- Do you love a sense of warm sunlight inspired by a painting?
- Are you thrilled by actors telling story so fully, you suspend your disbelief?
- Curious about new works of art that gently (and sometimes jarringly) open new ways of thinking and seeing?
- Do you like intimate concerts, glorious music festivals, and everything in between?
- If you answer, “yes,” to any of these questions, this guide is for you!
Here we share some of the grandest, the most independent, and the best places to find evocative art in the northern Berkshires and southwestern Vermont. This area is called “Art Country” for a reason!
Visual Art To Knock Your Socks Off
It’s difficult to go too far without coming across a museum or art gallery. You can find historic masterpieces, contemporary experiments, handmade crafts, and more. Bring the kids too! Explore outdoors. And when you’re ready, make some art for yourself.
Museums
The Clark Art Institute offers one of the most revered collections of impressionist paintings, plus special exhibitions and lots of activities.
Explore art from around the globe and throughout the centuries at WCMA.
Be prepared for the new and unexpected at MASS MoCA, the largest museum of contemporary art with virtually no permanent collection. That means lots of new exhibits every year!
Find Vermont history and art, including the largest collection of Grandma Moses paintings, at Bennington Museum.
Galleries, Studios, and Shops
Greylock Gallery features images of the region by accomplished artists.
ROAM offers curated African Fair-Trade fine art and crafts.
For an eclectic mix of galleries featuring local artists, installations, and pop-ups, take a stroll on Eagle Street in North Adams.
Check our calendar for updates about open studios at Assets for Artists, Eclipse Mill, and driving tours!
Outdoor Art
Drive, walk, and bike to find murals, sculptures and outdoor installations throughout the region.
Check out the campus of Williams College, Field Farm, murals in North Adams, the trails behind TOURISTS, and MASS MoCA.
Workshops
When you’re in the mode for making art yourself, there’s plenty of opportunities and workshops for adults and children.
Practice a craft at Little Gilly Quilts and Jackie Sedlock Pottery.
Look for events at The Clark Art Institute and Kidspace at MASS MoCA, and more.
Get inspired today!
Theatre and Dance to Move Your Soul
Theatre and dance residencies, creative labs, and collaborations make these hills a creative center and a meeting place for performance of all kinds.
Award-winning actors and playwrights join appreciative audiences every summer and autumn in the Berkshires.
Get tickets to Williamstown Theatre Festival and Barrington Stage Company (in nearby Pittsfield) to see stunning musicals, bold revivals, and world premiers.
Check out The Adams Theater for community-oriented and experimental performances and concerts.
During the academic year, you can often find something engaging at Williams College ’62 Center and MCLA. If you’re lucky, you may be able to catch a visiting artist performance!
Watch MASS MOCA’s events calendar for dance collaborations with Jacob’s Pillow or stunning work-in-progress plays.
The Clark Art Institute regularly screens The Met live in HD. It’s just like being there but without the big city hassle of getting to and fro.
Music to Blow You Away
When you’re looking for that groove, wanting to be immersed in live musical sound, we’ve got you covered!
MASS MoCA makes it all happen, from intimate club concerts to new music in the galleries, dance parties, and huge multi-stage Festivals: Check out Bang on a Can LOUD Weekend, Wilco’s Solid Sound, and FreshGrass.
The Clark Art Institute offers concerts all year round – some local, some classical, some contemporary, and many free.
Catch a few hip and happening singer song writers passing through town at TOURISTS Lodge.
Studio 9 has amazing acoustics. Musicians love to use it as a premiere recording studio. Fortunately they often open their doors for concerts too!
Film
One of the few remaining single-screen, independent theaters still in operation, Images Cinema is an historic part of the Northern Berkshires offering an exceptional variety of new, classic, and rarely screened films year-round.
While you’re in the area, please be sure to check their schedule and plan a visit. Save room for their delicious popcorn too!
Art Country is open, all year round and waiting for you!
Explore other trip ideas:
SOLO TRIP . CLASSIC WILLIAMSTOWN . GET OUTDOORS . HISTORY BUFF . BUSY KIDS