Mass MoCA Free to Berkshire Folks
No Charge for Admission Dec. 1 to 21
By: MOCA - Nov 26, 2016
The holiday season comes early this year. From December 1 through 21, MASS MoCA opens its doors and waives admission to all Berkshire County residents. MASS MoCA hopes to welcome as many friends and neighbors as possible with its first-ever Free Berkshire County program.
Since MASS MoCA’s inception, various campaigns have steered patrons to the galleries free of charge. MASS MoCA’s Free Day, which typically falls during the winter season, waives admission to all museum-goers, attracting an influx of visitors. Free North Adams, a program designed specifically for MASS MoCA’s neighbors, offers free admission several times a year to those residing within the 01247 zip code. In the fall of 2015, MASS MoCA saw its local attendance during Free North Adams days increase as families, friends, teachers, and students took advantage of free admission to check out the art museum in their backyard.
A spokesperson states that “MASS MoCA is always looking for new ways to encourage our most local community members to visit. The idea to bust open the doors to Berkshire County folks builds on our annual Free Day, which attracts thousands, and on our Free North Adams program, which sees 10% of overall visitors in a day coming right here from our home city. We hope people really get to know the museum right now — just before we double in size next spring."
Expanding those previous plans that offered free admission, MASS MoCA — for the first time — extends free admission program to all Berkshire County residents. “We look for opportunities to make MASS MoCA visitors feel like the museum is really their place.This is just one way to make sure some of our most valued visitors — our neighbors — know that we’re eager for them to make the museum part of their regular beat.”
In order to encourage neighbors and friends to take advantage of the program, MASS MoCA’s Free Berkshire County program falls on 21 consecutive days, maximizing flexibility for community members.
Residents residing within zip codes beginning with “012” should bring a government-issued ID or a utility bill with current address (and picture ID) when visiting the museum on the aforementioned dates. MASS MoCA's galleries, located at 87 Marshall Street, are open from 11am to 5pm every day of the week except Tuesdays.
Other Free Programs
The museum has a long-term partnership with several libraries in the region, including the North Adams Public Library, through which library users can “check out” a free admission pass to MASS MoCA for up to two adults and two children.
Admission to Kidspace, the museum’s child-centered gallery and art-making space, is always free, all year long. During the academic year, Kidspace collaborates with the region’s elementary schools to provide arts education programming, bringing thousands of local schoolchildren through the museum for free each year.
About MASS MoCA
MASS MoCA is one of the world's liveliest (and largest) centers for making, showing, and enjoying today's most important art, music, dance, theater, film, and video. Hundreds of works of visual and performing art have been created on its 19th-century factory campus during fabrication and rehearsal residencies, making MASS MoCA among the most productive sites in the country for the creation and presentation of new art. More platform than box, MASS MoCA strives to bring to its audiences art experiences that are fresh, engaging, and transformative.
Gallery admission is $18 for adults, $16 for veterans and seniors, $12 for students, $8 for children 6 to 16, and free for children 5 and under. Members are admitted free year-round. The Hall Art Foundation’s Anselm Kiefer exhibition is open seasonally, spring – fall. For additional information, call 413.662.2111 x1 or visit massmoca.org.
Hours
11am to 5pm, closed Tuesdays