Local Resources

*Local Venues for Artists/Arts Orgs: The Northampton Arts Council and the UMASS Arts Extension Service compiled a list of venues for artists. The list can be found by visiting this link: here.

Academy of Music Theatre: The Academy of Music is one of the historical, architectural, and cultural treasures of Northampton and the entire the Pioneer Valley. 274 Main Street, Northampton, MA http://www.aomtheatre.com

Accounting and Bookkeeping Resources for Nonprofits: here

Anchor House of Artists, the New England Visionary Artists Museum: Subsidizing and Representing marginalized artists, creating a vessel for professional and self-taught creative collaboration, and building the platform for a stronger, diverse, and economically just art establishment in the region and beyond. 518 Pleasant Street, Northampton, MA http://www.anchorhouseartists.org

A.P.E. Gallery: Available Potential Enterprises, Ltd. exists to support contemporary artists working in all disciplines, by preserving and supporting the spaces in which they create, perform and exhibit their work. 126 Main Street, Northampton, MA http://www.apearts.org

Art Angels: is a group of anonymous artists and art lovers who pool their financial resources and collect donations to support Pioneer Valley of Massachusetts artists with projects that deepen and enrich the artistic life of this region. http://www.theartangels.org/

ArtsBoston Calendar: Launched in 2009, the ArtsBoston Calendar has grown to become the most comprehensive arts and culture calendar in Greater Boston and beyond, connecting over 70,000 unique visitors with over 1,000 events per month. https://calendar.artsboston.org/

Arts Extension Service (AES) is based at the University of Massachusetts. It offers training, conferences, and technical assistance in arts management, developing the creative economy, and strengthening arts-based businesses.

ArtsHub of Western Mass: ArtsHub is an ever-evolving central resource designed to highlight and bring together the amazing artists, organizations, and events that are happening within the creative communities of Western Massachusetts. https://www.artshubwma.org/

Arts Night Out: Explore open galleries and studios in Northampton on the 2nd Friday of every month in one easy stroll, enjoying light refreshments. It happens all year round, rain or shine! https://www.artsnightout.live/

Alliance of Artist Communities: The Alliance of Artists Communities is an international association of artists' residencies. A diverse field of more than 1,500 programs worldwide that support artists of any discipline in developing new creative work. http://artistcommunities.org/

A SIMPLE TAX GUIDE FOR ARTISTS: Some of the most important things to know about doing your taxes as an artist. https://voidacademy.com/a-simple-tax-guide-for-artists/

Berkshire Film and Media Collaborative: The BFMC promotes and facilitates film, television and new media opportunities in western Massachusetts as an economic initiative for the region. https://www.berkshirefilm.com/

Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation: At Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation, we carry out our mission of improving life in our region by investing in the vision, passion and expertise of our residents. Since 1987, we have awarded over $135 million in grants and scholarships to organizations and individuals in our communities.
https://www.berkshiretaconic.org/bReceivebNonprofitsIndividuals/SearchApplyforGrants.aspx

Brushworks Arts and Industry Building: The Brushworks Art & Industry Building is a unique multi-use Light Industrial complex, that has become the area’s premier location for local artists, designers, entrepreneurs, and the greater creative community. This sprawling converted factory, has a total of over 160,000 square-feet of space, and is comprised of studios, workshops, and galleries of varying size that are available for lease. https://brushworksartsandindustry.com/

Click Workspace: is a multi-floor co-working space in downtown Northampton that showcases artwork on its walls and in small installations around the building, and that can transform its first floor into an intimate performance and event space. Click actively seeks visual artists and performers to showcase at Northampton Arts Night Out, as well as individuals or groups seeking small-scale performance/event space. www.clickworkspace.org.

Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts: Founded in 1991, the Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts administers a charitable endowment consisting of approximately 528 separately identified funds ($110 million) serving the three counties bordering the Connecticut River in Western Massachusetts (Hampden, Hampshire, and Franklin Counties). http://www.communityfoundation.org

Creative Space Classifieds: Find or list creative live/work or work space in Massachusetts. https://artsake.massculturalcouncil.org/creative-space-classifieds/

Daily Hampshire Gazette Arts: http://www.gazettenet.com/Arts

Entrythingy Call for Artist Entries Interactive Map: http://www.entrythingy.com/forartists_map

Feeding Tube Records: Through their partnership with Ecstatic Yod, they are able to bring you the best in rare and collectible LPs, the largest selection of contemporary underground records that you are likely to find anywhere, and hundreds of reissues of lost classics. http://www.feedingtuberecords.com

Field: has two Fiscal Sponsorship packages designed to help you build, bolster and sustain your art making: Local Harvest Individual Sponsorship and Deep Roots Institutional Sponsorship. These packages aim to empower entrepreneurial artists by providing nonprofit affiliation, fundraising support, in-the-trenches advice from expert staff, and access to transformative educational resources.http://thefield.org/content/membership/

