Skip the Babysitter
EXPLORE AND ENGAGE IN OUR CULTURAL VENUES WITH THE WHOLE GANG
By Taylor Staubach
THE INVITING hills and dales are obvious draws for young families looking to explore the Berkshires. When it comes to the arts, embarking on a cultural adventure with little ones can be equally enticing and satisfying.
The heavyweights of the Berkshire cultural scene recognize how beneficial early exposure to music and arts can be. They’ve been working hard to develop programs and events that speak to the interests of a child’s ever-expanding world. Gone are the days of sideways glances and shushing at our cultural venues. The summer is chock-full of family-friendly events.
At the heart of this cultural sea change is the Tanglewood Learning Institute (TLI), an educational and cultural powerhouse whose year-round home is Tanglewood’s Linde Center for Music and Learning. TLI programs feature performances, talks, and workshops led by prominent artists and experts from all over the world. TLI for Families, a new series added to the 2024 summer season, aims to reach a very specific audience. TLI Production Manager Mark Rulison encapsulates the mission: to introduce children and families to the multifaceted world of Tanglewood—arts, music, dance, and visual arts—in a warm and inclusive environment. "TLI allows kids to experience classical music while being able to get out of their seats," Rulison explains.
This early exposure allows kids to become regulars in some of the area’s great cultural institutions, enabling them to feel at home and at ease, perhaps creating a memory or sparking a passion that they may call upon later in life.
The three-part series kicks off July 14 with "Join The Dance," a collaboration with students from the Boston University Tanglewood Institute (BUTI) and Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival. The interactive performance invites children to explore various forms of music and dance, fostering a dialogue about how movement can convey emotion.
On August 4, TLI teams up with the Norman Rockwell Museum, coinciding with their MAD magazine exhibit, What Me Worry? The Art and Humor of MAD Magazine. The show delves into the themes of inspiration and the creative process through music, drawing, and stories. Both special guests—illustrator Louis Henry Mitchell, creative director of character design for Sesame Workshop; and Baba Israel, a Hip-Hop/theater artist, poet, and educator—were introduced to the works of Norman Rockwell as children and developed a love for his distinct point of view. Audience participation is encouraged, Rulison notes. “There will be an opportunity to meet the artists; to get closer to the people making the art. It makes it a little bit more personal, more accessible, and a little bit more tangible.”
Parents will be relieved to hear that in terms of logistics (and parents think a lot about logistics), Tanglewood has that covered, too. Taking place in the intimate confines of Studio E at the Linde Center, the space boasts the convenience of the center’s dedicated entrance and parking lot, offering a hassle-free commute in comparison to some of Tanglewood’s grassier, far-flung lots. An afterthought for many, but for over-saddled parents battling heat and a stroller, this ease of access can be the deciding factor in staying home or going out. Expanding on the center’s indoor amenities, Rulison stresses the importance of providing spaces that give children a chance to contribute to the experience and highlights the utilization of the Gordon Studio as an overflow room, fully equipped video and audio feed for those needing respite. This additional space underscores the commitment to inclusivity and accessibility, reinforcing the notion that enjoying artistic performances should be welcoming and accommodating for all.
Primarily geared toward children 5 to 11 years old but welcoming all ages, TLI for Families promises a multi-sensory experience. Rebecca Sheir, renowned storyteller of the popular Circle Round podcast, will serve as host to all three family-oriented productions. Circle Round, back for its fifth year at Tanglewood, will top off the TLI family programming on August 18. Featuring original music by composer Eric Shimelonis and surprise special guests, Circle Round captivates audiences of all ages with its timeless and globe-spanning folktales adapted for modern audiences. For Sheir, every episode of Circle Round is a mix of entertainment and enrichment. “The great thing about folk tales is not only are they a terrific yarn that keeps you on the edge of your seat, but they also promote great values: persistence, determination, friendship, generosity, creativity, imagination,” she says. “Kids are sparked not just by the fun characters, but by the morals and themes that go throughout.” Although in-person tickets are sold out, listeners can catch the Tanglewood broadcast of Circle Round the following week on various streaming platforms.
For families looking for a cultural cram session, Mill Town Foundation will host the inaugural Common Ground Festival on July 6 at the Pittsfield Common. This celebration of art, culture, and community is a collaborative effort featuring performances and activities from Tanglewood, Barrington Stage Company, Kripalu, Jacob’s Pillow, and more.
On a mission to dismantle barriers and foster authentic connections with dynamic music, dance, and theater performances, as well as interactive exhibits and family-friendly activities, the festival caters to every age and inclination. Program manager Andy Wrba emphasizes that the festival is family-forward. “In addition to the splash pad and playground at the park, we will also have organizations offering interactive activities for kids along with ice cream and desserts provided throughout the festival,” Wrba says. “Face painting and balloon animals will also be provided at no cost.”
Parents looking to provide more substantial fare before hitting the snacks can find local food vendors like Charlie's Food Trucks; and while the kids are entertained, adults can enjoy a grown-up beverage at Hot Plate Brewing Company's beer and wine garden.
