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 First Night Northampton and Transperformance.

Tuesday, September 26, 2017

Brooklyn Youth Chorus + Young@Heart = Mash Up V



WHAT: MASH UP V
Young@Heart + Brooklyn Youth Chorus + Singers from the Y@H Prison Project
WHEN: Sunday, November 19, 2017 @ 3PM
WHERE: Academy of Music Theatre 274 Main St, Northampton, MA 01060
PURCHASE TICKETS ONLINE
or call 413-584-9032 x105

Performing with Y@H will be the renowned Brooklyn Youth Chorus, a nationally recognized collective of young singers and vocal ensembles, now in their 25th year, re-envisioning choral music through artistic innovation, collaboration, and their distinctively beautiful sound.

"The sheer beauty of their singing was captivating..."
-The New York Times

With an incredibly versatile range and repertoire, Brooklyn Youth Chorus combines intensive voice training and music study with performance experiences from Carnegie Hall to the Barbican Theatre. Their artistic excellence has made them the go-to chorus for leading New York orchestras, recording artists, and arts presenters. Founded in 1992, BYC's after-school program encompasses over 600 students in multi-level training divisions and advanced performing ensembles. Joining Young@Heart on-stage will be BYC's premier Men's Ensemble.

"A consistently bold organization that regularly commissions works from composers representing an unusually broad stylistic range." -The New York Times

Monday, September 25, 2017

Departure Reading Series #4 at Pulaski Park



WHAT: Departure Reading Series #4
WHEN: Saturday, September 30 at 7 PM - 10 PM
WHERE: Pulaski Park Northampton, MA

The next Departure Reading arrives on September 30th. Come to witness the writerly stylings of:

Dan Chelotti
Shana Bulhan Haydock
Alex Raz
John Sieracki

Bring a few $$ for the Prison Birth Project.

Also, bring a candle to light the night if you'd like.

This event is generously supported by the Northampton Arts Council

The 23rd Annual Paradise City Arts Festival


WHAT: Paradise City Arts Festival
WHERE:  3 County Fairgrounds 54 Old Ferry Rd., Northampton, MA
WHEN: October 7, 8 & 9, 2017
Saturday and Sunday, 10am-6pm
Monday, 10am-4pm

Come October, Northampton’s Paradise City Arts Festival is New England’s cultural, creative, culinary and leaf-peeping destination.

Meet 250 outstanding artists and master craft makers traveling from 25 states to show and sell original works in ceramics, painting, decorative fiber, art glass, furniture, jewelry, metal, mixed media, photography, sculpture, wearable art and woodworking.

The 23rd Annual Paradise City Arts Festival in Northampton, Massachusetts is an experience like no other – beautiful, unique, festive and fun. This sprawling, thrilling showcase for the arts features three airy new Exhibition Buildings filled with visual art and design, plus cuisine by Northampton’s best chefs under the 12,000 square-foot Festival Dining Tent, live music, craft demonstrations and workshops, themed exhibits, a benefit silent auction and the new Sculpture Promenade.

This award-winning event offers the chance to see the remarkable work and hear the stories of 250 extraordinary artists from every corner of America. Over 10,000 attendees, many traveling long distances, visit the flagship show held during the peak of New England’s fall foliage season. AmericanStyle Magazine named Paradise City the “#1 Arts Festival in America” in 2008 – and one of the top five in the country for eight years running – calling the event “truly innovative”.

For over 23 years, Paradise City’s guest books have recorded names, addresses and comments by visitors from all 50 states and five continents. A sampling from the last show:
“Incredible variety of artistry here, and so wonderful talking with artists about their work. Like being at a museum except you get to take some art home.”
“We drive an hour and a half one way to attend this show, and it’s definitely worth the trip. Seeing the scope of creativity is amazing, and we go home all revved up.”
“I must say that we were really impressed by the new buildings the show is in. There is more room for the attendees, the atmosphere is bright and airy, and the vibe is really friendly and relaxed. The art at the show had terrific selection and depth. Kudos to Paradise City!” 

