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Arts & Culture Organizations

Arrowhead

Home of Herman Melville from 1850-1865, Arrowhead is a house museum interpreting the life of the Melville family in the Berkshires. It is owned and operated by the Berkshire County Historical Society. Information on volunteer/intern opportunities as tour guides, collections/exhibits assistants and research work available on the Museum’s website.

780 Holmes Road
Pittsfield, MA 01201
413-442-1793
www.mobydick.org
melville@berkshire.net

Aston Magna Foundation for Music, Inc.

The mission of the Aston Magna Foundation is to enrich appreciation of music of the past and the understanding of the cultural, political and social contexts in which it was composed and experienced. The foundation tries to reach the larger public through the use of historical instruments and practices in performances, recordings and workshops and through innovative interdisciplinary educational programs, publications and electronic media.

P.O Box 28
Great Barrington, MA
413-528-3595
www.astonmagna.org
astonmagna@optonline.net

Barrington Stage Company

Innovative professional theatre company with strong community relationship and seasonal as well as year round programming. Features productions dedicated primarily to emerging artists and initiatives such as a theatre program for at-risk youth that led to the formation of the Railroad Street Youth Project. See website for volunteer opportunities or contact volunteer coordinator.

30 Union Street
(58 Union Street)
Pittsfield, MA 01201
413-499-5446
www.barringtonstageco.org
info@barringtonstageco.org

Berkshire Choral Festival

Founded in 1982, the Berkshire Choral Festival offers adult and youth choral training and performing programs involving world class conductors and professional music staff in direct interaction with choristers, teaching the masterpieces of the choral-orchestral repertoire.

245 North Undermountain Road
Sheffield, MA 01257
413-229-8526
www.chorus.org
bcf@choralfest.org

Berkshire Immigrant Center

The mission of the Berkshire Immigrant Center is to assist individuals and families in making the economic, psychological and cultural adjustment to a new land, not only by meeting basic needs, but also by helping them to become active participants in our community. The Center also aims to build bridges of understanding and cooperation across cultures, to fight racism and discrimination in all forms, and to advocate for the rights of immigrants from all backgrounds. The Center offers comprehensive services for individuals from more than 80 countries to promote civic engagement, facilitate cultural integration, and assist in navigating the complex U.S. immigration system.

Additional Information & Current Opportunities:

learning-in-action.stage.williams.edu/opportunities/berkshire-immigrant-center/

Berkshire Theatre Festival

Dynamic professional theatre in the Berkshires on two stages in July and August. The mission of the Berkshire Theatre Festival is to sustain, promote and produce theatre for its community through performance and educational activities. See the education and training section of the BTF website for information on internship and apprenticeship opportunities.

 

6 East St.
Stockbridge, MA 01262
413-298-5576
www.berkshiretheatre.org

Colonial Theatre

The mission of the Colonial Theatre is to enrich life in Pittsfield and the Berkshires by presenting a wide variety of performances and fostering artistic collaboration and performing arts education in a restored national historic landmark. The Theatre is currently engaged in a capital campaign to restore the 100-year-old theatre, fund operating expenses and establish an endowment fund. Help is welcome in a variety of areas including assisting with special projects and regular events, administration, and volunteer coordination.

 

111 South Street
Pittsfield, MA 01201
413-448-8084
www.berkshiretheatregroup.org/
Contact: MacKenzie Joseph, mjoseph@thecolonialtheatre.org

Contemporary Artists’ Center

A non-for-profit artists’ studio facility established in 1990 by working artists for working artists. Through ongoing community programs and partnerships, the CAC offers a lecture series, specialized exhibitions, a resource network and database for area artists, an online gallery and slide bank, and youth programs. The CAC has five unique galleries, which feature regional and international and CAC artists in residence exhibits. Galleries are open May through October.
71 Old Mill Street
Troy, NY 12180
518-813-6193
www.cactroy.org

Council for Creative Projects

Non-profit museum service organization that develops and circulates traveling exhibitions in the arts.

17 Main Street
Lee, MA
413-243-8030

Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival & School

One of the most acclaimed international dance festivals in the world, Jacob’s Pillow is located in the Berkshire Hills of Western Massachusetts. The beautiful and historic campus includes two theatres, an outdoor stage, four studios, an exhibition gallery, the Archives, residential cabins, food venues, offices and 153 acres of woodlands. The 10-week festival attracts attendance of over 70,000 visitors to performances, lectures, work-in-progress showings, exhibitions, dance classes, and other events. In addition, over a hundred professional-track dancers and choreographers from all over the world come to study with the renowned faculty at The School at Jacob’s Pillow.

