Mass MoCA Sets Free 'Hometown' Days for North Adams Residents
 Mass MoCA is offering free days for North Adams residents during the next four months. |
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art is opening its doors to the North Adams community for free on the "18ths" of the next four months.
The museum for years has hosted a community free day (held last Saturday) and provides free access through passes available at the public library. It also has a strong partnership with North Adams Public Schools and the North Berkshire School Union that brings local children to its KidSpace gallery, which is also free to visitors.
But local officials were hoping for something more.
"It was some city councilers that approached Joe [Thompson] and said there are a lot of people who can't take advantage of that one free day," said Jodi Joseph, director of communications, on Thursday. "Someone asked, that was all we needed. ...
"We wanted to be a good neighbor."
She said the new "hometown residents only" program will open the museum's doors on rotating days of the week to help address accessibility. The free days are Wednesday, Feb. 18; Wednesday, March 18; Saturday, April 18, and Monday, May 18.
The free Community Day will continue on its yearly basis for the wider community. More than 2,000 people visited the museum this past Community Day.
"Now, in addition to the mid-winter community free day, we look forward to welcoming North Adams residents, free of charge, on the 18th of the month for the next four months," museum Director Joseph Thompson said in a statement. "We'll see how it goes. For this test run we've selected a date that falls on a variety of weekdays and weekend days — and during the two major school vacation weeks — in the hope of achieving maximum accessibility."
City residents must show proof of residence through a government-issued ID or a utility bill with current address (and a picture ID) on hometown days.
"With Kidspace, LeWitt, and all the changing exhibitions, there is so much to see and do there, so I'm pleased that this new program will afford every resident of North Adams an easier way to enjoy the programs, the spaces, the historic buildings," said Mayor Richard Alcombright in a statement.
Joseph said the free days had been in the planning since last year but the museum didn't want to steal the thunder from the annual free day. It announced the free days on Thursday.
The galleries are open from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily, except Tuesdays. The galleries will be open on Tuesday, February 17, and Tuesday, April 21, during school vacations. Regular 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.
Tags: free day, mass moca, museum,
