MASS MoCA Writing Through Art Poetry Retreat: June 12, 2024 – June 16, 2024, in the heart of the Berkshires.

Explore the many ways that painting, sculpture, and photography can open your poems and perceptions in this expansive and generative 4-day writing retreat. New and experienced poets are welcome. A welcome gathering and introduction will take place at The Artist Book Foundation located on the MASS MoCA campus. Through daily prompts, exercises, readings, and discussions, you will experience the many ways that art can open memories, emotion, the imagination, and help you explore new poetic ways of expressing yourself. A one-hour private consultation about your poetry and goals is included. The retreat is limited to 10 poets. Please submit 3 poems and a brief statement of interest. Applications will be accepted until retreat is full. Email janfreemanpoetry@gmail.com.

The retreat is full. To sign up for the waiting list, email Jan Freeman.

Together we will explore the many ways that painting, sculpture, installations, and photography can open your perceptions and your poems in this expansive 4-day writing retreat.

Morning workshops will take place from 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. in the galleries of MASS MoCA and the Clark Art Institute. Afternoons and evenings are yours to spend as you wish. Many poets enjoy spending more time writing in the museum visited in the morning or exploring the Berkshires, walking along the beautiful trails at the Clark, and working on new poems and revisions.

Reservations will be been made for participants to visit James Turrell’s “C.A.V.U.,” “Perfectly Clear,” and “Hind Sight.”

A one-hour private consultation to discuss individual poems and writing goals is included. In-depth manuscript consultations and private coaching can be scheduled with Jan separately.

Apply

Please email 3 poems and a brief statement of interest to Jan Freeman. Registration is open until the retreat is full, with a limit of 10 poets. New and experienced poets are welcome. For additional information, email Jan Freeman at janfreemanpoetry@gmail.com.

Comments from poets

I loved being immersed in the art and having this in-person experience. Access to MASS MoCA and the Clark was wonderful. The writing prompts and exercises helped to reinforce the associative connections between art and writing, and I appreciated hearing the first drafts of other poets. Often we only get a day at a museum. But this retreat afforded us all the wonderful opportunity to come back to the exhibits, and spend much more time in the galleries. Many of my drafts became finished poems that are now included in my new poetry manuscript.— R. Rossi, Vermont

The MASS MoCA Writing Through Art Poetry Retreat exceeded my expectations and gave me sustenance, helping me recognize the necessity of poetry in my daily life and how visual art can help generate new inroads to poetic ideas and daring.

My private poetry review with Jan might be my favorite part of a retreat filled with favorite parts. Jan’s comments were encouraging, generous, and aimed at considering my goals and where I am now as a poet. I also was impressed with Jan’s talks about poetry and writing to the group, and the poems she brought for us to read and discuss, consider as models and inspiration.—Genevieve Carminati, Maryland

Cost

$650. Limited financial assistance is available.

Admission to MASS MoCA, the Clark Art Institute, and the Williams College Museum of Art is included for the days we visit each museum.

Poets are responsible for room and board during the June retreat. A variety of airbnb’s are available, and hotels can be found at https://berkshires.org/business-directory/hotels.

Questions? Contact: Jan Freeman at janfreemanpoetry@gmail.com.

Sign up with your poetry friends for a rich and memorable creative experience.

Please share this link with your poetry world!

MASS MoCA Writing Through Art Poetry Retreat: October 12–15, 2023, in the heart of the Berkshires.

This generative poetry retreat is for new and published poets. Immersive exercises, prompts, and writing in museum galleries of MASS MoCA and the Clark Art Institute will open your imagination, inviting an experiential exploration of paintings, sculpture, and installations, while offering you paths into the depths of memory, emotion, and fresh creative expression. The retreat is limited to 10 poets. Sign up today!

Together we will explore the many ways that painting, sculpture, installations, and photography can open your perceptions and your poems in this expansive 4-day writing retreat.

Through daily prompts, exercises, readings, and discussions, you will explore new ways of expressing yourself. Morning workshops will take place from 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. in the galleries of MASS MoCA and the Clark Art Institute. Afternoons are yours to write in the museum visited in the morning, explore the Berkshires and regional Autumn Festivals, and walk along the beautiful trails at the Clark.