358 George Carter Road
Becket, MA 01223
413-243-9919
www.jacobspillow.org
info@jacobspillow.org

Kidspace at MASS MoCA

Kidspace at Mass MoCA is a contemporary art gallery and art-making space for children, teachers, family and the general public. Housed at the Mass MoCA complex, Kidspace is a collaborative project of the Williams College Museum of Art, the Sterling and Francine Clark Art Institute, and MASS MoCA. At Kidspace, children, teachers, families and other visitors are invited to view outstanding contemporary art and to create art of their own. Local schools are an important part of Kidspace, with every student and teacher from the two closest school districts involved with in-depth educational programming. Two exhibitions, selected on both educational and artistic merit, are mounted each year. Kidspace welcomes volunteers/interns interested in conducting weekday gallery programs, helping students to begin to make their art projects and working on weekends helping general public visitors explore the exhibition and make their own art projects.

1040 MASS MoCA Way
North Adams, MA 01247
413-664-4481 x8131
kidspace.massmoca.org
kidspace@massmoca.org
Contact: Laura Thompson, lthompson@massmoca.org, Kidspace Director of Exhibitions and Education

Lichtenstein Center for the Arts

A community arts center (including a gallery) dedicated to long term institutional change and community improvement by making the arts both physically and economically accessible to everyone. Programs include a public arts program in public murals, a performing arts series, workshops in pottery, photography, writing and life drawing and a juried gallery space now in its 27th season. Help welcome especially with public relations and gallery management.

Lichtenstein Center for the Arts
28 Renne Avenue
Pittsfield, MA 01201
413-499-9348
berkart@taconic.net
https://www.facebook.com/LichtensteinCenterfortheArts
Contact: Daniel O’Connell

Lift Ev’ry Voice

Lift Ev’ry Voice: Celebrating African-American Culture & Heritage in the Berkshires is a summer festival celebrating the rich traditions of African-American community, arts and culture, history and heritage found within Berkshire County and across the nation.

liftevryvoice.org
liftevryvoice@gmail.com

Makers’ Mill

Makers’ Mill, the North Adams Makerspace, is a space for creative collaboration to foster new learning opportunities and build a community around a shared passion for making. Located in downtown North Adams, Massachusetts, Makers’ Mill is a creative resource for the local community that allows people to work and learn alongside one another.

73 Main St. North Adams
MA 01247
413-749-2073

northadamsmakersmill.org
info@northadamsmakersmill.org

Manos Unidas (Hands United)

A multicultural community empowerment organization that strives to uplift all of the Latino, immigrant and minority members of our community through a sustained exchange of shared resources, participatory education and living arts. Manos Unidas seeks not only to provide the opportunity for empowerment but also foster the creation of a diverse culture of community that hones our unique strengths by crossing real and artificial boundaries set up by class, race, language, culture and geography. Manos Unidas welcomes help with its outreach work in the community such as a) creating opportunities for community dialogue (such as a “Know Your Rights” Forum), b) helping with program start-up and continuation (e.g., Bilingual Radio Program), c) planning community events such as mural projects, Earth Charter Summit Day, Immigrant Month Conference, etc.

 

P.O. Box 112
South Lee, MA 01260
413-243-9121
Contact: Annaelisa Vanegas-Farrara, Executive Director

Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art (MASS MoCA)

Housed in a vast 13-acre, 19th century factory campus, MASS MoCA presents world class and cutting edge visual, performing, and new media arts. Facilities include 80,000 square feet of galleries (including largest exhibition space in North America) a versatile 700-seat theatre, a 200-seat lab theatre, an outdoor cinema and concert courtyard and more. MASS MoCA welcomes volunteer help in a variety of capacities, looking for interns with experience or education in the fields to which they apply.

1040 MASS MoCA Way
North Adams, MA 01247
413-664-4481
www.massmoca.org
Contact: Laura Christiensen, LauraC@massmoca.org, Education Coordinator

Norman Rockwell Museum

The Norman Rockwell Museum is dedicated to the enjoyment and study of Rockwell’s work and his contributions to society, popular culture, and social commentary. The Museum houses the world’s largest and most significant collection of Rockwell’s work, including 574 original paintings and drawings. Rockwell’s Stockbridge studio, moved to the Museum site, is open to the public from May through October, and features original art materials, his library, furnishings, and personal items. The Museum also houses the Norman Rockwell Archives, a collection of more than 100,000 items, including working photographs, letters, personal calendars, fan mail, and business documents. The Museum welcomes volunteers/interns in a variety of capacities and posts its volunteer needs as well as available jobs on its website.