Pedal People 15th Anniversary Party


PEDAL PEOPLE ANNIVERSARY PARTY 2017

WHAT: PEDAL PEOPLE 15th ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION
WHEN: Sunday, October 1st, 1:00pm-4:00pm 
WHERE: Veterans Field 88 West St., Northampton, MA

Come celebrate 15 years of worker-owned, human-powered bicycle hauling and delivery
services in Northampton. All are welcome!

Schedule:
* 1:00 Pizza, Art & Activities
* 2:00 Singing of the Pedal People Anthem
Speakers & Stories (Share your favorite Pedal People story!)
Anniversary Logo Presentation & Award
* 2:30 Cycle Circus! Car Piñata!
* 3:00-4:00 More art/activities, including silkscreening t-shirts w/
anniversary logo

Groundbreaking Celebration for Smith College's new Neilson Library


Join faculty, students and staff, along with members of the local community, to celebrate this milestone moment in Smith's history.

What: Groundbreaking Celebration for Smith College's new Neilson Library
When: Thursday, October 19, 2017 4:30 p.m.
Where: Seelye Lawn, Smith College

Featured Speakers:
Maya Lin, architectural designer
Kathleen McCartney, president
Deborah L. Duncan '77, chair, board of trustees
Katherine Rowe, provost and dean of the faculty

A reception with light refreshments will follow.

Sunday, September 24, 2017

STUDIO4 presents HUT XI




WHAT: STUDIO4 presents HUT XI: WORDS MUSIC MOVEMENT
WHEN: SATURDAY, OCTOBER 7 at 8PM
WHERE: STUDIO4 / 25 Main St. Suite 444 Northampton, MA.

STUDIO4, the vibrant performance space and arts center located in the heart of Northampton, is proud to announce the third season of HUT—the interdisciplinary performance series co- curated by SCDT Director Jennifer Polins, sound artist Jake Meginsky, and writer Chelsea Hogue. As part of STUDIO4’s new season packed with performance art, HUT showcases three artists in three short sets, in an evening of music, dance, and poetry. HUT has so far presented a wide range of internationally recognized contemporary artists including Bill Nace, Jason Lesceleet, Andrea Pensado, Paul Matteson, Jennifer Nugent, Matt Krefting, Vic Rawlings, Laura Warman, and Chris Corsano, among many others.

The series resumes with HUT XI on SATURDAY, OCTOBER 7 at 8PM, and features acclaimed violinist SAMARA LUBELSKI, contemporary novelist and essayist CAROLE MASO, and nationally recognized dance-maker DANTE BROWN.

Friday, September 22, 2017

7th Annual Pedal Poker Run



WHAT: Bike for Community 7th Annual Pedal Poker Ride
WHEN: Sunday October 1st 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
WHERE: Look Park - 300 N Main St, Florence, MA 

7th Annual Pedal Poker Ride
Presented by Valley Community Development
Grand Prize - $500 Martha's Vineyard Getaway!

45-mile Orchard Ride
25-mile Vineyard Ride
10-mile Bike Path Ride
Register Here!



Thursday, September 21, 2017

Botanical Illustration & Water Color Painting classes with Jan Ruby-Crystal




Have you ever wanted to learn how to draw flowers or paint landscapes? If so, please sign up for one of our Fall courses or pass this message on to someone who may be interested. Thank you so much!

Botanical Illustration Series
Sponsored by Connecticut River Valley Sanctuaries
Location:
Arcadia Wildlife Sanctuary, 127 Combs Road Easthampton, MA

Instructor:
Jan Ruby-Crystal - Professor of Art and Design
Audience:
Adult
Members:
$320.00
Nonmembers:
$380.00
Nonmembers can join today during checkout and take immediate advantage of member prices.
Using graphite pencils, technical pens, and watercolors, learn how to create botanical illustrations of plants, trees, and flowers. Instruction begins with line and tonal drawing before moving on to various watercolor techniques. Subjects will be selected from the plant life that thrives at Arcadia. We will learn to identify and illustrate important key features, such as leaf, tree, and flower types. Color studies, exercises, and composition will be practiced throughout the course. We will also dissect a flower, learn the parts, and create a complete color study guide .

