Following the extraordinary success of last year’s DownStreet Art program, MCLA, along with the City of North Adams, Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art (MASS MoCA), Northern Berkshire Community Coalition (NBCC) and Scarafoni Realty once again will present DownStreet Art.
This year’s Downstreet Art will be nearly doubled in size and scale, with 27 galleries, museums and other arts destinations participating, including 13 new galleries to open TONIGHT, Thursday, June 25, beginning at 6 p.m.
DownStreet Art, a public art project of MCLA’s Berkshire Cultural Resource Center, is designed to revitalize downtown North Adams, harnessing existing arts organizations and events, and transforming vacant and open spaces into arts destinations.
MCLA’s Gallery 51 joins in the celebration with a free opening reception for Threaded, a presentation of unconventional textiles that straddle the fine line between craft and art. Threaded, which also opens at 6 p.m. June 25, features works made from fabric, yarn, and thread.
Gallery 51 is at 51 Main Street in North Adams, in the center of the DownStreet Art scene.
“This program defines North Adams as a cultural haven, driving tourists and community members downtown,” said Jonathan Secor, director of special programming at MCLA. “Last year, DownStreet Art brought 15,000 visitors to downtown North Adams. Businesses felt the impact, both in attendance as well as in sales. Our goal is to increase those numbers.”
“North Adams is an arts destination – not only because it is the home of MASS MoCA, but because of the scope of art in the downtown,” Secor added.
In addition to performances to take place throughout the downtown tonight, a number of area restaurants and cafés will be open late and feature menu specials in honor of the program’s launch.
“DownStreet Art Thursdays” will be held the last Thursday of each month, when all of the galleries will be open late. These events will include the opening of new exhibitions, dance performances, meet and greet gatherings with the artists and other festivities.
Click here to learn more about Downstreet Art and download a map of participating venues!
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