The Studios residency program to remain at MASS MoCA
while Assets for Artists transitions to being an independent, 501(c)(3)
to continue to deliver on its mission region-wide
North Adams, MA, June 25, 2025 — MASS MoCA is proud to announce that as of October 1, 2025, its foundational, long-running program Assets for Artists (A4A) will begin operating as an independent, non-profit organization. A4A’s growth under the direction of Blair Benjamin, Founder and Director of Assets for Artists, will continue to deepen its professional development workshops, coaching, and capacity-building programs for artists throughout New England, while also expanding its work in artist leadership development and public advocacy. Benjamin has developed a long-term strategy, fundraising approach, and a regionally engaged team to lead A4A in its next chapter, and it will remain headquartered on the MASS MoCA campus.
The Studios at MASS MoCA (Studios), an artists and writers residency program that has operated as part of Assets for Artists since 2015, has served over one thousand artists and writers both nationally and internationally. It will continue uninterrupted during the A4A transition and will be situated within MASS MoCA’s Visual Art Department also starting October 1, 2025, led by Susan Cross, Interim Director of Visual Arts. From its inception, The Studios has maintained a close relationship with the museums’ curatorial team who have served on residency selection committees and make regular studio visits. In addition, several Studios resident artists have been included in major exhibitions and group shows at MASS MoCA.
“MASS MoCA places the humanity and work of contemporary artists at the center of what we do, and supports both what artists make and how artists think,” said Kristy Edmunds, Director of MASS MoCA. “The Studios residencies are a vital program that enhances our investment in creative development by providing space, time and personalized support for artists to both create new works and explore new ideas, all while using the entire campus as a source of research and inspiration. Blair has been an incredible steward for building up the Studios program and its staff, while expanding the dynamic range of artist services that are now at the core of the Assets for Artists mission. I am grateful for his incredible dedication and leadership, his collaboration on a shared vision and commitment that has helped make MASS MoCA such a powerful place for artists, and I am confident that New England’s communities of artists will continue to benefit from A4A’s expanded programming now and into the future.”
“Thanks to having a supportive home at MASS MoCA for the past 17 years, A4A now serves over 1,000 New England-based artists per year, and is poised to take its work to even greater scale in the coming years,” said Blair Benjamin. “I’m so proud of what we’ve been able to accomplish together with MASS MoCA, standing shoulder-to-shoulder with so many artists who inspire us every day with their creative work and who make profound contributions to communities across our region. A4A’s expansion into providing services to artists throughout all of New England — and our increasing capacity to work with artists and community partners on policy and leadership development — positions us perfectly as an ally to artists navigating the challenges we all face in the current moment and the years ahead.”
A4A recently secured its 501(c)(3) nonprofit status, and is in the process of transitioning its systems and procedures to operate independently under its own board of directors consisting of experienced artist-leaders. A4A will retain the Assets for Artists name, website, social media, and five existing staff as of October 1, 2025.
The Studios at MASS MoCA has hosted over 1,000 artists and writers at all career stages, income levels, and geographic locations on its North Adams campus. The Studios residency primarily seeks applications from visual artists (painters, sculptors, installation artists, photographers, video/new media artists, fiber artists, printmakers, etc.) and writers in all literary disciplines. The Studios at MASS MoCA runs year-round and hosts up to 10 artists at a time for stays of 2 or 4 weeks. The next round for general applications seeking fellowship support will open September 1, 2025 with a November 1, 2025 deadline with information to be shared later this summer of how to apply.
About Assets for Artists
Assets for Artists is an artist-led and artist-centered organization that marshals resources and strategies for creatives in New England to pursue self-determined careers while facing an economic system that’s stacked against them. Through professional development workshops, individualized coaching, capacity-building cohorts, and other special programs, A4A builds welcoming spaces where artists can hone their financial, business and community engagement skills. Services range from the nuts and bolts of taxes and marketing, to topics such as cultural organizing and project planning, all designed and delivered by artists to help their peers strengthen their creative practice, pursue values-driven careers, build mutually-supportive networks, and find resources to achieve long term sustainability and impact. For more information visit assetsforartists.org or follow on Instagram at @assets4artists.
About MASS MoCA
MASS MoCA is a contemporary art museum that emphasizes bold creative exploration and fosters surprising connections between people every single day. It upholds artistic freedom and is an indispensable home for artists who stretch toward what has yet to be created. From its beginnings as the major textile mill Arnold Print Works in the mid-19th century, to its days as the Sprague Electric Company in the mid-20th century, to its current iteration as a globally renowned contemporary art museum and fabrication center, the 24-acre MASS MoCA campus has a rich history of serving as an economic engine of the city of North Adams and the surrounding region. With vast galleries, artist studios and a variety of indoor and outdoor stages, MASS MoCA is able to embrace art in all forms. For more information visit massmoca.org or follow on Instagram at @massmoca.
For more information, please contact:
Jennifer Falk
Director, Communications and Content, MASS MoCA
press@massmoca.org