Five Days of JOY! Berkshire Art Center’s February Vacation Program Brings Creativity, Color, and Connection to February Break
Stockbridge, MA — Parents looking for a fun, meaningful, and creative way to keep kids engaged this February Break can look no further. Berkshire Art Center (BAC) is thrilled to announce its February Vacation Program: Five Days of JOY! — a vibrant, hands-on art experience for children ages 6 and up.
Running Monday through Friday, February 16–20, 2026, from 9:30am–3:30pm, this flexible program takes place at Berkshire Art Center’s Citizens’ Hall (13 Willard Hill Road, Stockbridge, MA 01262). Families may register for one or more days, making it easy to fit into busy vacation schedules.
Designed to spark imagination and celebrate creativity, Five Days of JOY! invites young artists on a weeklong adventure exploring light, self-expression, collaboration, and celebration through a wide variety of art-making experiences.
Daily Themes & Activities
Day 1: The Joy of Me
Celebrate self-expression! Students will draw self-portraits inspired by what they truly love, paint and collage uplifting flowers, and build, decorate, and fill their very own “boxes of joy.”
Day 2: Painting Light
Explore color through tints and shades while creating sunset and moonlight paintings. The day wraps up with a joyful, all-hands-in painting experience featuring pouring, splattering, and playful experimentation.
Day 3: Sun, Moon, and Starlight
Celestial creativity takes center stage with metallic star prints on black paper, star wands, sparkle mobiles, and sun and moon drawings that shine with imagination.
Day 4: Bring in the Light
Warm up winter days with stained-glass-inspired window collages, a simple tabletop light craft, cake sculptures topped with sculpted candles, and a collaborative wish tree mural.
Day 5: Joy to the World
The week ends with celebration and connection. Students will create artist trading cards to exchange, festive celebration hats, and a collaborative peace mural honoring community and creativity.
Tuition & Registration
- $100 per day
- $450 for the full week
Register HERE at berkshireartcenter.org.
Keep the Creativity Going: April Vacation Program
BAC is also excited to announce its April Vacation Program: Giant Parade Puppets for ages 8 and up, running Monday–Friday, April 20–24, 2026, from 9:30am–3:30pm.
In this unforgettable program, students will collaborate to design and construct larger-than-life parade puppets, culminating in a grand performance at Pittsfield’s Annual 4th of July Parade. Participants will sculpt oversized puppet heads, build wooden frames and harnesses, and create fabric arms and hands on rods — learning about the global history of parade puppetry along the way, from Chinese New Year dragons to iconic American parades.
Registration opening in February at berkshireartcenter.org!
Return to BAC This Summer: Summer in the Studios
This summer, Berkshire Art Center welcomes artists ages 5–14 back for Summer in the Studios — a season of hands-on creativity, play, and fun. Led by experienced instructors, students explore drawing, painting, building, and imaginative projects inspired by engaging weekly themes that encourage self-expression.
Programs take place at BAC’s Citizens’ Hall in Stockbridge, as well as partner locations at West Stockbridge Old Town Hall and Berkshire Music School in Pittsfield. Early Bird registration opens for Family Members in late January, with general registration opening in February at berkshireartcenter.org.
Art for Everyone: Scholarships Available
Berkshire Art Center is committed to making art accessible to all families. Needs-based scholarships covering up to 100% of tuition are available for studio classes and youth programs, along with transportation reimbursements of up to $25 per participant to make getting to class easy.
Applying is simple! Families holding EBT, WIC, or ConnectorCare cards are eligible, with priority given to Pittsfield residents. Applications should be submitted at least two weeks before the course begins. (Please note: scholarships do not cover materials fees if applicable.)
Thanks to the generous support of Berkshire Bank, Lee Bank, Adams Community Bank, and Greylock Federal Credit Union, BAC is proud to make creative opportunities available to learners of all ages.
Funding is limited — apply early HERE at berkshireartcenter.org and start creating today!
For more information or to register, visit Berkshire Art Center and discover how joyful, imaginative learning can transform school breaks into unforgettable experiences.