Florence School of the Arts: The Florence School Of The Arts is a vibrant community of visual artists and musicians based in the Pioneer Valley, offering classes and private lessons in drawing, painting, photography and music. At FSA, a spirit of exploration guides students of all ages to use creative expression and commitment to craft as a pathway to awareness, inspiration, and self-discovery. http://florenceschoolofthearts.com/

Guide to Artist Space Resources: A Guide for Creating and Preserving Affordable Artist Spaces. http://www.massculturalcouncil.org

Hampshire County: Locals adore it. Guests daydream about us. Why all the love? Hampshire County is just one of those pockets on the planet where you can be yourself -- any side, any shade, any shape. http://visithampshirecounty.com/

Hampden Gallery: is a program of the Fine Arts Center located in Residential Areas at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. Hampden Gallery has a reputation as a launching pad for emerging artists working in all disciplines. Its active programming schedule runs throughout the academic year and features solo, group, and thesis exhibitions which are enhanced through opening receptions, artist talks, and workshops. Check them out here.

Health Care for Artists: the site is administered by the Artists Foundation. The foundation has a 34-year history of working on artists' health care issues. This free site is for individual artists working in all disciplines to aid them in navigating the Massachusetts Health Care Reform Law, its requirements and programs, and the existing available health care options. This site is a resource for finding health care providers, health care resources and information, and health care advocacy organizations. Important proposed health care legislation is posted on this site. There is a glossary and key terms section for you to reference. This site also hosts a guide for Health Care Organizations and Advocacy Groups enrolling artists working in all disciplines into the Health Care Reform's options and existing health care options.

Hill Institute: Offers classes in sewing, weaving and woodworking. Classes have been offered on metalwork, basketry, cake-decorating, hammered aluminum, net weaving, smocking, rug braiding, spinning, macrame, and crewel. http://www.hillinstitute.com/

Hire Culture: The Mass Cultural Council is proud to offer Hire Culture, a FREE, searchable database of cultural employment opportunities throughout Massachusetts. Hire Culture exists primarily for the benefit of nonprofit arts, science, and humanities organizations in Massachusetts. Other organizations and businesses in Massachusetts are welcome to submit listings of employment opportunities in the arts and culture sector for consideration. http://hireculture.org

Hosmer Gallery at Forbes Library: The Hosmer Art Gallery is designed to provide opportunities for local artists to show their work to the public. Exhibits include a wide range of media and content reflecting the diversity of the Pioneer Valley community. The gallery is curated and scheduled by the Head of the Arts & Music Department. 20 West Street, Northampton, MA http://www.forbeslibrary.org/

International Language Institute of Massachusetts: Founded in 1984 and located in downtown Northampton, ILI’s mission is to promote intercultural understanding by providing high-quality language instruction and teacher training. The school's many offerings include language classes in Arabic, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish and free English classes for immigrants and refugees. http://ili.edu/about-ili

Massachusetts Cultural Council: MCC receives an annual appropriation from the state Legislature and funds from the National Endowment for the Arts, the Wallace Foundation, and others. In turn, MCC makes thousands of grants directly to non-profit cultural organizations, schools, communities, and individuals artists, through funding programs that use arts, science, and the humanities to build strong, diverse, livable communities. The beneficiaries of these programs comprise a cross-section of the population and citizens in each Massachusetts city and town. http://www.massculturalcouncil.org/

MASSCreative: MASSCreative empowers creative organizations and the public with a powerful voice that brings the attention and resources necessary to build vibrant, creative communities. MASSCreative works with creative leaders, working artists, arts educators and arts and cultural supporters to empower creative organizations and the public with a powerful voice to advocate for the resources and attention necessary to build vibrant, connected, and creative communities. http://www.mass-creative.org/

Mass Humanities: promotes the use of the humanities—history, literature, philosophy, cultural studies and more—to deepen public understanding of current issues, strengthen our sense of common purpose, and enrich individual and community life. Grants of up to $15k support public humanities programming in Massachusetts, including lectures, reading-and-discussion series, exhibits, walking tours, film pre-production and distribution projects, teacher education projects, out-of-school humanities enrichment programs, and more. http://www.masshumanities.org

Massachusetts Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts: 
https://artsandbusinesscouncil.org/apply-for-services/ 

Media Education Foundation: MEF produces and distributes documentary films and other educational resources to inspire critical reflection on the social, political, and cultural impact of American mass media. MEF welcomes the use of the Frances P. Crowe community meeting room by non-profit organizations engaged in civic, cultural, educational, recreational, and public information meetings. As a progressive non-profit organization, The community room is located on the lower floor of MEF in the historic firehouse at 60 Masonic Street in Northampton, MA http://www.mediaed.org

Meeting Facilities in the Northampton Area:
https://forbeslibrary.org/community/resources/meeting-facilities

National Endowment for the Arts: The National Endowment for the Arts is an independent federal agency that funds, promotes, and strengthens the creative capacity of our communities by providing all Americans with diverse opportunities for arts participation. https://www.arts.gov/

New England Office of Nonprofit Finance Fund (NFF) provides advisory and financial services to nonprofits of all types in Massachusetts. Services include nonprofit business analysis, planning for managing assets, workshops, and planning guides on the facility and financial planning. NFF also offers facilities loans.

