Mission:
MASS MoCA seeks to catalyze and support the creation of new art, expose our visitors to bold visual and performing art in all stages of production, and re-invigorate the life of a region in socioeconomic need.
Or if you're looking for a fuller statement:
If conventional museums are boxes, MASS MoCA is an open platform a welcoming place that encourages dynamic interchange between making and presenting art, between the visual and performing arts, and between our extraordinary historic factory campus and the patrons, workers and tenants who again inhabit it.
We at MASS MoCA work hard to make the whole cloth of art-making, presentation and participation a seamless continuum. Performing arts residencies offer well-equipped and professionally staffed technical facilities and stages, and a sophisticated, diverse and sympathetic audience for new work especially technically complex work that requires generous allocations of time and space impossible in conventional theatrical settings. Likewise, MASS MoCA's vast galleries and expert fabrication staff give visual artists the tools and time to create works of scale and duration impossible to realize in the time and space-cramped conditions of most museums. We endeavor to expose our audiences to all stages of art production; rehearsals, sculptural fabrication, and developmental workshops are frequently on view to the public, as are finished works of art.
If MASS MoCA's mission is to foster and present exciting new work of the highest quality in all media and in all phases of its production we also work hard to position the arts as a vibrant catalyst for community revitalization: indeed, the creation of new markets, good jobs and the long-term enrichment of a region in economic need is one of MASS MoCA's driving purposes. We at MASS MoCA are convinced that advancement of the arts, increased tourism and community participation, and regional economic redevelopment are mutually reinforcing and inextricably linked, and we act forcefully on that belief. The arts create and bestow community identity. Identity rallies hope, productivity, pride and economic vibrancy. These are the base conditions for a healthy community; they cannot be created, however, without risk, creativity, adventure, and the willingness to embrace the new. This is the heart and soul of MASS MoCA's mission.
Summer might be coming to a close, but new exhibitions and opportunities to visit MASS MoCA are arriving every day. Osman Khan: Road to Hybridabad is newly on view in Building 4, and we can't wait for a conversation with artist Tomashi Jackson and…
Read More »Summer's not over yet. There's always something new to see, hear, and explore at MASS MoCA. Immerse yourself in installations by Steve Locke, Amy Podmore, and Osman Khan (opening next weekend) and a celebratory concert with Roomful of Teeth. Or join…
Read More »Let's get LOUD this Thursday (through Saturday)! August 1 marks the return of summer festival Bang on a Can LOUD Weekend, with playful and heady collisions of jazz, classical, rock and more filling MASS MoCA's galleries and courtyards. Single-day…
Read More »Pick your day - any day. Summer is in full swing at MASS MoCA. Single-day tickets to LOUD Weekend are rolling out, with Thursday, August 1, tickets available now (check out the daily schedule here). FreshGrass single-day tickets are on sale too -…
Read More »Here at MASS MoCA, we are feeling spring and the promise of new beginnings in a major way. Our galleries and performance venues are full of ways to experience art in all forms more deeply. Chances are, there are a few new things for you to see…
Read More »Daymé Arocena Saturday, March 9, 8pm Be blown away by the talents of jazz singer Daymé Arocena, who brings her "propulsive Cuban folk-pop" (The Guardian) to the Hunter Center next weekend. Frequently compared to figures such as…
Read More »2024 is heating up! With performances on our stages and new exhibitions in our galleries, keep track of everything ahead this winter/spring season that you don't want to miss: a concert and reading with Like Magic artist Johanna Hedva; an…
Read More »Coming and Going Exhibitions Not to Miss EJ Hill: Brake Run Helix On View through February 11 EJ Hill's massive work incorporates freestanding sculptures, paintings, and a rideable sculptural installation inspired by the form and…
Read More »Free for All Free Day 2024 Saturday, January 27, 10am–5pm Free for all who walk through our doors, MASS MoCA’s annual community celebration rocks the galleries with thematic museum tours, art-making in Kidspace, FIREBIRD…
Read More »Wishing You Joy in the New Year! 2024 is here, and we can't wait to see you back at MASS MoCA. Whatever your resolutions this year, our creative campus offers something for everybody. RESOLUTION: Get Moving Looking for a way to get your…
Read More »A Season for Reflection + Connection However you are closing out your year — or preparing for the one ahead — we hope this season brings you a sense of connection: to friends and loved ones, to the art that encourages us to think and…
Read More »Shop All That Our Extraordinary Campus Has to Offer this Holiday Season If you are looking for unique and inspiring gift ideas this holiday season, we've got you covered. MASS MoCA's campus is also home to restaurants, makers, two fantastic…
Read More »Holiday Shopping at MASS MoCA If you are looking for unique and inspiring gift ideas this holiday season, we've got you covered. The Research & Development Store Now Online! The R&D Store now offers a selection of books, vinyl, and design…
Read More »Warm Up in the Galleries Whether you're seeking a good family hang, catching our newest shows, or taking in a concert or program, we can't wait to see you back at MASS MoCA this holiday season. We are open Wednesdays–Mondays,…
Read More »Just Announced at MASS MoCA Your Wednesday just got a whole lot better. Introducing MASS MoCA's upcoming 2024 winter/spring lineup! The new year brings new exhibitions, concerts, screenings, artist workshops, and family fun to MASS MoCA. Plus, as…
