June 22, 2026

CLARK ART INSTITUTE HOSTS FREE COMMUNITY DAY ON JULY 12

Williamstown, Massachusetts—On Sunday, July 12, the Clark Art Institute opens its doors for Community Day: Eye on Art!, an annual day of fun for all ages. Visitors enjoy free museum admission all day (10 am–5 pm), and from 11 am to 4 pm, the Institute offers hands-on activities, live performances, special food vendors, and more—all inspired by the Clark's summer exhibitions, including An Exquisite Eye: Introducing the Aso O. Tavitian Collection, Giorgio Griffa: Paths in the Forest, and CoastLines: American Prints and Drawings.

Attendees will have the opportunity to create their own bobbleheads, grind oil paint from natural pigments, pose at a free photobooth with art-inspired props, make buttons, and more! While visiting, visitors are also encouraged to walk about the Clark’s 140-acre grounds and explore Ground/work 2025, an outdoor sculpture exhibition featuring specially commissioned, site-specific works by international artists Yō Akiyama, Laura Ellen Bacon, Aboubakar Fofana, Hugh Hayden, Milena Naef, and Javier Senosiain.

The full Community Day entertainment lineup is:

Trojan Horns Brass Band
11–11:50 am and 2–2:50 pm

The Trojan Horns Brass Band is a dynamic band originally from Upstate New York that infuses soul, funk, pop, and jazz into every note they play. The ensemble is influenced by the rhythms and spirit of New Orleans brass band music.

Duo Maresienne
12–12:45 pm, 1–1:45 pm, 2–2:45 pm, and 3–3:45 pm

Olav Chris Henriksen and Carol Lewis perform a variety of music for plucked and bowed instruments, from the earliest manuscripts and publications to the present day. They will play the viola da gamba and the lute, instruments depicted in An Exquisite Eye.  

Earl the Pearl Rules the World
12–12:15 pm, 1:30–1:45 pm, and 3–3:15 pm

Madison J. Cripps performs three scenes from Earl the Pearl Rules the World, his original puppet show featuring an enchanting underwater kingdom and elaborate characters.  

Hannah Mayree
12:30–1:15 pm and 3:15–4 pm

With a rich, soulful voice and an intuitive command of the banjo, Hannah Mayree creates soundscapes that bridge past and present—blending African diasporic rhythms, Appalachian textures, and lyrical storytelling. Their performances invite deep listening and collective reflection, offering music as a tool for healing, liberation, and community connection. 

Community Day is free and open to the public. Refreshments are available for purchase. This event happens rain or shine. For accessibility questions, call 413 458 0570. For more information, visit events.clarkart.edu.

Family programs are generously supported by Allen & Company.

ABOUT THE CLARK

The Clark Art Institute, located in the Berkshires of western Massachusetts, is one of a small number of institutions globally that is both an art museum and a center for research, critical discussion, and higher education in the visual arts. Opened in 1955, the Clark houses exceptional European and American paintings and sculpture, extensive collections of master prints and drawings, English silver, and early photography. Acting as convener through its Research and Academic Program, the Clark gathers an international community of scholars to participate in a lively program of conferences, colloquia, and workshops on topics of vital importance to the visual arts. The Clark library, consisting of nearly 300,000 volumes, is one of the nation’s premier art history libraries. The Clark also houses and co-sponsors the Williams College Graduate Program in the History of Art.

The Clark, which has a three-star rating in the Michelin Green Guide, is located at 225 South Street in Williamstown, Massachusetts. Its 140-acre campus includes miles of hiking and walking trails through woodlands and meadows, providing an exceptional experience of art in nature. Galleries are open 10 am to 5 pm Tuesday through Sunday from September through June, and daily in July and August. Admission is free to all from January through March. From April through December, admission is $22 for adults, $20 for seniors (65+), $10 for young adults (18–25) and college students, and free for all visitors under 18. Admission is free year-round for Clark members. Free admission is also available through several programs, including First Sundays Free; a local library pass program; and EBT Card to Culture. For information on these programs and more, visit clarkart.edu or call 413 458 2303.

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