Reservations will be been made for participants to visit Laurie Anderson’s virtual reality installations “To the Moon and Back,” and “Chalkroom,” James Turrell’s “Perfectly Clear,” and “Hind Sight.”

A one-hour private consultation about your poetry, writing goals, and/or manuscript is included.. These will take place in the afternoons. Additional in-depth manuscript consultations and coaching can be scheduled separately.

I loved being immersed in the art and having this be an in-person experience. Access to MASS MoCA and the Clark was wonderful. The writing prompts and exercises helped to reinforce the associative connections between art and writing, and I appreciated hearing the first drafts of other poets. Often we only get a day at a museum. The retreat afforded us all the wonderful opportunity to come back to the exhibits, and spend much more time in the galleries.— R. Rossi, Vermont

The MASS MoCA Writing Through Art Poetry Retreat exceeded my expectations and gave me sustenance, helping me recognize the necessity of poetry in my daily life and how visual art can help generate new inroads to poetic ideas and daring.

My private poetry review with Jan might be my favorite part of a retreat filled with favorite parts. Jan’s comments were encouraging, generous, and aimed at considering my goals and where I am now as a poet. I also was impressed with Jan’s talks about poetry and writing to the group, and the poems she brought for us to read and discuss, consider as models and inspiration.—Genevieve Carminati, Maryland

To apply, please email three poems along with two paragraphs that describe your poetry background, your interest in attending the retreat, and your writing goals and/or challenges. Send to Jan Freeman at janfreemanpoetry@gmail.com. This retreat is limited to 10 poets. Sign up soon!

Cost:

$650. Financial assistance available until distributed.

Proof of vaccination is required.

Admission to MASS MoCA, the Clark Art Institute, and the Williams College Museum of Art is included for the days we visit each museum.

Poets are responsible for room and board. A variety of hotels can be found at https://berkshires.org/business-directory/hotels. A group rate will be available until August 15 at Hotel Downstreet, catty corner to the MASS MoCA campus in North Adams. Contact Kelsey Gardner at (413) 663-6500, https://www.hoteldownstreet.com.

Questions? Contact: Jan Freeman at janfreemanpoetry@gmail.com.

Sign up with your poetry friends for a rich and memorable experience.

Please share this link with your poetry world!

MASS MoCA Writing Through Art Poetry Retreat: October 6–10, in the heart of the Berkshires.

This generative-writing retreat is for new and published poets. Immersive exercises, prompts, and writing in museum galleries of MASS MoCA and the Clark Art Institute will open your imagination, inviting an experiential exploration of paintings, sculpture, and installations, while offering you paths into the depths of memory, emotion, and fresh creative expression. The retreat is limited to 10 poets. Sign up today!

Together we will explore the many ways that painting, sculpture, installations, and photography can open your perceptions and your poems in this expansive 4-day writing retreat.

Through daily prompts, exercises, readings, and discussions, you will explore new ways of expressing yourself. Morning workshops will take place from 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. in the galleries of MASS MoCA and the Clark Art Institute. Afternoons are yours to write in the museum visited in the morning, explore the Berkshires and regional Autumn Festivals, and walk along the beautiful trails at the Clark.

Reservations will be been made for participants to visit Laurie Anderson’s virtual reality installations “To the Moon and Back,” and “Chalkroom,” James Turrell’s “Perfectly Clear,” and dawn and dusk viewings of James Turrell’s extraordinary C.A.V.U. (Skyspace).

A one-hour private consultation about your poetry, writing goals, and/or manuscript is included.. These will take place in the afternoons. Additional in-depth manuscript consultations and coaching can be scheduled separately.

I loved being immersed in the art and having this be an in-person experience. Access to MASS MoCA and the Clark was wonderful. The writing prompts and exercises helped to reinforce the associative connections between art and writing, and I appreciated hearing the first drafts of other poets. Often we only get a day at a museum. The retreat afforded us all the wonderful opportunity to come back to the exhibits, and spend much more time in the galleries.— R. Rossi, Vermont

The MASS MoCA Writing Through Art Poetry Retreat exceeded my expectations and gave me sustenance, helping me recognize the necessity of poetry in my daily life and how visual art can help generate new inroads to poetic ideas and daring.

