IS183 Art School
Box 1400
13 Willard Hill Road
Stockbridge, MA 01262
phone (413) 298-5252
info@is183.org

about us

Mission/History

Mission

IS183 is a non-profit community art school encouraging people of all ages, means and skill levels to enrich their lives through hands-on experience in the visual arts.

All classes are open to the public at all skill levels; beginners welcome! Many classes are structured for beginners with small class sizes; emphasis is on individualized instruction. Classes are available for children and adults, and most adult classes are open to teenagers, as well.

History

In the summer of 1991, IS183 Art School opened its doors in what continues to be its historic landmark home, Citizens Hall, in Stockbridge. Some 50 community citizens signed up for art classes that first year. Eighteen years later in the summer of 2009, IS183 Art School welcomed almost 500 students to its studios in this same facility, over a two month period.

From absolute beginners to seasoned professionals, the programs at IS183 offer a wide range of artmaking opportunities, regardless of means. Last year almost $10,000 in need-based scholarships were awarded. Further, IS183 employed over sixty five faculty artists and served over 1,200 students of all ages—children, teens and adults, from the Berkshires and beyond—in year-round classes, workshops and intensives with local, regional, national and international faculty in Ceramics, Fiber Arts, Painting, Drawing, Sculpture, Photography, Jewelry and Mixed Media.

About Citizens' Hall

Citizens Hall was designed in 1870 by Charles T. Rathburn to serve as a district schoolhouse on the first floor with a large public meeting hall on the second floor. After district schools were consolidated, Citizens Hall continued to be used as a meeting place, but with decreasing frequency. Old Curtisville, Inc. was organized as a community group to preserve and restore the building and was instrumental in obtaining a grant from the Massachusetts Historical Commission for critical repairs in 1975.

Founded in 1991, for the first 14 years IS183 Art School leased space in historic Citizens Hall. In 2005 we merged with the buildings previous owner, Old Curtisville, Inc. and now own the building outright. After acquiring title to Citizens Hall in June 2005, IS 183 Art School immediately embarked on our "Home At Last" campaign; a four-phase program of capital repairs and improvements to address the widespread effects of deferred maintenance on the building. Exterior repairs were completed in May, 2009.