Class dates and times:
Mon, Sep 25, 2017 6:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Mon, Oct 16, 2017 6:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Mon, Oct 23, 2017 6:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Mon, Oct 30, 2017 6:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Mon, Nov 06, 2017 6:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Mon, Nov 13, 2017 6:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Mon, Nov 20, 2017 6:00 pm - 9:00 pm

Instructions and Directions:
All materials included in fee
Registration is required.
Register online or call 413-584-3009 to register by phone.
Register by mail: program registration form (PDF 66K)
For your own security, DO NOT send credit card information via email.
For more information, contact:
Arcadia Wildlife Sanctuary
127 Combs Road
Easthampton, MA 01027
arcadia@massaudubon.org

CLICK Music announces second season of concerts at CLICK Workspace


CLICK Music announces second season of concerts at CLICK Workspace

After a successful inaugural series in early 2017, CLICK Workspace will kick off its second CLICK Music season at its 9½ Market Street home in downtown Northampton with three performances this fall. The concert series has drawn crowds to CLICK’s intimate performance space for up-close experiences with local artists who are given free reign to experiment with their music making, and this tradition will continue in the 2017-2018 season.

First up is the Pamela Means Band on Thursday, September 28th at 7:00 p.m. Tickets are $12 in advance and $15 at the door. CLICK Workspace - 9 1/2 MARKET STREET, NORTHAMPTON, MA

The band is comprised of Pamela Means (guitar, vocal), Cinamon Blair (bass, vocal), and Iréne 'I-Shea' Shaikly (percussion, vocal). A longtime Pioneer Valley resident, Means views her music as both an artistic and political outlet — to her, the two are interwoven in the fabric of her lyrics and intricate guitar work. Her songs, although sometimes musing on softer matters of the heart, are often rallying cries for justice and racial equality. “I want to use my platform with purpose and produce art with substance,” she says. “Socio-politically, it’s a turbulent time and all the more important to use one’s voice.”

Tuesday, September 19, 2017

"The Neural Architecture Sees Itself in Patterns” Paintings by John Aiken


"The Neural Architecture Sees Itself in Patterns”
Paintings by John Aiken
September 6-29, 2107
A.P.E Gallery - 126 Main Street Northampton, MA

John has been working since 2011 with no formal instruction. He attempts, in this series, to allow the patterns of the neural architecture to see themselves. Creating this work has been a reparative process. He hopes that people viewing the work see that humanity is more than its destructive capacities. He does not use a computer, but works intuitively and by hand with ink and liquid acrylic to create these geometric abstractions.

John is a New Hampshire native and a retired cabinetmaker.

Serious Play's Perspectives Through Performance


Serious Play's PERSPECTIVES THROUGH PERFORMANCE initiative, debuting this Fall, offers new work from "across the pond."

OCT 21, 22 & 23 (8pm) at A.P.E.Gallery, Serious Play presents a staged reading of British playwright Caryl Churchill's LOVE & INFORMATION, with Natalie Djondo, Kermit Dunkelberg, Lisa Enzer, Nanette Mendieta, David Regan, Patrick Ryan, and Linda Tardif, directed by Sheryl Stoodley.

DIRECT FROM THE EDINBURGH FRINGE, Mairi Campbell and PULSE, her inspiring original theatre-music piece, DEC 1 and 2 (8pm) SHEA THEATER, Turners Falls. We connected with Mairi last summer at the Fringe Festival in Scotland when we presented JohnSheldon's THE RED GUITAR to 5-star reviews. Now we are bringing this talented Edinburgh actress and her viola to the Valley to perform her story and to collaborate with John Sheldon towards developing a new theatre work.