New England Foundation for the Arts announces arts jobs, and three new funding opportunities as part of the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act (ARRA).

New England Visionary Artists Museum: To serve the legacies of artists who dedicated their lives to producing images derived from the wellspring of inner vision. The collection includes artifacts from the lives and works of artists who touched the Anchor House of Artists since its founding in 1997 and more. http://www.neva-museum.org/

Northampton Arts Council--Digital Projector/DVD Player/Speakers/13" Monitor Loan:
An Epson Digital Projector, DVD player, 13" monitor and Fostex speakers are available for a loan either separately or together, to local artists or art organizations for exhibition/lecture use. This combination, or the digital projector alone in combination with a laptop computer, should make it possible for artists or arts organizations to make computer-generated presentations using PowerPoint, Word, or Excel. The Arts Council can take no responsibility for the technical operation of the equipment. There is no charge for the use of these items, but the borrowing artist will be responsible for any damage or loss, which occurs while under loan to the artist. In order to maximize the availability of this equipment, loans typically run 72 hours to two weeks. Loans are made on a first-come first-served basis. To schedule the use of equipment, please call or email the Arts Council.

Northampton Center for the Arts: NCFA provides low-cost exhibit and performance space for area artists and arts organizations. http://www.nohoarts.org

Northampton Community Arts Trust: A non-profit corporation that was formed in May, 2010. Our mission is to protect and ensure the long term vitality of the Northampton community through the creation and conservation of downtown arts spaces including our new multi-use arts community center on 33 Hawley Street in Northampton. http://www.northamptonartstrust.org/

Northampton Community Music Center: The Northampton Community Music Center was founded in 1986 on the principle that music education is an essential part of every human being's growth and development. Our mission is to foster the love and pursuit of music through quality musical education, performances and activities that are accessible to all. 139 South Street, Northampton, MA http://www.ncmc.net

Northampton Educational Foundation: Established in 1991, the Northampton Education Foundation (NEF) is a non-profit organization created to fund projects and programs that expand educational opportunities, foster creativity, and enhance academic experiences in Northampton's public schools. The NEF also works to broaden community support for our public schools. We support our mission, in large part, by awarding grants for teacher-initiated projects. http://www.northampton-edfoundation.org

Northampton Open Media: The mission of Northampton Open Media is to serve as a model community access organization providing programming and educational opportunities to the community through all means technologically available. NCTV is an independent, non-profit organization governed by a board of directors from the Northampton community. The purposes and powers of NCTV are set forth in the Articles of Organization for Northampton Community Television, filed with the Office of the Secretary of State of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The details of corporate governance and organization of NCTV are set forth in the By-Laws of Northampton Community Television. http://www.northamptontv.org

The Oxbow Gallery: The Oxbow Gallery is a collective gallery owned and operated by 36 artist members. About 20 of the members are local to the Pioneer Valley. The Oxbow showcases a variety of fine art techniques and mediums including painting, sculpture and photography, and installation. Shows change every three weeks. http://www.oxbowgallery.org

Paradise City Arts Festival: Paradise City Arts Festival: Award-winning shows of contemporary craft and fine art showcase the works of some of America's most prominent craftspeople and artists. Two shows a year in Northampton - Memorial Day and Columbus Day Weekends. Since 2004, American Style Magazine readers have voted Paradise City among the top five fine art and craft shows in America. Indoors and under tents at the 3 County Fairgrounds. Application deadlines are in early September and April. 800-511-9725 http://www.paradisecityarts.com

Paradise City Cultural District (Downtown Northampton): is "Too much awesome for one little town," an architecturally impressive, compact, walkable, and bikeable area encompassing approximately 14 square blocks and possessing numerous assets and amenities supportive of a thriving arts district, including a very visible creative-sector presence; easy highway access, bus transit, and incoming high-speed Amtrak rail service (Springfield-to-Greenfield route expected in early 2015 as part of the Knowledge Corridor project); an attractive streetscape and skyline punctuated by the city’s majestic church spires; a diverse selection of restaurants, cafés, and coffee shops; and in-city overnight accommodations (adding another 100 hotel rooms, totaling 460). As one of the Five College communities in the Pioneer Valley, Northampton enjoys a strong infusion of college students, adding to the city’s diversity and contributing to its eclectic nightlife. http://paradisedistrict.org

Pioneer Valley Theatre News: A weekly newsletter featuring all the theatre events in the Pioneer Valley - performances, auditions, classes, workshops, job opportunities, as well as a list of valley theatre organizations and links to local theatre professionals. See the newsletter, subscribe for next week and submit your theatre event at www.pioneervalleytheatre.com.

