Berkshire Art Center ensures that people throughout the county have access to hands-on experience in the visual arts. Our programs for young artists in the schools use two curricula — Learning Through Arts and ARTcentric: Berkshires — to bring the studio art experience directly to the desk of Berkshire County's students. Registration for some of these programs happens through the Pittsfield Public Schools. See the listings below for our current programs — more coming soon!
As BAC’s ARTcentric programs use curriculum with many lessons and projects that build upon each other from class to class, consistent participation is strongly encouraged in order to ensure your child gets the most out of the program. Full participation will mean that your child can take the time needed to dive deeply into their creations and complete their projects fully.
Wondering if there’s a program in your school? Reach out to programs@berkshireartcenter.org with any questions!
Looking for tuition assistance opportunities? Click the button below to learn about available scholarships and discount programs!
Current Programs
Reflecting & Contributing to the Cultural Landscape of the Berkshires
Learning Through Arts
Berkshire Art Center’s LTA program is an approach to arts integration that makes connections across multiple, rigorous disciplines while teaching conflict resolution and social emotional skills. It uses art-making as a tool to improve academics and behavior, while allowing students to make interdisciplinary connections, experiment with new mediums, and learn advanced art techniques. LTA students have the freedom to experiment with advanced art techniques and mediums, create unique work, and find their voice, while reinforcing academic curriculum goals. Student artists explore new ways of looking at and responding to the world around them and learn skills that resonate long after they have left the program.
ARTcentric: Berkshires
Berkshire Art Center's ARTcentric: Berkshires program positions local, established, Berkshire artists as “the masters” with each project inspired by their techniques and artistic visions. Through "Artist Spotlight" handouts, "About the Artist" and "Deep Dive" videos, and other live, video-based, and virtual resources, students will dive into the life and work of each artist and use their passion and mastery as inspiration for engaging, multi-media art projects. Led by BAC's talented faculty Artists, in ARTcentric: Berkshires, students will be introduced to artists, virtually "visit" their studios, hear about their journey to become professional artists, and finally create work using the same techniques. Students will assign a deeper meaning to the art they see in the county and develop a pride of place as they learn about the talent in our region. The program gives new definitions to “artists” and “art”, takes artists out of history books, and opens up possibilities for future careers.
Berkshire ARt Center has reached students in the following districts:
Pittsfield Public Schools
Southern Berkshire Regional School District
Central Berkshire Regional School District
North Adams Public Schools
Berkshire Hills Regional School District
Lenox Public Schools
Lee Public Schools
Mount Greylock Regional School District
Montessori School of the Berkshires
Richmond School District
Help bring art to our Berkshire community!
Help BAC's impact extend well beyond our studios to make art-making accessible to everyone. Please support this important program with your donation.
Sign up for BAC after-school programs!
Click here to see current after-school opportunities or contact us for more information about LTA, ARTcentric, to get your school involved, or if you are interested in becoming a teaching faculty artist or volunteer classroom assistant.
Learning Through Arts and ARTcenrtic are supported by the Feigenbaum Foundation, Berkshire Taconic, Berkshire Bank, and Greylock Federal Credit Union.
Learning Through Arts and ARTcentric are also funded through Massachusetts Cultural Council's Local Cultural Council's program. These supporters include: Alford-Egremont Cultural Council, Becket Cultural Council, Cummington Cultural Council, Lee Cultural Council, New Marlborough Cultural Council, Northern Berkshire Cultural Council, Richmond Cultural Council, Sheffield Cultural Council, Washington Cultural Council, and Windsor Cultural Council.
