Mass MoCA Commission Approves Two New Leases
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — In a short meeting Monday, the Mass MoCA Commission approved Assets for Artists request for office space in Building 1.
"It has long been a fixture at Mass MoCA, and we are excited about this next chapter in its evolution," Morgan Everett, head of public initiatives and real estate, said. "... It has an incredible impact throughout Massachusetts, throughout New England, and they will continue building out that fantastic work."
The longstanding program, which offers professional development for artists and aids in capacity and community building, is branching out from Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art to become a separate 501(c)3 nonprofit.
"I am excited to continue this work … we do a tremendous amount of work in the Berkshires, in North Adams," Blair Benjamin of Assets for Artists said. "We are excited to continue that work with Mass MoCA and in the North Adams community. We appreciate your support of this next chapter."
He said Assets For Artists residency space, the Studios at Mass MocA, will remain unchanged. The program has occupied the location on the second floor of Building 13 for the past decade.
The transition is being overseen by the museum's visual arts department.
Mayor Jennifer Macksey praised the group and its community involvement.
"They are a fantastic group of individuals who really enrich the summer and add a lot to our programming throughout the year," she said.
Jason Ahuja, senior manager of public initiatives, introduced the second lease request and said artist Roz Crews has requested office space, also in Building 1.
He said the artist, curator and educator writes poems and performs and platforms for other artists. Crews currently teaches at Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts and is an associate curator at the Williams College Museum of Art.
He said Crews requires the space to organize their personal evolving archive. The lease is for a year.
In other business, Everett said it has been a busy summer at the museum.
"The museum has been buzzing. Attendance has been high. It has been great to see people coming out and galleries full," he said.
Everett added that Bang on Can Loud Weekend starts Thursday.
"They have been in residency doing all sorts of amazing performances and creations over the past several weeks," he said. "So it is great to have that culmination."
Before closing, the commission welcomed Matt Davis, son of Robert Davis, who served on the Mass MoCA Commission until is death in June. Davis will fill out his father's term.
"He loved being on this commission, he loved being in the community," Davis said. "So do I, being on the Fire Department. So I have some big shoes to fill."
Correction: Updated to correct the location and description of the Assets for Artists program space.
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