Pivot Media: Founded in 1999 by photographer Jim Gipe, Pivot Media is now a leader in the field of photo-digital imaging. Pivot Media offers studio and location photography, high resolution scanning, art reproduction, retouching, restoration, and fine art printing services to individuals, companies, and institutions. Its state-of-the-art studio and talented production staff allow Pivot Media to provide services uniquely tailored to a variety of client needs. Pivot specializes in converting art works and older media, such as slides, negatives and prints, to a digital format. This service is expanded by their ability to digitally restore faded and/or damaged photos. The master digital files are saved to CD ready for printing or for sharing with friends and colleagues. http://www.pivotmedia.com

Rozz Tox Art: at Feeding Tube Records; Gallery Hours; Saturday & Sunday, noon – 6 PM. http://feedingtuberecords.com/rozztoxart/

School for Contemporary Dance and Thought (SCDT): is comprised of independent and internationally experienced performance artists/movement practitioners who are also innovative teachers. The goal of SCDT is to serve as a hub by maintaining space for the local community and curating performance art of the highest quality by connecting communities on an international scale. http://www.scdtnoho.com

Smith College Museum of Art: Widely acknowledged as one of the most important art collections at an American college, the Smith College Museum of Art's holdings include nearly 25,000 objects, with particular strength in 19th- and early 20th-century European and American art. Students learn directly from original art through innovative classes, research, intern programs, gallery talks and visits. Free to all on the second Friday of the month, 4-8 pm. Free passes may be checked out at Forbes Library (20 West Street, next to Smith campus) with a Forbes card or one from a library with reciprocal borrowing privileges. http://www.smith.edu/artmuseum

Snow Farm: Snow Farm is a special place where students can come for solace and rejuvenation while learning a craft from master craftspeople. The staff at Snow Farm embraces the creative magic that is the heart of the New England Craft Program. http://www.snowfarm.org

Street Musician's Permit for Northampton: For permission to perform in downtown Northampton, please download this form here and bring it to the Department of Public Works to get it signed. Then take the signed permit to the Police Department to obtain another signature.

Street Performer's Permit for Northampton: For permission to perform in downtown Northampton, please download this form here and bring it to the Department of Public Works to get it signed. Then take the signed permit to the Police Department to obtain another signature.

UMASS Arts Extension Service: AES still works in this university outreach, community development tradition. Originally serving the communities of western Massachusetts, AES teaching, consulting, and publications now reach a nation-wide audience. Educational programming has long been a central function. Through workshops, courses, conferences and consulting, AES has taught artists, community and state arts leaders how to manage the arts. Publications that were originally developed to enhance the educational value of workshops have subsequently grown so that AES is now a publisher with ten titles currently in print. Publications range from our most well-known, Fundamentals of Arts Management, to the classic, Community Cultural Planning Handbook: A Guide for Community Leaders. http://www.artsextensionservice.org/

Valley Arts Newsletter: The Valley Arts Newsletter is an email subscription newsletter published on Tuesdays with news about area art shows and events, calls for artists and opportunities, art class announcements, and studio availabilities. The information is submitted by readers and is focused on the visual arts in the Pioneer Valley area. See their submissions page for details about submitting a listing. http://www.valleyartsnewsletter.com

Valley Free Radio: WXOJ 103.3FM, is a Northampton-based community radio station. VFR is independent media, all volunteer run, and our mission is to support the community. We have a variety of shows including music, science, health, sports, and politics. We are always open to new shows and helping getting the word out about local events. www.ValleyFreeRadio.org

Western Massachusetts Illustrators Guild: WMIG (“Wimmig”) is a group of professional illustrators in the Connecticut River Valley area that meets monthly in members’ studios to network, socialize, show work, and offer critiques. Artistic styles range from children’s books to fantasy art to editorial pieces and beyond. The diversity of artists’ work and the size of its membership make the group a dynamic and active resource for illustration. http://www.wmig.org/

Writer Resources

Zea Mays Printmaking: is a studio, workshop, gallery, educational facility and research center dedicated to non-toxic and safer printmaking practices. They offer workshops in green printmaking processes; access to our state-of-the-art studio; personalized instruction; exhibitions; residencies; prints for sale and more. http://www.zeamaysprintmaking.com