NORTHAMPTON ARTS COUNCIL INC

Each year in August the Northampton Arts Council and the Parent Teacher Organizations of Northampton’s public school system join forces to raise funds for arts enrichment in the schools and for the ArtsEZ grant program. The original concept for Transperformance was for local bands to take on a persona of another established nationally recognized act and perform or “Transperform” their bands’ style. The acts that are chosen are done thematically, such as Transperformance 22 “Food Groups” (Heather Maloney as Amy Winehouse) or Transperformance 17 “Color By Numbers” (Primate Fiasco as Pink Floyd) or Transperformance 23 “Beyond Bob” (Rusty Belle as Bob Dylan). Over the years Transperformance has evolved and tribute style performances have become acceptable if not the norm.

The event itself is a festival of performing arts that reaches out to a diverse population, offering 12 hours of family-friendly entertainment and arts-related activities on New Year's Eve.

Our mission is to showcase the best music from the pioneer valley alongside top notch touring acts while bringing together the local community to enjoy the many benefits of our picturesque downtown. Outdoor concerts on summer nights in downtown Northampton is a tradition that dates back to the 1970’s. Since that time Northampton has been fertile ground for producing unique original music, often renowned on the national level.

Individuals as well as schools and arts organizations are encouraged to seek funding for creative projects to be held in Northampton, Florence, and Leeds. The grants are funded by the proceeds from the Arts Council’s signature events: The Silver Chord Bowl, Transperformance, and First Night. Grants will be awarded in the following categories: dance, film/video, literature, mixed media, music, schools, theater, and visual arts. Individual artists and arts organizations will receive equal consideration for grants. Last spring, the Council awarded $20,000 to 27 recipients with grants ranging from $250-$1,250.