Monday, September 18, 2017

Love Poems to my Parents Dance Performance



WHAT: Love Poems to my Parents Dance Performance, an immersion into the musical heritage of a bicultural family. 
WHERE: School for Contemporary Dance and Thought (Studio 4) 25 Main Street, 4th Floor. Northampton, MA 
WHEN: Saturday, September 23, 8:00pm
Sunday, September 24, 4:00pm

​Performed and choreographed by Michelle Marroquin
Live music by Tony Silva, Zoe Darrow and Pan Morigan

Tickets $15, ($10 students) and at lovepoems.bpt.me

SCDT’s International Artist Series Presents Massimiliano Balduzzi


SCDT’s International Artist Series
Presents
Massimiliano Balduzzi
in
DOIEB SI TAU, language for a requiem

THE SCHOOL FOR CONTEMPORARY DANCE AND THOUGHT (SCDT)proudly presents DOIEB SI TAU with Italy’s Massimiliano Balduzzi,, an internationally renowned vocalist and performance artist- one night only! Fresh from New York City, Balduzzi brings us DOIEB SI TAU, Language for a requiem, a 45 minute performance that combines theater, dance and voice work.

When: Saturday, September 30, 8:00pm
Where: STUDIO4, 25 Main Street, 4th floor, Northampton MA
How much: $10
Reservations: scdtnoho.com or 413 570 4491

DOIEB SI TAU, language for a requiem is a study on loss and transformation. A lone performer pushes language and character to their breaking point, crafting a ritual of willful separation. This work is a mourning of what is lost in the moment of becoming. Applying his on going investigation of invented language and song, the solo explores the human voice as a medium uniquely able to recount the life of the body.

Balduzzi will offer a workshop to theater dance and voice students on SUNDAY OCTOBER 1, 2-5 PM at STUDIO4.

ROOTS TO RESISTANCE: Resistance Love and Gratitude Party


WHAT: ROOTS TO RESISTANCE - Resistance Love and Gratitude Party
WHEN: Saturday September 23rd 2-5PM 
WHERE: Florence Civic Center, 90 Parks Street Florence Massachusetts.

*Local Art and Activism Project, Roots To Resistance holds a grand celebration to honor the 12 Women Activists it portrays and the Western Mass Community that has supported the project from the beginning, as it completes the final Portrait of slain Honduran Environmentalist Berta Cáceres!

*All 12 of the eight foot high Roots To Resistance Portraits will be displayed together for the first time, as well as all 12 of the Postcard Campaigns and Street Posters created to amplify the amazing voices of these Earthshaking Women.

*The Celebration will be catered by Roots To Resistance with Beet Relishes, Caponata Platters and Tomatillo Jams from the Gardens and Farms of Western Mass! Much Food, Drink and Merriment will abound!



The all new Northampton Film Festival returns


The all new Northampton Film Festival returns.

A team of community organizations and leaders continues to evolve the Northampton Film Festival as a modern experience of media.
For more information go to www.northamptonfilmfestival.com and attend the festival in Northampton from September 27th-October 1st, 2017.​

Facebook Event
A team of dedicated community members, led by Northampton Community Television (NCTV), who began the process of rethinking the Northampton Film Festival (NFF) last year, once again offers up a broad palette of moving image offerings, from the local to the international, and guides attendees to experiences in art and technology largely unavailable elsewhere in the Valley.

In what has become a tradition, the festival launches on Wednesday September 27th at 7:00pm with a free public screenings of the newest installation of Star Wars - Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, outdoors, downtown in Pulaski Park and caps with the 200+ person public art project Crowdsourced Cinema and its remake of Back to the Future on Sunday, October 1st at 7:30 pm at the Academy of Music. “The goals of the festival reflect the goals of our organization.” said Al Williams, Director of NCTV, “We want to make the festival as accessible as possible, to represent a diversity of expressive forms, to build community, and to encourage the audience to create as well as experience.”

This year’s festival includes features like Lucky, the spiritual journey of a 90 year old atheist featuring David Lynch, and Do Not Resist, an urgent documentary that explores the militarization of local police departments, in their tactics, training, and acquisition of equipment since 9/11. Birdboy is an animated Spanish feature, adapted from Alberto Vazquez's graphic novel, offers a complex tonal and conceptual mix of a type that’s not for children. Brimstone & Glory is a documentary about “...an annual National Pyrotechnics Festival so giddily cinematic that the medium itself practically seems to roll over and wag tail in approval.” (Variety)

Northampton African Dance Workshops



WHAT: Northampton African Dance Workshops
WHEN: Saturday September 23rd, 1pm-5:30pm
WHERE: Northampton Arts Trust Building, 33 Hawley Street, Northampton, MA.

