What’s New
From Market to Main
As recently highlighted by The Berkshire Eagle, the North Adams Farmers Market is helping grow the next generation of local businesses. At Red Shirt Farm, Door Prize, Hexagon Bagels, and Steeple City Social, entrepreneurs are transforming market stand success into permanent storefronts, strengthening downtown North Adams. And we are here for it! 🙌
ArtWeek Kicks Off This Weekend!
North Adams is taking center stage during ArtWeek Berkshires, with a packed lineup of open studios, live music, gallery events, artist talks, workshops, and community gatherings showcasing the city’s vibrant creative economy. From downtown venues to artist spaces and cultural institutions, North Adams is one of the region’s most active and well-represented creative destinations.
We ARE Better Together!
Students from Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts partnered with MASS MoCA to host the Better Together Block Party, a student-led arts event connecting campus, downtown, and community through live music, art activities, and creative business tours ahead of FIRST Fridays North Adams. The North Adams Partnership is proud to have been part of the launch of such a successful pilot—can’t wait for next year! 🙌
ADU Design Challenge Winners Announced
The Healey-Driscoll Administration launched the statewide challenge with a clear goal: make it easier, more affordable, and more inspiring for property owners to build ADUs. Now, the results are in—and they’re worth a look. The newly released ADU Design Challenge Showcase highlights a collection of winning and qualified designs that bring creativity, flexibility, and practicality together.
New $25K Down Payment Assistance Available for First-Time Homebuyers
There’s good news for aspiring homeowners across Massachusetts—including here in the Northern Berkshires. MassHousing has expanded its homebuyer assistance program, making up to $25,000 in interest-free down payment support available to more first-time buyers.
Mastic Opens on Eagle Street
A new shop is adding a quirky, creative touch to North Adams. Mastic, opened April 3 by Jared Shockcor, offers “a little weird” mix of home goods, vintage finds, books, and locally made products with a metaphysical twist.
Apply for a Creative Experiences Grant!
Mass Cultural Council’s Creative Experiences provides grants to organizations, creative businesses, government entities, and schools to fund festivals, projects, residencies, and other cultural activities in the arts, humanities, and sciences.
April is Volunteer Month!
April is a time of renewal—longer days, fresh energy, and a chance to reconnect with what matters most. It’s also the perfect moment to give back. That’s why April is recognized as Volunteer Month: a call to action for individuals, businesses, and organizations to step up and support their communities in meaningful ways.
MASS MoCA Art Futures Benefit & After Party
As MASS MoCA’s Art Futures Benefit winds down, join us to dance the night away at our high-energy, outdoor after party featuring music by DJs Cooper Gangemi and Sören Smedvig, and immersive, large scale projections by artist Pamela Hersch.
Register Your ArtWeek Event—Deadline May 1!
Welcome to ArtWeek Berkshires! Individuals and organizations throughout the county are invited to take part in this multi-day festival of creativity. Enter a performance, studio visit, gallery show or talk—anything creative that includes an experiential component!
Register: Small Business Resource Expo
The Berkshire/Western Massachusetts Small Business Resource Expo returns May 21, 9 AM–3 PM at the Stationery Factory in Dalton. This free event connects entrepreneurs with expert advice, offering a one-stop hub to help businesses start, grow, and thrive across the region.
ADU Financing Resources
At our ADU Financing 101 panel, attendees explored local financing options for building accessory dwelling units. Myla Franklin and Brett Roberts highlighted loan programs, energy-efficiency incentives, and flexible lending tools that help homeowners create new housing opportunities in their communities.
Grants Boost Local Business Ecosystem
Great news for North Adams’ small business community! Door Prize, Lickety Split, and The Plant Connector have all secured grant funding to fuel growth and improvements—from enhanced dining spaces to new equipment and a mobile plant cart. Plus, Assets for Artists received $80,000 to expand support for entrepreneurs, strengthening the local creative economy.
Small City, Big Stories Launches in Partnership with NBCTC
Small City, Big Stories celebrates the people and projects driving downtown North Adams forward. Hosted by Jenny Wright, Executive Director of the North Adams Partnership, and produced with Northern Berkshire Community Television Corporation, each episode highlights the creativity, innovation, and community spirit that make North Adams so special.
Small & Smart Design Award Ceremony
Congratulations to the winners of the Small & Smart Design Awards! Fifty creative submissions—including outstanding student designs—highlighted innovative, small-scale housing solutions. See the winning ADU concepts online!
Small & Smart ADU Design Winners Announced!
The North Adams Partnership is proud to announce the winners of the Small & Smart ADU Design Challenge, a community design competition that invited residents, students, and professionals to create innovative, age-friendly housing solutions for North Adams.
Small & Smart Design Awards!
Come connect with designers, community members, and housing advocates as we celebrate the ideas shaping the future of housing in North Adams.
MCLA Student Showcases the Power of Public Art in New Video
MCLA junior Conall Mannion, the Partnership's first intern, set out to understand and document the impact of public art on a community, through the lens of the Hatchlings installation at the Eagle Street Parklet. Here is the story. Special thanks to Northern Berkshire Community Television for making this project possible.
NBCTC Looks Toward 30th Anniversary
Northern Berkshire Community Television is evolving! Fresh from its first-ever strategic plan, NBCTC is launching a new website with on-demand streaming, mobile apps, and creative studios for podcasts and video. With new Community Coordinator Steven Burgoon on board and a 30th anniversary ahead, there’s never been a better time to get involved. Executive Director Matt Tucker fills us in on the latest.
The Power of Partnership
90 Main Street glittered in the glow of the Hatchlings and the warmth of community. North Adams continues to shine as a creative, resilient city—one where people show up for each other every day in big and small ways.