My manuscript review with Jan might be my favorite part of a retreat filled with favorite parts. Jan’s comments were encouraging, generous, and aimed at considering my goals and where I am now as a poet. I also was impressed with Jan’s talks about poetry and writing to the group, and the poems she brought for us to read and discuss, consider as models and inspiration.—Genevieve Carminati, Maryland

To apply, please email three poems along with two paragraphs that describe your poetry background, your interest in attending the retreat, and your writing goals and/or challenges. Send to Jan Freeman at janfreemanpoetry@gmail.com. This retreat is limited to 10 poets. Sign up soon!

Cost:

$600. Financial assistance available until distributed.

Proof of vaccination is required.

Admission to MASS MoCA, the Clark Art Institute, and the Williams College Museum of Art is included for the days we visit each museum.

Poets are responsible for room and board. A variety of hotels can be found at https://berkshires.org/business-directory/hotels. Discounted rooms are available until September 6 at Hotel Downstreet (across from MASS MoCA). Contact Kelsey and mention the MASS MoCA Writing Through Art Poetry Retreat for the special rate: (413) 663-6500, https://www.hoteldownstreet.com

Questions? Contact: Jan Freeman at janfreemanpoetry@gmail.com.

Sign up with your poetry pals for a rich and memorable experience.

Come solo or sign up with your poetry friends. Please share this link with your poetry world!

Join Jan Freeman, acclaimed poet and Paris Press founding director (1995–2018), for the sixth Writing Through Art: MASS MoCA Poetry Retreat, With Art From Around the World, November 12–November 14.

In this transformative 3-day poetry retreat, we will create drafts while exploring the ways in which art can invite new perceptions, language, memories, and emotions. The focus: to open your imagination and your senses as you write, and to express your emotional truth. Workshops will take place via Zoom, but participants can make arrangements to stay in North Adams or Williamstown to enjoy MASS MoCA and the Clark Art Institute in person. New and experienced poets are welcome!

Unique prompts and writing exercises will help you shed self-consciousness and find powerful new ways of expressing yourself. 90-minute workshops in the mornings and late afternoons will introduce you to artwork from MASS MoCA, the Clark Art Institute, and museums and galleries from around the world.

Each poet will receive a private 60-minute conference to discuss your poems, creative goals, or a manuscript in progress.

The retreat begins on Friday November 12 at 10:30 a.m.. EST. Each day, workshops will take place from 10:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. and from 4:00 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.

Enrollment is open until the retreat is full. Maximum number of students: 8.

Click here to contact Jan Freeman at janfreemanpoetry@gmail.com for additional information and to sign up!

Please note: Though the November workshops will take place via Zoom., retreat participants are welcome to independently make reservations at hotels or Airbnb’s in the Williamstown/North Adams area so that you can spend time at MASS MoCA and the Clark Art Institute while enjoying the experience of late fall in the Berkshires. https://massmoca.org/visit/stay/ https://destinationwilliamstown.org/

Application

Please email a brief paragraph to Jan Freeman at janfreemanpoetry@gmail.com, describing your interest in the Writing Through Art Poetry Retreat, and your poetry background. All levels of experience are welcome.

Tuition

$450. Payment via Venmo or PayPal . Checks can be sent to Jan Freeman, Writing Through Art, P.O. Box 487, Ashfield, MA 01330. One $200 discount is offered to a poet who expresses need for financial assistance.

To reserve your space, contact Jan Freeman at janfreemanpoetry@gmail.com. A maximum of 8 poets will be accepted.

Please share this link with your poetry friends!

Join Jan Freeman, acclaimed poet and Paris Press founding director (1995–2018), for the fifth Writing Through Art: MASS MoCA Poetry Retreat, with art from around the world, June 9 – 15.

In this transformative 6-day poetry retreat, we will experiment, play, and create dozens of drafts while exploring the ways in which art can create a portal, inviting new perceptions, memories, and emotions. The focus of the retreat is on opening our imaginations and sharpening all of our senses as we write. Workshops will take place via Zoom, but participants can make arrangements to stay in North Adams or Williamstown to enjoy MASS MoCA and the Clark Art Institute in person. New and experienced poets are welcome!

Unique prompts and writing exercises will help you shed self-consciousness and find powerful new ways of expressing yourself. 90-minute workshops in the mornings and late afternoons will introduce you to artwork from MASS MoCA, the Clark Art Institute, and museums and galleries from around the world.

