Press Pause with Berkshire Art Center: Introducing Artful Pause Workshops for Spring/Summer 2026
STOCKBRIDGE, MA — Berkshire Art Center (BAC) invites the community to slow down, reconnect, and create with Artful Pause—a playful new series of short, joy-filled creative workshops launching this spring and continuing through summer 2026.
Designed for busy lives, these accessible programs offer meaningful creative experiences in just a few hours. Participants can paint, collage, explore photography, or get their hands in clay—whether attending solo, with family, or even alongside a well-behaved dog (for select workshops).
Research shows that even brief bursts of creativity can have lasting benefits. Engaging in creative activity can reduce stress, boost mood, improve focus and productivity, and enhance problem-solving skills. Making art today can also support emotional well-being over time—offering a powerful way to process experiences and reconnect with oneself.
This summer, BAC’s beloved Citizens’ Hall in Stockbridge will serve as a vibrant hub for creativity, with studios buzzing with energy and The Drifting Studio—Faculty Artist and Artist-in-Residence Wes Bruce’s traveling artmaking mobile—stationed outside. Artful Pause workshops will also pop up in inspiring locations across the Berkshires.
The series begins this spring at BAC at Wander in Pittsfield, a welcoming café and community space. Held on the second Saturday of each month, these two-hour sessions invite participants to sketch, experiment with watercolor, and explore visual journaling—no long-term commitment required. The series kicks off April 11 with Indoor Urban Sketching, led by Faculty Artist Jill McLean. The May 9 workshop will be Botanical Watercolor Resist, led by Faculty Artist Johanna Merfeld and the June 13 workshop will be Visual Journaling, led by Faculty Artist Kaily Ritz.
Outdoor enthusiasts can join Faculty Artist Thad Kubis for photography workshops at scenic Berkshire locations, including Spring Photo Refresh at Benedict Pond, The Art of the Dog Walk at Kennedy Park (dogs welcome), and Into the Woods: A Mindful Photo Journey at Pleasant Valley Wildlife Sanctuary.
Additional June workshops at Citizens’ Hall include Joyful Collaborative Collage with Kim Waterman, a playful group experience where participants build a shared artwork together; Improvisational Painting Laboratory with Regan Halas, exploring painting as an open-ended, intuitive process; and Intro to Gel Plate Printmaking with Jody King Camarra, an accessible and experimental approach to printmaking using layering and texture.
The series continues at Chesterwood in Stockbridge, where participants can engage with the landscape through Discovering the Landscape through Pastel with Jim Schantz and Watercolor Plein Air with Jill McLean, both emphasizing observation, light, and working outdoors.
Families can also take part in multigenerational offerings, including Creative Calm: Family Breathing Board Workshop with Kaily Ritz, blending art and mindfulness, and a Botanical Weaving (Multigenerational) Workshop at Chesterwood, where participants create nature-based weavings using foraged materials.
In July, BAC will host a special Member Appreciation Night: Family + Dog Art Play at The Drifting Studio, led by Executive Director and Faculty Artist Laura Thompson—a festive, creative gathering featuring art, music, food, and community for all ages (well-behaved dogs are invited too, but not required).
With Artful Pause, Berkshire Art Center continues its mission to expand access to the arts while fostering creativity, connection, and well-being across the region.
For more information and to register, visit berkshireartcenter.org/artful-pause
Image Credits: Thad Kubis, Jill McLean, Kim Waterman
Thanks to our Summer Sponsors: Beacon Bank, Lee Bank
About Berkshire Art Center
Berkshire Art Center (formerly IS183 Art School) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting and advancing creativity in the Berkshires through classes, workshops, and community art programs for all ages, backgrounds, and skill levels.Press Contact:
Caroline Kelley
Operations Coordinator
Berkshire Art Center
caroline@berkshireartcenter.org
413-298-5252