Festival-goers can expect a diverse lineup of performances to take center stage, showcasing the talents of both established arts organizations and emerging local groups. From Kripalu's community yoga session to Barrington Stage Company's stirring performances by KidsAct and Celebration of Black Voices, each contributes to the festival's mosaic of cultural expression. Attendees are invited to join Jacob’s Pillow in a community dance circle, a creative expression of the festival's ethos in action. Speaking to the mission of the Mill Town Foundation as an organization dedicated to empowering and revitalizing the Pittsfield community, Wrba adds, “Through shared arts experiences, Common Ground Festival is the meeting point for meaningful connections to be created between attendees and community organizations.” The Common Ground Festival holds promise as an annual family gathering, a fresh tradition inviting families to immerse themselves in diverse offerings to create cherished memories and foster a sense of belonging.
With so many cultural opportunities in our backyard, families need not travel far to discover enriching and memorable experiences this summer. In this landscape of creativity and inclusivity, children are encouraged to engage, explore, and grow, ensuring that the Berkshires remain a beacon of cultural vitality for generations to come.
Here are some cultural happenings with kids in mind:
Tanglewood Presents: TLI for Families
Linde Center for Music and Learning: Studio E, 3 W. Hawthorne Rd., Lenox
Join the Dance with BU Tanglewood Institute Musicians
Sunday, July 14, 10:30 a.m., Sunday,
August 4, 10:30 a.m.
In Collaboration with the Norman Rockwell Museum
Sunday, August 18, 10:30 a.m.
bso.org/events/tanglewood-events/tli
Common Ground Festival
100 First St., Pittsfield
Saturday, July 6
An interdisciplinary arts festival designed to break down silos, promote cultural diversity, and create authentic community connections brought to you by Mill Town Capital. Features music, dance, and theatre performances by leading arts organizations, youth groups, and local artists, interactive exhibits, activities, food vendors, and more.
milltownfoundation.org
The Foundry
2 Harris St., West Stockbridge
Visit The Foundry in West Stockbridge for a brand-new series designed to spark imaginations and create lasting memories for families. The Family-Friendly Series offers engaging and educational performances that the whole family can enjoy.
Circle Round
Sunday, July 21
Join storytelling pros Rebecca Sheir and Eric Shimelonis—host and composer of WBUR’s award-winning Circle Round podcast—as they lead a special storytelling workshop for all ages.
Tumble Science
Sunday, July 28
Lindsay Patterson and Marshall Escamilla from the Tumble Science Podcast co-host an interactive science-themed learning event with live musicians.
Pinot & Augustine: A Happenstance Theater Production
Saturday, August 10
A sure-fire, 45-minute bilingual crowd-pleaser, Pinot & Augustine is a classic, family-friendly clown duo inspired by the golden age of Circus. Happenstance Theater is an award-winning, professional company committed to devising, producing and touring original, performer-created visual/poetic theater.
thefoundryws.com
MASS MoCA
1040 MASS MoCA Way, North Adams
Family Story Time
Third Saturday of each month. July 20, August 17, September 21, October 19, November 16, December 21
Families with children up to six years old are invited to join museum educators for free story time. Each storytime will feature a different children’s book about contemporary art, creativity, and/or the themes of the exhibitions on display. A brief gallery walk-through and discussion of the art will follow.
The Chalet
Thursdays from July 11 through August 29 (except August 1 and 8)
Taking place outdoors in Courtyard C and indoors in Building 8, The Chalet is a family-friendly beer community hub that features live performances and a bar designed from objects in artist Dean Baldwin’s 2013 Oh, Canada exhibition. Featured performers will be released on a rolling basis. Admission is free.
Ongoing Exhibitions:
Cardboard Cinema in Kidspace
Known for her highly detailed constructions, Robin Frohardt is a theater and film director whose work uses recognizable materials to create richly detailed worlds that consider the relationship between capitalism and the resulting environmental catastrophe. While Frohardt’s immersive experience The Plastic Bag Store is available for viewing in MASS MoCA’s B1, the entire cardboard sets of her Cardboard Cinema are open for exploration in Kidspace. Kidspace is open during regular museum hours and admission is always free.
Gunnar Schonbeck:
No Experience Required
For over 50 years, Gunnar Schonbeck assembled a collection of hundreds of instruments, handmade from a diverse and unexpected range of materials. His unmistakable works include a nine-foot banjo, eight-foot-tall marimba, drums made from aircraft fuselages, welded steel harps, and countless steel drums, zithers, pan pipes, tubular chimes, and triangular cellos. His practice drew on a core philosophy: anyone can be a musician, and music can be made from the most ordinary of objects. Museum-goers of all ages are invited into this exhibition in B6 to get in touch with their creative side, let loose, and play, utilizing their bodies and the implements provided to strum, bang on, and pluck the instruments on display.