Each poet will receive a private 60-minute conference to discuss your poems, creative goals, or a manuscript in progress.

The retreat begins with a welcome gathering and introduction on Wednesday, June 9, at 7:00 p.m. EST. Workshop schedule: 10: 00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Enrollment is open until the retreat is full. Maximum number of students: 8.

Click here to contact Jan Freeman at janfreemanpoetry@gmail.com for additional information and to sign up!

Please note: Though the June workshops will take place via Zoom., retreat participants are welcome to independently make reservations at hotels or Airbnb’s in the Williamstown/North Adams area so that you can spend time at MASS MoCA and the Clark Art Institute while enjoying the experience of glorious June in the Berkshires. https://massmoca.org/visit/stay/ https://destinationwilliamstown.org/

Application

Please email a brief paragraph to Jan Freeman at janfreemanpoetry@gmail.com, describing your interest in the Writing Through Art Poetry Retreat, and your poetry background. All levels of experience are very welcome!

Tuition

$800. Payment via Venmo or PayPal preferred. Or checks can be sent to Jan Freeman, Writing Through Art, P.O. Box 487, Ashfield, MA 01330. One $200 discount is offered to a poet who expresses the need for financial assistance.

To reserve your space, contact Jan Freeman at janfreemanpoetry@gmail.com. A maximum of 8 poets will be accepted.

Please share this link with your poetry friends!

Join Jan Freeman, acclaimed poet and Paris Press founding director (1995–2018), for the fourth Writing Though Art: MASS MoCA Poetry Retreat, with art from around the world.

In this 3-day poetry retreat, you will explore the ways in which paintings, sculptures, and installations can open a portal, inviting new perceptions, memories, and emotions as you experiment, play, and create drafts. The focus of the retreat is on the process of writing and opening the imagination. New and experienced poets are welcome!

Unique prompts and writing exercises will help you shed self-consciousness and open your senses, fueling your imagination and your creative expression. Daily morning and late-afternoon 90-minute workshops will introduce you to artwork from MASS MoCA, the Clark Art Institute, and museums and galleries from around the world.

Each poet will receive a private 60-minute conference to discuss your poems and creative goals.

The retreat begins with a welcome gathering and introduction on Thursday, January 14 at 7:00 p.m. EST. Workshop schedule: 10: 00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. each morning and 3:30 p.m. – 5:00 p.m each afternoon.

Enrollment is accepted until the retreat is full.

Click here to contact Jan Freeman at janfreemanpoetry@gmail.com for additional information and to sign up!

Please note: The January retreat will take place via Zoom. We will resume in-person retreats at MASS MoCA as soon as it is safe to do so!

Application

Please email a brief paragraph to Jan Freeman at janfreemanpoetry@gmail.com, describing your interest in the Writing Through Art poetry retreat, and your poetry background. All levels of experience are very welcome!

Tuition

$450. Payment via Venmo or PayPal preferred. Or checks can be sent to Jan Freeman, Writing Through Art, P.O. Box 487, Ashfield, MA 01330.

To reserve your space, contact Jan Freeman at janfreemanpoetry@gmail.com. A maximum of 8 poets will be accepted.

Please share this link with your poetry friends!

This 6-week poetry workshop will begin via Zoom on Monday, October 26 @ 7:00 p.m. EST. Each workshop will include constructive feedback on your poems, generative prompts from art and the natural world to open your imagination and creative expression, and affirming and inspiring poems by acclaimed poets from the U.S. and around the world. The workshops in this 6-week session are 90 minutes. Tuition is $360 (due by October 25). Payment via Venmo or PayPal preferred. For additional information and to sign up now, please email Jan Freeman at janfreemanpoetry@gmail.com

Join Jan Freeman, acclaimed poet and Paris Press founding director (1995–2018), for the Autumn Writing Through Art: The MASS MoCA Poetry Retreat.

Due to the pandemic, the October retreat will take place via Zoom. Tuition has been reduced to reflect the online venue. We will resume retreats at MASS MoCA as soon as it is safe to do so!

In this 6-day poetry retreat, you will explore the ways in which art can open your perceptions and emotions as you write. Through unique daily prompts and exercises, you will experience the expansive effects that paintings, sculpture, and installations can provide, feeding your imagination and creative expression. Morning and late afternoon workshops will introduce you to artwork on exhibit at MASS MoCA and the Clark Art Institute. New and experienced poets are welcome.

