Common Folk Find New Home in North Adams
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — At last, the roving artist's collective Common Folk may have found a permanent home at 18 Holden St.
Co-founder and creative director Jessica Sweeney said the collective has been in flux after losing its temporary Main Street location. The group had occupied the former McClelland's space at 85 Main as part of the summer's DownStreet Art. Even though they were still very active in the community, they missed having a headquarters.
She said luckily the Berkshire Cultural Resource Center at Massachusetts College of LIberal Arts stepped in and once again championed the collective, made up of more than 30 artists. And after conversations with building owner Scarafoni Associates about filling as many downtown spaces as possible, a compromise was reached – Common Folk can operate out of the space as long as it can pay the rent.
"If we can do it, we can do it and having a space to meet I think is going to change the game a bit," Sweeney said.
Common Folk will go before the Planning Board on Monday night to see what they can actually do on Holden Street and how many people can occupy the room. She said if all goes well, they should be up and running soon after.
Sweeney said she wants to line up local artists to put on low-cost workshops for those looking to learn from professionals. She said local photographer Julian Grey is slotted for one of the first workshops.
She added that on Jan. 25, Common Folk will hold a "Pitch Party" as a way for creative people to meet and share ideas for possible collaboration.
"It's like a think tank so if someone has an idea they want to see in North Adams or the surrounding area they can pitch it," she said. "It's almost like and open mic for ideas."
She said if the Planning Board approves performances, Common Folk would like to hold a Feb. 6 show with performers from the South County production team Barncat Productions and the bands Horse Jumper of Love and Peach.
Sweeny said Common Folk would also like to hold a monthly series of conversations focused around world, national, and local issues and events. She said the series was partially inspired by the Facebook group North Adams Chat, but aims to create a less incendiary forum at which people can actually talk in person.
"We want to create a safe and open space to have these conversations with the intention of learning what is going on and having clarity about it," she said.
The space will also be open for people looking to make some art or exhibitions.
Common Folk member Marc Latour said it is still unknown what the new location will allow them to do. He added that although Common Folk does not want to expand too quickly, the new location will help them refine and organize.
"I think the redefinition of our responsibilities will look like expansion and it is to a certain point," Latour said. "We have always had a lot of people working with us, but as we get smarter with what we are doing everyone can be little bit more focused and refined."
Sweeney agreed and said the group has new challenges now and expanding too quickly may be detrimental.
She said cash flow is now a bigger issue because Common Folk has expenses beyond just production. She added that because they are no longer under the DownStreet Art umbrella, they have to be able to fund advertising and promote events.
She said because the group is so expansive and has even reached into Williamstown, she believes word of mouth will bring people in.
She added that it may also be a challenge to lure people from Main Street down Holden Street, but she thinks the new location will suffice.
"We have such a large amount of people, and I think it will be difficult but not unobtainable," Sweeney said. "I think it is a strangely perfect location between two parking lots and Public and The Hub. There is a lot of foot traffic on the street."
People can donate to help Common Folk keep the new location by visiting its Patreon account. Donations are also accepted in person.
"It is more important now than it ever has been because we didn't have regular monthly expenses, and we just had event expenses," Sweeney said. "So if you want us to stay here we need help. A dollar a month is so helpful."
She said those that want to get involved can contact Common Folk at wearecommonfolk@gmail.com.
"It's amazing how this group is just so many different cross sectors…the group is very open and welcoming to any group that wants to come in," Sweeny said. "People that aren't artists come in just to stop and see what is going on and then they start to do creative things. That's is our goal; to inspire creativity just by walking through the door."
Tags: arts center, music, Planning Board,
