MASS MoCA Documentary to Premiere at SXSW Film Festival

South by Southwest Conference & Festivals (SXSW) announced that it will include “Museum Town,” a character-driven portrait of the largest center for contemporary art in the world – MASS MoCA.

Directed by Jennifer Trainer Thompson and narrated by Oscar-winner, Meryl Streep,  the film will make its world debut featured in the festival’s Documentary Feature category of the SXSW film festival as one of only ten films selected.

“Museum Town” depicts what Thompson calls a “rocky road” to the museum’s opening in the former Massachusetts factory town, including “a knotted confluence of politics and a post-industrial city in decline and the art world.”

The film delivers the magic of MASS MoCA and North Adams to a global audience for the first time, ever. The festival will take place in Austin, TX this March and is one of the greatest gatherings of creative professionals in the world.

Read more from the Berkshire Eagle. 

SXSW Abstract of Museum Town:

In 2017, MASS MoCA became the largest center for contemporary art in the world. This is the story of a unique institution, the small town it calls home, and the great risk, hope, and power of art to generate cultural and economic rebirth. With original music by Wilco bassist John Stirratt and appearances by artists ranging from James Turrell to David Byrne to Bill T. Jones, Museum Town reveals how an idea becomes a reality, tracing the creation of artist Nick Cave’s monumental installation UNTIL, a reflection on gun violence, race, and the American Dream.

Soundtracked by Talking Heads, Sharon Jones, Big Thief, Wilco, Moses Sumney, and many more. With the voice of Meryl Streep.

More about Museum Town at SXSW.

 

Kern Center Competing for Building of the Year

Hampshire College’s R.W. Kern Center is up for world-architects’ Building of the Year for 2018! 

Over the course of 2018, world-architects featured over 40 ‘Building of the Week’ project reviews, highlighting a rich mix of architecture projects throughout the United States. Now, world-architects is asking its readers to help crown a ‘Building of the Year’ by voting throughout the month of January for their favorite project.

The Kern Center was featured in April of 2018, after receiving its official Living Building certification, and is competing for the title of Building of the Year.

You can help the Kern Center by visiting the official voting page and casting a vote! Only one vote is accepted per email address, so once you’ve voted be sure to spread the word!

 

Voting ends on Tuesday, January 31st, 2019. The winner will be announced on February 4, 2019.