 

9, Route 183
Stockbridge, MA 01262
413-298-4100
www.nrm.org
Human Resources Contact Holly Coleman: hcoleman@nrm.org
Volunteer Coordinator: volunteering@nrm.org

Northampton Jazz Workshop

Each Tuesday night, the Green Street Trio – pianist Paul Arslanian, bassist George Kaye, and drummer Jon Fisher – invite a guest soloist to join them for a one-hour set that mixes great standards and originals, and then the bandstand opens up for an organized jam session. Paul moderates the jam by having players sign in upon arrival and then wait their turn for an opportunity to sit in. At night’s end, the featured soloist returns to play with the assemblage on stage.  $10 minimum seating charge effective 2/1/13 but is WAIVED for musicians who SIT IN! Bring your axe!

https://www.facebook.com/NorthamptonJazzWorkshop

The Loft Restaurant and Lounge
Clarion Hotel & Conference Center
1 Atwood Dr
Northampton, MA 01060
Contact: Paul Arslanian

Teaching in the Dominican Republic

Project Description: This winter study teaching experience is available through PSCI 21 Fieldwork in Public Affairs and Private Non-Profits. Up to 2 students will work as Teaching Associates during the entire winter study period teaching and developing curriculum for El Centro Educativo La Palma (El Centro), a pioneering PreK – 6th Grade elementary school in the northeast of the Dominican Republic. They will support the teaching of English through creative approaches of their choice in areas such as art, environmental studies, and/or music education. El Centro would really benefit from creative students willing to work with the teachers to establish a curriculum that will suit the learning needs of the children at the school. Teaching Associates will be provided with a list of themes being covered in other subjects so that these can be incorporated into the projects as time permits.

The Town: El Valle is located in the province of Hato Mayor Del Rey and it is located approximately three hours from the capital. It is in a rural area so access to many products and services is limited; however, the TAs will be able to meet their basic needs with what’s around. It is important that the Williams students understand that El Valle is a small and poor town. Needless to say, there are ways the TAs can keep busy. The town has a small park, and many dance floors (to learn the bachata, merengue, and salsa). Williams students can also continue consulting on the programs and activities they create once they return to the U.S.

The School & The Workday: The school day typically runs from 8am-4pm. Lunch will be provided at the school for the Williams students.

Funding for the school comes from two major sources: Inasca Agroindustrial and Fe y Alegria. Inasca is a palm oil company owned and run by the Crouch family (the family of a Williams’ alum). Most of the students at El Centro have parents who work at Inasca, as the school was initially built to provide education for the many children of Inasca’s workers. Fe y Alegria is a Jesuit non-profit organization that helps with the set-up of schools in impoverished areas all over the world. Aside from paying the teachers, Fe y Alegria provides the school with materials, training, and support.

Living Arrangements: The Crouch family will provide the participants housing with available Wi-Fi, food (breakfast and dinner during the weekdays) and in-country transportation, including a few weekend trips around the beautiful Island. The expense for the students will be the transportation to get from their homes to the Santo Domingo airport and back to Williams. The financial aid limit for this fieldwork is $1000 (the maximum for all winter study fieldwork courses).

Dress Code: No flip-flops, shirts without sleeves (bare shoulders), shorts, or very tight pants.  Sneakers should be fine, and jeans too, with a t-shirt or a polo shirt.

**Important** Is this project right for you?

Please keep in mind that we are looking for students who:

-understand and can speak Spanish

-take initiative and are creative

-are flexible and open to changes and new ideas

-are keen to work with children

To find out more in the meantime: Email Paula Consolini at clia@williams.edu or Elle Montoya-Kelner at crm1@williams.edu

The Green

The Green is a re-envisioned village green, or village square. Our hope is to develop The Green into a shared, curated space available to diverse community partners and organizations who want to use The Green for programs, gatherings, and events that cultivate important aspects of individual and community life, such as:

  • Work & Collaboration
  • Food & Health
  • Creativity & The Arts
  • Spirituality & Faith

87 Main St
North Adams, MA
thegreenNAMA@gmail.com
thegreennama.com

The Sanctuary for Independent Media

The Sanctuary for Independent Media is a telecommunications production facility dedicated to community media arts, located in an historic former church at 3361 6th Avenue in north Troy, NY. The Sanctuary hosts screening, production and performance facilities, training in media production and a meeting space for artists, activists and independent media makers of all kinds.

