Say "North Adams" and "the arts" and most people think immediately of MASS MoCA. (With good reason; MASS MoCA is a remarkable success story and the pride of the area.) In addition to MoCA, though, North Adams is also home to several grassroots arts organizations. These organizations are important threads in the fabric of northern Berkshire cultural life, and the ICP has brought them together.

Cultural Salon

In June of 2002, the four cultural organizations in the Infinite Capacity Partnership--Contemporary Artists Center, Inkberry, Main Street Stage, and Railway Cafe--joined forces to offer a free cultural salon and silent auction.

Children's programming began in the afternoon, featuring facepainting, free balloons, and arts and crafts activities for kids. An exhibit of visual art curated by the CAC was on display all day. The evening component of the event featured readings presented by Inkberry (featuring Windsor poet Patricia Crane and Williamstown essayist Gail Burns), performances by Main Street Stage's Royal Berkshire Improv Theatre, and live acoustic music by Darryl Purpose provided by Railway Cafe, held together by the comedic touch of emcee Molly Kerns. Food, drinks, and music by DJ Dead Air added to the fun.

Throughout the day and evening, people bid on items in the four organizations' joint silent auction. Prizes included weekend getaways, furniture, original artworks, computer consulting/lessons, free meals at area restaurants, and tickets to most of the area's summer music and theatre venues. The silent auction raised enough money to pay for the multimedia event--and to help the four partner organizations continue offering their wide range of year-round cultural programming.

Since summer of 2002, North Adams' arts organizations have worked together in a variety of ways, ranging from offering joint programming to brainstorming on joint fundraisers and audience-building efforts.