Celebrate Creativity, Community, and the Joy of Making Art at the 2026 Berkshire Art Center Gala

Stockbridge, MA — Berkshire Art Center (BAC) will host its 2026 Gala on May 16 from 6-9 PM at Ventfort Hall in Lenox. The event will bring together artists, educators, students, collectors, and art enthusiasts from across the Berkshires to celebrate  creativity and support of the organization’s year-round arts programs. Proceeds will fund the expansion of BAC’s renowned ceramics studio, youth art camps and after-school classes, and a wide range of studio programs and community engagement efforts serving children and adults throughout the region.

Set within the Gilded Age mansion and gardens of Ventfort Hall — a historic contemporary of BAC’s own Citizens’ Hall in Stockbridge, the Gala theme, “Creativity as a Radical Act of Love,” invites guests to embrace creativity as an expression of our love for life and for one another.

“Creativity is life affirming, and sharing what we create with others is an act of true love and openness,” said BAC Executive Director Laura Dickstein Thompson. “As a teaching art and cultural center, our message to students and the wider community is, ‘Your perspective matters. Your creative expression has value.’ BAC believes such encouragement is deeply loving and socially transformative.”

Part celebration and part creative experience, the evening will weave artistic moments throughout the program. 

  • A curated wine tasting presented by South Egremont Spirit Shoppe will feature wines served in handmade ceramic vessels, honoring Berkshire Art Center’s celebrated ceramics program.
  • Berkshire-based artist John Clarke will guide guests in the live creation of a collaborative artwork during the evening. Beginning with a large-scale photograph of the center’s grounds, Clarke will invite attendees to contribute their own marks using pastel and colored pencil. The finished piece will later be auctioned to support BAC’s programs and scholarships.
  • Chatham-based artist Wes Bruce will share insights from his work as BAC’s inaugural “HeartSpace” Artist-in-Residence, exploring how creative practice can foster reflection, presence, and connection within community spaces.

The program will also feature reflections from BAC Board Chair Mike Zippel, Thompson, and Ceramics Studio Manager Lorimer Burns.“This evening reflects the spirit and vision of Berkshire Art Center — creative, welcoming, and rooted in community,” said Zippel.Funds raised by the Gala will help strengthen our foundation, expand our offerings, and sharpen our focus on helping people of all ages explore creativity, connect with other creative people, and feel good about it.”

Event Schedule
May 16, 2026 | Ventfort Hall, Lenox | 6–9 PM

6:00–7:30 PM — Cocktails, hors d’oeuvres, wine tasting, and collaborative art experience  7:30–8:00 PM — Community reflections on creativity
8:00–9:00 PM — Desserts, drinks, paddle raising and raffle, continued celebration

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