NORTH ADAMS, Mass — Be part of downtown and help your community. DownStreet Art is a public art project designed to revitalize downtown North Adams. By harnessing existing arts organizations and events and transforming vacant and open spaces into arts destinations, DownStreet Art defines the city as a cultural haven, driving tourists and community members downtown.

Volunteers have been an important part of DownStreetArt since it began three summers ago in 2008, and are needed again this summer. Ready to begin her second year as a volunteer Gallery Ambassador, Jane Campbell said, "I love art and the artists.  Being in the galleries allowed me to meet tourists and locals and to have them enjoy the art as well. It is especially fun when the visitors get into the art and you can tell they enjoy it."

As Gallery Ambassadors, the volunteers will greet tourists and locals as they come to the galleries and help them to know more about the art.  Ambassadors are needed for both regular weekly afternoon times (Wednesday through Sunday) and for more flexible or occasional fill in times.

Jonathan Secor, director of Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts' Berkshire Cultural Resource Center (BCRC) said, "volunteers are important in multiple ways. They provide the opportunity for a nonprofit organization such as BCRC to provide staffing at a level that they could not otherwise afford and more importantly, the volunteers, create a connection between the members of the community and the nonprofit/cultural institution. DownStreetArt would not be possible without the many volunteers who participate."

DownStreet Art is a program of MCLA's Berkshire Cultural Resource Center and its partners, the city of North Adams, Massachusetts Cultural Council and the Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art. The program is made possible through lead sponsorship support provided by Greylock Federal Credit Union and Investment Group.

— By Kathy Keeser