Northampton Arts Council

The Northampton Arts Council is a city board and a non-profit organization whose goal is to support and promote the arts in Northampton. Originally created as a Local Arts Lottery Council, it began its work by administering a grants program in which proceeds from a state lottery are distributed to local artists, arts groups, and public schools.

Welcome

The Northampton Arts Council works to support and nurture the arts in the city of Northampton. The Council awards grants twice each year to artists and arts groups from both state and locally-raised funds, and seeks to improve public awareness of the arts. Its' goals include maintaining and preserving the rich and diverse cultural heritage of Northampton, programming such annual events of interest to the community as Transperformance and Four Sundays in February, and advocating on behalf of the arts community.

Founded in 1980, the Northampton Arts Council has an all-volunteer board, and staff, consisting of a director, a part-time events producer, one seasonal assistant producer, and one student intern from Smith College. Each fall, the Massachusetts Cultural Council (MCC), a state agency, allocates money to all of Massachusetts' 351 cities and towns through 329 Local Cultural Councils (LCCs), of which the Northampton Arts Council is one, in support of community arts activities. This is the largest decentralized program of its kind in the United States.

In addition to administering the LCC program, The Northampton Arts Council was the first cultural council in the Commonwealth to raise money for a second round of funding every spring, with only a few other LCC's following our lead. The ArtsEZ Spring Grant round is made possible by two major fundraising events produced by the Northampton Arts Council; first, Transperformance, an end-of-summer music festival at Look Park held every August, and second, the Four Sundays in February Series which includes events such as the Silver Chord Bowl, KidsBestFest, and the Really Big Show. In addition to grant programs, the Northampton Arts Council offers arts enrichment programs in the public schools, initiates public art projects and advocates for the arts in the city. We also produce or help produce many other events in Northampton including but not limited to Northampton Summer Concert Series, RETROFAIRE, Cinema Northampton, Bi-ennial Exhibit at Forbes Library, Northampton Film Festival, Northampton Print and Book Fair.

Thursday, July 20, 2017

Downtown Northampton Summer Concert Series 2017



Downtown Northampton
Summer Concert Series 2017
Outdoor concerts on summer nights in downtown Northampton is a tradition that dates back to the 1970’s. Northampton has been fertile ground for producing original music, often renowned on the national level. The Northampton Arts Council is proud to continue this tradition, and presents the 2017 Downtown Northampton Summer Concert Series. The lineup for this series reflects will expose acts of varying age and style to the greater regional community.

Join us as we celebrate our local music scene with FIVE FREE LIVE MUSIC PERFORMANCES ON FRIDAY NIGHTS in the heart of downtown Northampton, starting July 21st and running through August 18th. All concerts start at 5:30 PM, are FREE and open to the public, and run until 7:30 PM.

Where:
Hampshire County Courthouse lawn (first two shows)
Pulaski Park (final three shows)
How Much:
FREE (bring cash for local vendors)
When & Who:
ALL FIVE SHOWS 5:30PM-7:30PM
Friday July 21st - Courthouse Lawn - Winterpills, Midnight Snack, Nomad Vs. Settler
Friday July 28th - Courthouse Lawn - Rani Arbo and Daisy Mayhem, Eli Catlin
Friday August 4th - Pulaski Park - Rebelle, Rhythm Inc., i-ganic sound system
Friday August 11th - Pulaski Park - Beige, Lou Barlow (Sebadoh)
Friday August 18th - Pulaski Park - Workman Song + Special Guests TBA
Headline Sponsors:
Support Sponsors:
Stage Support: Thornes Marketplace

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Wednesday, July 19, 2017

Stop Making Sense - Free Outdoor Movie at 33 Hawley


Stop Making Sense film screening
Wednesday, July 19th - 8:00pm (or sundown)
33 Hawley Street, Northampton
Rain Date - Friday July 21st.

