A dancer under colored light glides like an impressionist brushstroke. In the galleries, painted tulips bloom and boats drift on the Seine, and on the stage, an agile woman recalls Paris a century ago. Art museums tease the senses here, and art shows encourage celebration, discovery, and fresh creativity.

• Williamstown gathers more art historians per capita than any place in the world, according to Michael Conforti, former longtime director of the Clark Art Institute.
• Among the colleges and museums, artists, playwrights, directors, composers and choreographers come to create, perform and develop new work and offer a broad pool of expertise in the Berkshires.
• This creative community translates into new ideas, art festivals and bright dinner conversations at cafe tables, and musicians sharing a beer in the MASS MoCA campus.