The Northampton African Dance Community, in partnership with The Northampton Center for the Arts, is pleased to announce its second annual event, a Workshop Series with two master West African dancers. Khady Malal Badji from Senegal and Yalani Bangoura from Guinea will each teach a two-hour dance workshop on Saturday September 23rd. Both workshops will be accompanied by live drumming.

Khady Malal Badji is the choreographer for the premier dance company, Bakalama, in Dakar, Senegal. She is a remarkably versatile artist who has taught intensive workshops across many dance genres, including African, jazz, modern, and hip hop dance; Capoeira; choreography, contact improvisation, theater and voice. She has performed at festivals in Senegal, such as the International Festival of Arts and Culture (FESNAC), and internationally, in such countries as Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Kuwait, and throughout the U.S. When she visited the U.S. last summer, teaching in San Francisco, Chicago, Northampton, and Brattleboro, she attracted crowds who were taken by her vibrant teaching and graceful movements.

Yalani Bangoura is a master dancer, performer, choreographer,
acrobat, and teacher of dances from Guinea in West Africa. He is also known for his exciting hip-hop dance. Yalani is currently a member of the award- winning West African Dance and Drum Company, Les Merveilles de Guinea. Yalani has toured with Les Merveilles since 1995 in the United States and Europe as well as in Mali, Guinea, Senegal, and the Ivory Coast. He moved to New York in 1998. He continues to perform with Les Merveilles as well as with Bamidele Dancers and Drummers, Sankofa, and Rhythmic Response. He serves as a master artist in residence with several of these dance companies.

Saturday, September 9, 2017

Northampton Print & Book Fair 2017


WHAT: Northampton Print & Book Fair
WHEN: Sunday, October 1st 12PM - 6PM
WHERE: 126 Main St. Northampton, MA.

Free and open to the public, the Northampton Print & Book Fair is a one-day event that takes place at A.P.E. Gallery in downtown Northampton, Massachusetts.

The NPBF is a curated event established to promote contemporary prints and publications, celebrating local talent while bringing regional artists and publishers to our community. Artists, publishers, labels, editors, and distros are invited to display and sell their work—including zines, artists’ books, chapbooks, minicomics, screenprints, letterpress prints, photographs, shirts, records, tapes, and more.

This event is sponsored in part by the Northampton Arts Council and co-produced by Fugitive Arts.

Facebook Event

Sunday, September 3, 2017

Upcoming Group Sings


WHAT: Upcoming Group Sings (the FIRST Weds of Sept & Nov):
WHEN: September 6th 7-9pm
WHERE: Northampton Senior Center, 67 Conz St, Northampton, MA
with the A-E-I-O-Ukes, FREE & FUN!

***There's no group sing in October.***

November 8th  5-7pm
Brew Practitioners, 36 Main St, Florence, MA
with F. Alex Johnson on guitar

Group Sing is funded in part by the Northampton Arts Council and Senior Services.

Friday, September 1, 2017

Pollinate at School for Contemporary Dance and Thought


WHAT: Pollinate
WHEN: Friday, Sept. 1st, 2017, 9pm – midnight
WHERE: School for Contemporary Dance and Thought - 25 Main St, 4th Floor. Northampton, MA
Entrance: $15 - $25
(students $10 w/ID)

facebook event

Join us as we carry the momentum of the final summer days of dancing and being with each other in community. Pollinate is sure to keep sizzling!!!

Opening Set with renowned Cellist
STEPHEN KATZ

resident DJ: Hip Sockit (Brando)
Follow on: https://www.facebook.com/heybrando
Listen to sets: https://www.mixcloud.com/HipSockit

& Nikos
Resident DJ for Infusion

Contact Pollinate via our Facebook Group!
POLLINATE DANCE FB GROUP

Connect & Follow

Artist News

    Council News

      Search This Blog

      Blog Archive