The Provincetown Art Association and Museum (PAAM) in Provincetown, Massachusetts is accredited by the American Alliance of Museums. It was founded as the Provincetown Art Association on August 22, 1914, with the mission of collecting, preserving, exhibiting and educating people about the work of Cape Cod artists. These included Impressionists, Modernists, and Futurists as well as artists working in more traditional styles. The original building at 460 Commercial Street, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Art colonies are organic congregations of artists in towns, villages and rural areas, who are often drawn to areas of natural beauty, the prior existence of other artists, art schools there, or a lower cost of living. They are typically mission-driven planned communities, which administer a formal process for awarding artist residencies. A typical mission might include providing artists with the time, space, and support to create, fostering community among artists, and providing arts education, including lectures and workshops.