Read More »Like Magic On view beginning Sunday, October 29 How to survive and thrive in a chaotic world? In MASS MoCA's newest exhibition — opening Sunday, October 29 — Simone Bailey, Raven Chacon, Grace Clark, Johanna Hedva, Gelare…
Read More »Plan Your Fall Visit Our fall hours (10am–5pm, Wednesday–Monday; closed on Tuesdays) start today, Wednesday, October 11. With hints of orange and red lining our campus and the Berkshire hills, now is a perfect time to visit, and your…
Read More »JACOB’S PILLOW CO-PRESENTATIONS This season, MASS MoCA is thrilled to co-present two new works with Jacob’s Pillow. Get your tickets to experience experimental R&B musician serpentwithfeet,…
Read More »Roomful of Teeth, Pamela Z & The Living Earth Show: This Impossible Building Thursday, August 17, 8pm Welcome back, Roomful of Teeth! The Grammy-winning vocal titans return to their summer home at MASS MoCA to create new works and hone…
Read More »Announcing Fall at MASS MoCA Art, Music, Works-in-Progress, and Public Programs We are thrilled to share MASS MoCA's fall season with you today! From programs and activations that shine light on our newest exhibition — Like Magic, opening…
Read More »Danielle Ponder Friday, August 18, 8pm Don't miss Danielle Ponder’s refreshingly original, shiver-inducing mix of pop, R&B, blues, rock, and moody trip-hop topped by her celestial voice — an instrument that can plumb melancholy…
Read More »Elle Pérez: Intimacies On view beginning Saturday, July 22 Opening soon! Elle Pérez is known for photographs that capture with a unique sense of ease the intimacy between lovers, between friends, and between photographer and subject.…
Read More »July at MASS MoCA Whether exploring the galleries or spending an evening under the stars, there's something for everyone here this month, starting with a not-to-be-missed summer night this Thursday. Dive in and plan your art fix now: PLAN YOUR…
Read More »Anne Samat: Love Opens Saturday, June 24 In her solo Kidspace exhibition, Anne Samat adorns traditional Southeast Asian Pua Kumbu weavings with humble household goods from 99-cent stores and thrift shops to construct totemic figurative sculptures.…
Read More »Joseph Grigely: In What Way Wham? (White Noise and Other Works, 1996-2023) On view now In What Way Wham? (White Noise and Other Works, 1996-2023) brings visitors into the experience of "watching the world with the sound turned off"—a…
Read More »Summer Hours Wednesdays — Mondays, 10am to 6pm The days are getting longer, and we're open later! Beginning today, visit our galleries from 10am to 6pm, Wednesdays through Mondays. Stop by our outdoor art installations, which open for the…
Read More »Ilana Glazer Live! Friday, August 25, 8pm One half of the dynamic duo that brought you the cult hit show Broad City, the comedian, director, producer, writer, and actress (yep, she’s a quintuple threat) Ilana Glazer takes the Hunter Center…
Read More »Summer at MASS MoCA Art, Music, Comedy and More! May Artist Workshops: Free financial and business training for MA, RI, and CT artists all summer long Maggie Crane: Berkshire-native tackles disability, death, and Dunkin’ Member…
Read More »Rina Sawayama Friday, June 9, 7pm The Japanese-British pop savant Rina Sawayama has exploded into our collective consciousness with a sound that leaves audiences swooning and she's kicking off her summer tour right here on MASS MoCA's Courtyard D…
Read More »The Old Man and the Sea Work-in-Progress Preview Saturday, March 25, 8pm Soaring soprano Helga Davis—a returning MASS MoCA friend just like The Old Man and the Sea creator Paola Prestini—narrates this operatic adaptation, while…
Read More »MASS MoCA After Hours Thursday, March 8, 5–8pm Join us for a night at the museum on the second Thursday of each month this spring! In March, MASS MoCA After Hours will feature an indoor carnival with pop-ups from local writers and…
Read More »Akoma: Jlin & Florence To Saturday, February 18, 8pm Jlin and Florence To bring audiences closer to the pulse of the body, with Akoma. The multimodal concert/installation is a cosmic conversation between light and sound designed to reverberate…
Read More »Broadway en Spanglish Saturday, February 4, 8pm Cabaret meets cumbia when Florencia Cuenca and Jaime Lozano reimagine musical theater classics with lush Mexican folk arrangements. Once you hear Lozano’s take on hits from Rent and…
Read More »Shadow: Screening with Q&A Saturday, January 21, 7pm Join us this Saturday for a screening of Shadow, which asks the question, "If artificial intelligence took over the world, would human beings all end up living with an intellectual…
Read More »Kaleta & Super Yamba Band Saturday, January 7, 8pm Picture this: it’s the very first Saturday night of 2023, and you’re more ready than ever to dance away the chilly weather. Do you: Sit quietly at home Mosey over to MASS MoCA…
Read More »Winter & Spring at MASS MoCA Art, Music, Dance, and More! January Member Celebration: Raise a glass to artists kelli rae adams, Yto Barrada, Jason Moran, Richard Nielsen, and Amy Yoes. Kaleta & Super Yamba Band: Afro-funk dance…
Read More »EJ Hill: Brake Run Helix On View Beginning October 30 "Some things about life - and America - ‘you have to feel in your gut,’ this artist says. So he’s building a roller coaster inside a museum." - The New York Times For…
Read More »Shamel Pitts | TRIBE: Touch of RED World Premiere co-presented by Jacob's Pillow October 21 & 22, 8pm Inspired by boxing's quick footwork, the sparring dancers at the center of Touch of RED vividly reimagine how masculinity, tenderness, and…
Read More »Shamel Pitts | TRIBE: Touch of RED World Premiere co-presented by Jacob's Pillow October 21 & 22, 8pm Groundbreaking choreographer Shamel Pitts doesn’t dance around big issues—instead, he dances into them. Pitts is the founder and…
Read More »FreshGrass | North Adams September 23–25, 8pm Come for three days of roots, folk, and bluegrass and stay for miles of art, Berkshire-fresh food, hyper-local craft beers, and to watch the leaves turn. Get your apple-picking fix in the…
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