The Northampton Community Arts Trust will be one of many locations throughout the country celebrating the late Jonathan Demme by screening his seminal film of the Talking Heads in concert. Shot over three performances in LA in December 1983, Demme's creative genius, wall-to-wall music, beautiful cinematography, the legendary "Big Suit" and the band's explosive energy makes this film an exhilarating and exciting event. This is definitely a film you can dance to.

“…not one of the countless concerts filmed in the years since ever captured a band's energy quite like Jonathan Demme did in this film.” – Wired

Bring a blanket to sit on or a low chair to lounge in, and take the opportunity to have a quick look inside 33 Hawley as we prepare to partially open the building this fall.
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Tuesday, July 18, 2017

Wilbraham Friends of the Library Annual Art Exhibit Call to Artists

The Wilbraham Friends of the Library Annual Art Exhibit Call to Artists

The Wilbraham Friends of the Library (WFL) will present their Annual Art Exhibit, taking place at the Brooks Room of the Wilbraham Public Library from September 2 to September 29 with a reception for artists and Friends Saturday, September 16 from11:00 –1:00. Artists will be able to sell additional unframed pieces at the reception. The library is located at 25 Crane Park Drive, Wilbraham.

The show is open for various art media, and Chairman Mary Bandouveres is now welcoming artist's applications. Respond early at wplartshow@gmail.com to insure your spot. Entry deadline is August 25.

The event is free and open to the public. This show is always popular and many of the artists will have pieces for sale.
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Sunday, July 16, 2017

BFMC's 4th Annual Posh Picnic at Tanglewood


BFMC's 4th Annual "Posh Picnic at Tanglewood"

WHEN: Sunday, July 23rd 12:00 - 2:30pm
WHERE: Tanglewood Music Center, 97 West St, Lenox, MA 01240

*All proceeds from the Posh Picnic benefit BFMC's educational programs*
Includes a catered lunch on the lawn, VIP parking & Shed seating to the afternoon BSO Concert

Honoring Production Designer/Art Director Carl Sprague
Announcing the winners of our Screenwriting Contest!
PLUS: A fab Auction (bid on House Seats to HAMILTON!)
A Bloody Mary bar and great hats!
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Friday, July 14, 2017

The Debriti Show, A Textual Experience by JonMarc Edwards at A.P.E


The Debriti Show
A Textual Experience
by JonMarc Edwards

Show Runs: July 7 -22
Artist Reception: Friday, July 14: 6-8 pm
Location: A.P.E. Ltd. 126 Main Street, Northampton, Ma 01060

"The Debriti Show,” created by JonMarc Edwards, is an interactive installation that comments on the power of language and communication. It is set in what at first appears to be an apothecary or medical marijuana dispensary, but rather than weed, it dispenses text, words and poetry. The Helvetica text is made from biodegradable materials and sold by the word, the phrase or by weight. In interaction with Debriti word tenders, attendees are encouraged to explore their relationship to language by forming a tangible relationship with text. In our current political climate and in a world where much of our communication takes place in 140 character tweets, the Debriti Show could not be more timely!

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Dogs in Water, Selections by Marion Miller at Oxbow Gallery



Dogs in Water, Selections
by Marion Miller

Show dates: June 29-July 30, 2017
Reception: Friday, July 14, 5-8 p.m.
Oxbow Gallery, 273 Pleasant Street, Northampton MA

I hope these paintings speak for themselves, as a celebration of light and space, and of course dogs.
The "Dogs in Water" series grows concurrently with my series of horse-and-rider paintings. It explores many of the same issues of light and space, both as force and agency. But instead of the dramatic figures being massive creatures in the confined space of the arena, here the figures play on a lateral field with implications of infinity and interact in the entirely unique medium of water, itself both plane and figure.
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Odyssey: New Paintings by Joanne Holtje at Oxbow Gallery


Odyssey: New Paintings by Joanne Holtje

Show dates: June 29-July 30, 2017
Reception: Friday, July 14, 5-8 p.m.
Oxbow Gallery, 273 Pleasant Street, Northampton MA

Joanne Holtje's bold, color-driven, expressive, abstract paintings explore scenes and characters from Homer's epic poem, The Odyssey.

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