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The Community Art Program at North Adams Regional Hospital
(413) 664-5300
2009 marks the tenth anniversary of the Community Art Program at North Adams Regional Hospital. It is the hospital’s desire to complement the healing process with artwork and throughout the 10-year history of the Community Art Program, local artists have enthusiastically loaned their work for the twice-annual shows. This program brings works of art into the hallways and waiting areas of the hospital, enhancing the environment for patients and their families and friends, the staff and the local community.
The Community Art Program is supported by the Berkshire Life Insurance Corporate Contributions program. 
Who are the artists? Most of the artists are from North Adams and Williamstown; others are from nearby towns. They’re all active in the arts – many of them teach art at public and private schools and colleges, art organizations, or in their own studios. Several of the artists participating in this exhibit show their work in art galleries and exhibitions in New England and other parts of the country.
Many of the artists request to be in every show and they continue to support the hospital’s Community Art Program by bringing in new work every six months. I also frequently hear from artists who have never participated before and ask to be included in the upcoming exhibits.
Twenty-two area artists are represented in the current show. Their oil paintings, watercolors, photographs, monotypes, pastels, papercut collage, fabric art, and a variety of mixed media works are displayed on four floors of the hospital. The hallways and waiting rooms, including the waiting room in the brand new Wound Care Unit, are filled with 242 works of art. 
Also in this exhibit, for the first time, we are showing work by high school students from The Berkshire Arts & Technology Charter Public School (BArT) in Adams. Each year, BArT’s artist-in-residence program connects area artists with BArT’s students. A collection of photographs by the students who worked with a fine arts digital photographer is displayed on the Ground level in the hallway by the Wound Healing Center.
All of the artwork displayed in the hospital is for sale and each purchase benefits the Community Art Program. The artists donate ten percent of the sale price to the art program. Visitors will be pleased to see how much of the artwork in this show is reasonably priced. Sixty-five percent of prices are under $500 and 107 pieces are priced under $200. Every piece displayed is an original work of art by a local artist.
Everyone is welcome to come see the art exhibit even if they don’t have a medical reason to visit the hospital. Pick up a copy of the “Self Guided Tour of the Art Exhibit” at the Information Desk in the main lobby. This exhibit will continue through April 2010. 
If you would like to purchase a work of art in this exhibit, or if you’re an artist who would like to participate in a future show, please contact the hospital’s Guest Services at 413-664-5300.
“The hospital’s Community Art Program provides a wonderful opportunity to share the creative spirit. Art is about making choices, observation, personal expression, imagination, innovation, reflection, introspection, and willingness to experiment. All of this can be appreciated by those who create the art as well as those who take the time to look at it.”
Sharon Carson, curator for the hospital exhibits
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