Education/Community Engagement

The Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center is a meaningful and important part of the community it serves and has a profound impact on local schools, community organizations, and the economic well-being of the area.

EDUCATION

Mahaiwe education programs offer world-class theatrical experiences to students from throughout the four-state region. It is an important component of the Mahaiwe’s mission to support the community by incorporating arts and humanities into education outreach. Fund education programming.

The Mahaiwe has welcomed 26,654 students from 75 different schools across the region to performances from around the world over the last 15 years. For many this is their very first experience inside a theater, and we believe we are creating unforgettable highlights of each school year while also transforming many young people into lifelong arts lovers.

School-Time Field Trips

Photo by Christina Lane

Mahaiwe education programs include live performances of dance, theater and music on location as field trip events.

For more information or for upcoming programs, contact Education & Community Engagement Manager Natalie Bernal at 413-644-9040 x103 or nbernal@mahaiwe.org.

Upcoming Programs

New York Theatre Workshop’s Mind the Gap: Intergenerational Theatre Program

Monday, June 24 - Friday, June 28

In-School Residencies

Musicians from Jazz Reach interact with students at Richmond Consolidated School

In addition to education programming at the theater, the Mahaiwe provides in-school workshops and residencies around the region.

For more information or for upcoming residencies, contact Education & Community Engagement Manager Natalie Bernal at 413-644-9040 x103 or nbernal@mahaiwe.org.

LOCATION & PARKING

The Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center is located at 14 Castle Street. However, because of limited turning radius near the venue, school buses must use special student drop off, pick up and parking procedures. Students and/or teachers with mobility issues should be dropped off in front of the theater in a car/van.

School buses are directed to turn on Taconic Avenue to drop students and teachers off at the train station. Students and teachers must walk down stairs and through the tunnel to cross the street to enter the theater. Buses will be parked off site and return for pick up after the performance.

For more information, contact Education & Community Engagement Manager Natalie Bernal at 413-644-9040 x103 or nbernal@mahaiwe.org.

SCHOOLS SERVED

See the list of schools we serve in the four-state area.

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT

Our Community Engagement program is committed to establishing and growing partnerships with neighboring community and arts organizations to develop pathways for overcoming social and practical barriers so that immigrants, people of color, communities with low income, and others who have traditionally been underserved in the performing arts, can attend performances at the Mahaiwe.  Recent partnerships include those with VIM (Volunteers in Medicine Berkshires), the Town of Great Barrington W.E.B. Du Bois Legacy Committee, and CATA (Community Access to the Arts).

Fund Community Engagement programs.

COMMUNITY PARTNERS

See the list of our partnerships with community organizations.

Spanish-language Community Advisory Network (SCAN)

The Mahaiwe’s Spanish-language Community Advisory Network (SCAN) is comprised of 10-12 cultural ambassadors, advising on inclusive programming and reducing barriers to access to ensure that members of the Latinx communities in Berkshire County become a well-represented cohort at the Mahaiwe, attending performances, films, and events and – over time – joining staff and board in shaping the organization. Since its formation, SCAN advisors have helped organize free Spanish-language film screenings and live performances at the Mahaiwe and in Berkshire County.

El Spanish-language Community Advisory Network (SCAN) de Mahaiwe está compuesta por 10-12 embajadores culturales, asesorando sobre programación inclusiva y reduciendo las barreras de acceso para garantizar que los miembros de las comunidades latinx en el condado de Berkshire se conviertan en una cohorte bien representada en Mahaiwe, asistiendo a espectáculos, películas, y eventos, y, con el tiempo, unir al personal y la junta para dar forma a la organización. Desde su formación, los asesores de SCAN han ayudado a organizar proyecciones gratuitas de películas en español y presentaciones en vivo en Mahaiwe y en el condado de Berkshire.

SCAN Advisors/Asesores: Paola Alta, Marina Dominguez, Deisy Escobar, Diana Lotero, Liliana Ortiz-Bermudez, Marco Soasti, Vladimir Soasti, Marcela Urrea, David Melchor, Martha Escobar, Clara Guatta and Micaela Soasti.

Presenting Partners

We provide the stage and the “final mile” of production support for regional arts organizations and other non-profits to bring their content to audiences. See the list of presenting partners.

If you are interested in becoming a presenting partner, see more at Rent the Mahaiwe.

ACCESSIBILITY

The Mahaiwe welcomes audiences of all abilities. Physical accessibility information can be found on the Accessibility page.

Financial accessibility: We thoughtfully serve a broadly diverse audience with low ticket prices. See our Ticketing Offers page for more information.