Mass Cultural Council Awards $5,000 Grant for Hatchlings Public Art Installation in North Adams
The North Adams Partnership is proud to announce that the Hatchlings project, a solar-powered public art installation designed by artist Vanessa Till Hooper and her team at Studio HHH, has been awarded a $5,000 Creative Experiences grant from the Mass Cultural Council.
The nine glowing mini pavilions—each covered in programmable lights—were first installed on the Eagle Street Parklet in May 2025. Thanks to the support of the Creative Experiences grant, their stay in downtown North Adams will be activated with additional programming, offering residents and visitors even more opportunities to spend time at this one-of-a-kind experience.
Originally commissioned for the Rose Kennedy Greenway in Boston, Hatchlings reimagines the city’s iconic Hatch Memorial Shell by asking: What if the Hatch Shell hatched baby shells? The answer is a playful, community-centered installation that combines innovation, artistry, and sustainability.
Each Hatchling is more than a sculpture—it is an interactive space that is:
• Solar or hybrid-powered
• Self-supporting, requiring no external infrastructure
• Weather-resistant, designed for year-round use
By showcasing what’s possible when creativity meets renewable energy, the Hatchlings also help advance the local conversation around sustainability and public space activation.
The installation sites, including the Eagle Street Parklet, the First Congregational Church, and Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts (MCLA), are ADA-compliant and accessible, ensuring that the Hatchlings are welcoming, safe, and comfortable for all community members.
“This project embodies what makes North Adams special,” said Jenny Wright, Executive Director of the North Adams Partnership. “It brings world-class art and innovation into the heart of downtown to create joyful, inclusive spaces for everyone.”
For this fiscal year, Mass Cultural Council has adopted a $34 million spending plan, allowing the Agency to award at least 2,200 grants totaling approximately $26.2 million to the Commonwealth’s creative and cultural sector. This is funded primarily through public dollars, including the Agency’s $26.9 million state budget appropriation and support from the National Endowment for the Arts. The agency also runs the Mass Cultural Facilities Fund in partnership with MassDevelopment.
Mass Cultural Council funds reach every community in the Commonwealth. Its mission is to advance the Commonwealth’s creative and cultural sector by celebrating traditions and talents, championing its collective needs, and equitably investing public resources.
The next activation of the Hatchlings will be at First Fridays on October 3, with a showcase of performances by MCLA students beginning at 7pm.
