Americans", the USDA considered Provincetown's residents in the 2000s to still be rural and to still require such federal assistance.

The Atlantic House in Provincetown is a contender for the oldest gay bar in the US and Frommer's calls it "the nation's premier gay bar".

The Art House provides a venue for numerous entertainers and shows during the summer season, in particular Varla Jean Merman, Miss Richfield 1981, Ms. CoCo Peru, and other town favorites. In off season, the Art House remains open providing nightly entertainment that includes a Wii Bowling League, Trivia Night, and similar events.

Other notable festivals during the year include the Christmas-themed "Holly Folly", "Bear Week", "Carnival", "Mate's Leather Weekend", "Women's Week", "Family Week", "Men's Weekend", "Provincetown International Film Festival", "Provincetown Rocks: The Festival!", "Provincetown Jazz Festival" and the "Provincetown Tennessee Williams Theater Festival". In October, Provincetown sees the arrival of transvestite, transgender and transsexual people for the annual Fantasia Fair. Started in 1975, it is the longest running event of its kind in the USA.

The Provincetown International Film Festival, held each June, honors the best in independent and avante garde film. Among the honorees for 2012 were actress Parker Posey and director Roger Corman. Previous honorees include Vera Farmiga, Darren Aronofsky, Quentin Tarantino, Jane Lynch, Gael García Bernal, Tilda