The Sanctuary For Independent Media
PO Box 35
Troy, NY 12181
mediasanctuary.org

NATURE Lab (North Troy Art, Technology and Urban Research in Ecology)

NATURE Lab promotes sustainability, and urban research in ecology using art, technology and science. NATURE Lab is a volunteer-led initiative of The Sanctuary for Independent Media. Our ecosystem in North Central Troy is one of the most environmentally devastated neighborhoods of New York State. One block from the Hudson River, our environmental education campus is adjacent to brownfield areas, combined sewer overflows, and seemingly endless litter. The long-gone prosperity of this neighborhood is evident in its architecture, with many historic buildings left vacant and decaying. NATURE Lab seeks to remediate the disrepair through education, resource access, and inspiration.

United Cerebral Palsy

United Cerebral Palsy (UCP) Association of Berkshire County has dedicated itself to offering supports and advocacy for any individual, regardless of disability, to pursue a fulfilling, self-determined, high-quality community life – a life without limits.  The UCP mission is to advance the independence, productivity and citizenship of people with disabilities. UCP of Berkshire County is an affiliate of United Cerebral Palsy Association.

Additional Information & Current Opportunities:

learning-in-action.stage.williams.edu/opportunities/united-cerebral-palsy

Visionaries

A non-profit organization dedicated to using the power of the media to tell the stories of people and organizations making positive social change throughout the world. Contact Executive Director Bill Mosher for more information about intern opportunities.

 

748 Page St.
Stoughton, MA 02072
800-647-5559
www.visionaries.org
Contacts:
Bill Mosher, billm@visionaries.org, Executive Director
contact@visionaries.org

Williamstown Art Conservation Center, Inc.

Member of the Regional Alliance for Preservation, www.rap-arcc.org

 

A nonprofit art conservation organization located on the grounds of the Sterling and Francine Clark Art Institute, which treats objects ranging from family photographs, antiques and heirlooms to some of the most important paintings, sculpture and furniture in the country. Founded in 1977 to address the conservation and collection care needs of a small consortium of collecting institutions in the Northeast, the Center now serves more than 50 member museums and historical societies in New England, New York, Mid-Atlantic and Southeast, as well as individuals and corporations. WACC has also become a center for information on all aspects of collections care. Students should contact Executive Director Tom Branchick for information on volunteer and internship opportunities.

 

227 South Street
Williamstown, MA 01267
413-458-5741
Contact: Tom Branchick, Executive Director
www.williamstownart.org
wacc@williamstownart.org

Williamstown Historical Museum

The Williamstown House of Local History was founded in 1941 to promote knowledge of the town’s history by collecting and preserving materials, mounting exhibitions, presenting educational programs and facilitating research. Its goal is to document the diverse people and buildings, the associations and institutions, the businesses and events which form the town’s history from the earliest days to the present time. The collection includes photographs, documents and artifacts from the 1700s to the present day as well as published material on the town and genealogical material on local families.

If you’re interested in history, the Williamstown Historical Museum is the place for you!  We are a museum and research center that maintains a collection of photos, artifacts and documents that relate to Williamstown’s past. We work to increase the public’s knowledge of Williamstown’s past in a variety of ways including educational exhibits, programs, events, research and publications.  

We have numerous volunteer opportunities available.  Our goal is to help you to use your talents and interests in a way that allows our organization to maintain a diverse collection of photos, artifacts, documents and manuscripts, and use our materials to educate the public about the town.  As a volunteer you are a valued member of our team and you will develop a greater connection to the community around you as your understanding of our local history grows.   All of our volunteers will receive training and a manual to assist you with your work.  

To learn more about our organization please visit our museum, visit our website or give Sarah or Nancy at the WHM a call:

1095 Main Street
Williamstown, MA
413-458-2160
www.williamstownhistoricalmuseum.org
Contact: Sarah Currie, Director, sarah@williamstownhistoricalmuseum.org

Williamstown Theatre Festival

Non-profit professional summer theatre which produces classic and new plays, presents artists production opportunities and challenges seldom available elsewhere, provides training to emerging theater talents and creates and presents programs which serve and engage a diverse community. See website for information on training and career opportunities.

 

PO Box 517
1000 Main Street
Williamstown, MA 01267
413-458-3200
www.wtfestival.org

wtfinfo@wtfestival.org

Williamstown Youth Center

Wide range of social, recreational and educational programs for youth and adolescents ages 6-18 from Williamstown and the surrounding area. Executive Director David Rempell welcomes students interested in helping develop and implement arts programming (in any medium) to email him about experiential learning opportunities at the WYC.

 

66 School St
Williamstown, MA 01267
413-458-5925
Open 8:30am – 5:30pm weekdays
Contact: David Rempell, david@williamstownyouthcenter.org, Executive Director
www.williamstownyouthcenter.org