December 17, 2003

MASS MoCA Receives $15K Grant from Citizens Bank for Intern Program

(North Adams, Mass.) MASS MoCA (Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art) has been awarded a two-year $15,000 grant over two years from Citizens Bank to support its extensive internship program. As the largest center for contemporary visual and performing arts in the country, MASS MoCA draws interns from all over the world. More than 35 interns work at the museum throughout the year, learning about and assisting in all aspects of running the institution. Areas of emphasis include curation, marketing, development, design, performing arts production, and administration.

"We receive dozens of applications for each position," said Joseph C. Thompson, director of MASS MoCA, "virtually all of them well qualified and tremendously motivated. All things being equal, we give preference to students from local and regional colleges; we like the many ways in which our interns become ambassadors of MASS MoCA, spreading knowledge and goodwill."

Three of the current crop of MASS MoCA's summer interns were students from neighboring Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts (MCLA) in North Adams, and two were from Williams College in Williamstown. Other colleges represented in the current group are Harvard University, Mt. Holyoke College and Hampshire College in Massachusetts, the Rhode Island School of Design, Yale University in Connecticut, MacMurray College in Illinois, and the University of Kansas.

MASS MoCA provides interns with free housing and offers interns a modest stipend. MASS MoCA Interns participate in a weekly intern education program, meeting with senior staff members and visiting artists, learning about all aspects of the institution and arts management.

"Citizens Bank is proud to support MASS MoCA's internship program as students gain invaluable, hands-on industry experience at a leading contemporary art center," said Julie Connelly, Vice President of Community Reinvestment for Citizens Bank of Massachusetts. "In this challenging economy, it is as important as ever to support young people as they explore possible career paths in our communities. Citizens is pleased to play a role in such an important and effective initiative at MASS MoCA."

"The program is invaluable to both the museum and interns who are able to take advantage of it. Without the generous funding and support of companies like Citizens Bank, we would not be able to continue this initiative," said Thompson. "Citizens is not only assisting MASS MoCA but is also supporting culture in a broader sense by training future leaders in the visual and performing arts."

Students who have participated in the program have commented that it has been an invaluable educational opportunity. "Thank you, thank you, thank you. I can't believe how much I learned this summer," stated one intern in a recent evaluation survey.

The largest center for contemporary visual and performing arts in the country, MASS MoCA is housed on a sprawling 19th-century factory campus. Opened in May 1999, the center has produced more than 150 events ranging from dance to film to theater to dance parties to lectures and children's events. MASS MoCA is located on Marshall Street in North Adams, Massachusetts. MASS MoCA's galleries are open from 11- 5, closed Tuesdays. For additional information, call 413 662 2111 or visit www.massmoca.org.

Citizens Bank of Massachusetts is a $26.5 billion bank with more than 240 branch offices and 600 ATMs stretching from Greater Boston to Cape Cod and the Berkshires. It is headquartered at 28 State Street in Boston and has regional administration centers in Quincy, Hyannis, Woburn and Wakefield. It has more than 3,800 employees. Citizens Bank of Massachusetts is a subsidiary of Citizens Financial Group, Inc., a $71 billion commercial bank holding company headquartered in Providence, R.I.

For Immediate Release
Contact: Katherine Myers
(413) 664-4481 x8113
katherine@massmoca.org