The North Adams Artist Impact Coalition (AIC) is pleased to announce eight artist-driven projects that it has selected for a special “Artist Resources” initiative. These 8 artist-designed projects were selected from this fall’s application open call, and are intended to bring new resources to a variety of artistic disciplines around North Adams. Each project tackles our region’s needs in different ways.
In addition to these projects, AIC will launch a new website that collects and documents all of the different community initiatives AIC has led or joined. The website will include a variety of digital artist and antiracism resources, a directory, and archive of our monthly artist resource guide for artists in the North Berkshires. Stay tuned!
For the purposes of this programming, we consider you to be a “North Adams Artist” if you live or work in North Adams. “Work,” for artists, can mean traditional wage work or being an active member of our creative community (no matter where in the North Berkshires you live!)
Want to receive affordable marketing & studio recording services?
Apply to work with Francesca Olsen or Quincy Street Studios!
Awarded Projects:
Care Syllabus
Care Syllabus is a collaborative project of MASS MoCA and MCLA, made possible through The Mind's Eye, a research and praxis initiative at MCLA directed by Dr. Victoria Papa. The Care Syllabus is a free, multimodal public education and community outreach resource that features original text, visual media, recordings, and virtual live events by activists, artists, and academics. Care Syllabus aims to generate civic discourse about intersecting topics of our moment—such as COVID-19, racial justice, and environmental stewardship— through a lens of care. With funding from AIC, the Care Syllabus will engage the local creative community with a series of public events, commission writings by local creators, and bring to our local artist community resources for incorporating radical justice into a creative practice.
Common Folk Memberships for BIPOC Artists
In order to better serve the North Adams artist community, Common Folk will offer four free, 1-year memberships to North Adams artists of color, with two of those memberships going specifically to MCLA students. These memberships, valued at $50/month each, will also include access to project funds to design programming under the Common Folk umbrella. Examples of past projects include a storefront gallery, music shows, poetry readings, and a literary magazine. Request one of these memberships at membership@commonfolk.org.
Affordable Digital Marketing Consultations
Musician, textile artist, and writer Francesca Olsen is offering subsidized services to North Adams artists in need of digital marketing help. Whether you need better communications, a social media strategy, content creation, or would simply like someone to advise on what you’re already doing, Francesca is a digital marketing expert and is ready to help improve your practice. There is a fee of just $50 to receive hundreds of dollars worth of support. Accepting applications now! Learn how here.
Artist Gallery at The Plant Connector
The Plant Connector is a new store on Eagle Street opened by artist Emilee Yawn. With the support of AIC, Plant Connector will support a year of local artist gallery shows in its retail space. Plant Connector also sells a variety of locally made artist goods and products. To apply for a show, check out the details on their Instagram.
Affordable Recording Studio Services
Quincy Street Studios (Dan O’Connell) is offering subsidized services to North Adams artists/musicians in need of audio recording. Whether you need studio or mobile audio recording or someone to produce/arrange/mix/or play back-up on a track, Quincy Street Studios can help you at a heavily reduced rate (just $50 for services that would normally cost hundreds). Not sure what you need? Dan can also consult to help you determine the scope of your project. Accepting applications now! Learn how here.
Local Art Vending Machine
Artist & jeweler Nico Dery (Sequoia Oro) will design and install in North Adams an “art vending machine.” The machine will sell small works of art, books, or CDs by North Adams creators, as a novel and accessible method of distributing local art to all. More information on how to participate will be available soon!
Corridor Gallery at Walkaway House
Walkaway House in downtown North Adams is an emerging arts space run by artists Carolyn Clayton and Ben Westbrook. In addition to hosting a small artist residency in the building, this next year they will be opening a gallery on the first floor. With a unique modular display system of shelves, panels and display cases, the Corridor Gallery will focus on showing artists interested in collections, archives, and the relationships between objects. The inaugural year of shows will include a roster of local artists supported by AIC. More information will be available in 2021.
Summer Jazz in the Park
North Adams newcomer and jazz clarinetist Zachary Hann will design a series of outdoor summer concerts for local jazz musicians to perform for the public. The series will provide a new venue for performing artists in the region and will offer free concerts to the broader community. Details are still being determined and will be responsive to all COVID-19 regulations. More information will be available in 2021. Stay tuned!
This is an initiative of the North Adams Artist Impact Coalition and its member organizations. This project is supported in part by an award from the National Endowment for the Arts. To learn more about how National Endowment for the Arts grants impact individuals and communities, visit www.arts.gov.