FreshGrass
September 20–22
FreshGrass is a family-friendly festival with the best in bluegrass and roots music filling the fields, courtyards, and galleries. Along with world premieres, there are emerging artist competitions, farm-fresh local Berkshire food and brews, and pop-up jam sessions. Tickets: $169 3-day adult, $129, 3-day children. Day passes available.
massmoca.org
The Clark Art Institute
225 South St., Williamstown
Guided by Glass
July 11, 18, and 25, and August 1, 8, 15, 22, and 29
In celebration of Fragile Beauty, explore the unique characteristics of glass and learn about light, color, and transparency. Drop in anytime, 1–4 p.m., to decorate your own glass object to take home, and contribute to a large-scale, collaborative mural led by emerging local artists.
Community Day
Sunday, July 14
Community Day takes over the Clark once again featuring engaging stories and surprising festivities both inside the museum and around the 140-acre campus. Enjoy free admission to the permanent collection galleries and special exhibitions, learn about glass, printmaking, and collage through art-making activities and artist demonstrations, and immerse yourself in the techniques of academic art and themes by trying your hand at live figure drawing. Throughout the day, enjoy live music performances, delicious food from local vendors, and more fun surprises. All-ages event. Free and open to the public. Refreshments and select activities are available for purchase. Held rain or shine.
Corning Glass Mobile Hot Shop
August 5–11
In conjunction with Fragile Beauty: Treasures from the Corning Museum of Glass, the Corning Museum of Glass presents its Mobile Hot Shop on the Clark’s grounds. Every day during the Clark’s open hours, the Hot Shop offers free glassblowing demonstrations that are sure to excite all ages.
Outdoor Movie Series
August 7, 14, 21, and 28
The Clark will present four film screenings as part of its summer outdoor movie series. From the charm of old Hollywood to the creativity of modern animation, this film series spans a century of movie magic. The Clark screens The Umbrellas of Cherbourg on August 7, My Life As a Zucchini on August 14, Ratatouille on August 21, and Amèlie on August 28. All screenings are free and take place near the Reflecting Pool.
clarkart.edu
Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival
358 George Carter Rd., Becket
Family Music & Dance
Sundays, July 7, August 4 and 11
Join Sandy Russell, a cherished teacher with over 20 years of experience in the Berkshires, for a taste of the Music Together program. Her classes ignite children’s natural passion for music and movement. With active participation from parents and caregivers, regardless of musical prowess, everyone has fun. Through playful engagement in a stress-free environment, this class fosters music and movement connections between adults and children, aiming to infuse everyday family life with the joy of music-making. $20 per class, per family. Class will be held in the Event Tent on the Great Lawn, rain or shine. Class size will be limited to 12 families per event.
The Art of Black Grace: A Dance & Technology Event
July 10–13
Created by Neil Ieremia, Jacob’s Pillow explores the intersection of dance and technology this summer with immersive experiences for the whole family. The world premiere of The Art of Black Grace 3/5 combines dance, music, art, and video recordings that bring small groups of visitors face-to-face with the dancers of Black Grace, one of New Zealand’s leading contemporary dance companies. In roughly 15 minutes, the dancers will teach visitors the choreography of Handgame, a dance with Samoan cultural roots that Black Grace has performed around the world, including at Jacob’s Pillow in 2005. Reservations must be made in advance.
All Styles Dance Battle
Friday, August 2
Dancers representing a wide range of styles— including festival artists, dancers of The School at Jacob’s Pillow, regional artists, and more—compete in this lively battle.
Jacob’s Pillow On the Road at Berkshire Busk
Friday, August 9, 7 p.m.
Travel across the Berkshires with Jacob’s Pillow artists and witness dance in community parks. Catch outdoor dance performances across the Berkshires, featuring touring and Berkshire-region dance artists. Pack a blanket or outdoor chair and enjoy these free pop-up performances with family and friends. Railroad Street, Great Barrington.
Jacob’s Pillow On the Road with Becket Arts Center.
Saturday, August 10, 3 p.m.
7 Brooker Hill Rd., Becket
Live music will be on tap at the Common Ground Festival on July 6. Lee Everett
Jacob’s Pillow Community Day
Friday, August 16
Hosting Berkshire Regional Artists for a special one-day-only performance on August 16, as part of Jacob’s Pillow’s annual Community Day. Tickets to this performance and all Community Day programs are free.
jacobspillow.org
Norman Rockwell Museum (NRM)
9 Glendale Rd., Stockbridge
Ongoing @ the NRM campus
Plan an outing to NRM’s campus set above the Housatonic River, just 2.5 miles from Stockbridge center. Explore the property using paved paths (with modest to medium inclines) as well as field paths and gardens. During the summer months, outdoor games and creative activities are available to all, including children’s painting easels, chalk, checkers, corn hole, hula hoops, and more. Children will enjoy the campus’ kid-friendly climbable sculptures created by artist Peter Rockwell, Norman Rockwell’s youngest son. Picnicking is encouraged across the site (bring your own picnic or dine at the Terrace Café, open seasonally). Visitors are always welcome to sketch or paint on the grounds using their own materials. Museum admission is not required to enjoy an outdoors experience of NRM’s scenic 36-acre campus. nrm.org