Each poet will receive a private 60-minute conference, focusing on your poems, creative goals, and/or your manuscript.

Deadline to enroll: As soon as retreat is full.

Contact Jan Freeman at janfreemanpoetry@gmail.com for additional information and to sign up!

Application

Please email Jan Freeman a brief paragraph about your poetry background. All levels of experience are welcome!

Tuition

$800. Tuition has been substantially reduced to reflect the online venue.

To reserve your space, contact: Jan Freeman at janfreemanpoetry@gmail.com. A maximum of 8 poets will be accepted.

Please share this link with your poetry friends!

Join Jan Freeman, acclaimed poet and Paris Press founding director (1995–2018), for the summer MASS MoCA Ekphrastic Poetry Retreat at the Studios @ MASS MoCA Artist Residency Center in the heart of the Berkshires.

Due to COVID and adherence to social distancing, 3 participants will attend in person and 5 participants will attend via Zoom. All discussions, workshops, exercises, and readings will take place via Zoom. If MASS MoCA must close in August, the retreat will take place entirely via Zoom. Tuition for Zoom participants will be substantially reduced to reflect the online venue.

Explore the many ways that visual art can open your poems and perception in this expansive 6-day writing retreat. Through daily prompts, discussions, exercises, and readings, you will experience how paintings, prints, sculpture, and installations can provide access to memories, emotion, and the imagination. With morning workshops, visits to exhibits (online and in person), and afternoon writing time in your private studio and in the galleries of MASS MoCA and the Clark Art Institute. New and experienced poets are welcome.

Each participant receives a private 60-minute manuscript consultation or a conference focusing on 6 poems of your choice. A more in-depth manuscript consultation is available for an additional fee.

The Summer Ekphrastic Poetry Retreat presently has 3 openings for Zoom attendence. If you would like to be put on a waiting list, please contact Jan Freeman at janfreemanpoetry@gmail.com.

Contact Jan Freeman for additional information and to sign up!

Studio space at the museum, accommodations, and cost

Included:

Private writing studio at the museum, with 24/7 access.

Private bedroom (queen-sized bed) with bathroom and kitchen in the MASS MoCA 2nd floor, 4-bedroom apartments across the street from the museum.

Free admission to MASS MoCA, the Clark Art Institute, and the Williams College Museum of Art throughout the week. Access to museums will depend on COVID restrictions.

Welcome Zoom cocktail party on August 12.

Free parking.

Extras:

The Berkshires in August is a haven for outdoor activities. Due to COVID, activities at Tanglewood, Jacob’s Pillow, Shakespeare & Company, Williamstown Theatre Festival, and Barrington Stage are canceled this summer.

Cost:

$1,500. Limited financial assistance is available. Zoom tuition is $800.

To reserve your space, contact: Jan Freeman at janfreemanpoetry@gmail.com.

Please share this link with your poetry friends!

Join Jan Freeman, poet and founding director of Paris Press (1995–2018), for the MASS MoCA Ekphrastic Poetry Retreat at the Studios at MASS MoCA Artist Residency Center in the heart of the Berkshires.

Enroll now through July 7, 2019.

Contact janfreemanpoetry@gmail.com to sign up or ask questions.

Create new poems and work on your manuscript surrounded by art and the beauty of autumn foliage in the Berkshires

Write and revise poems, enjoy daily writing prompts, discussions, readings, and workshops. Explore the many ways that you can use visual art and metaphor to express love, fear, anger, grief, joy, and a multitude of experiences in your poems.

Paintings and sculptures, along with metaphors that arise from the natural landscape, can feed our imaginations and help us access emotions, memories, and language with immediacy and surprise. Join this intimate, eight-person workshop to write and revise poems as you explore the visual feasts of MASS MoCA, the Clark Institute, and the Williams College Museum of Art. New and experienced poets are welcome.

Each participant will receive a private 60-minute manuscript consultation or a conference focusing on 6 poems of your choice. In-depth manuscript consultations will be available for an additional fee.

Studio space at the museum, accommodations, and cost

Included:
Private writing studio at the museum, with 24/7 access.

Private bedroom (queen-sized bed) with shared bathroom and kitchen in two four-bedroom apartments across the street from MASS MoCA.

Free admission to MASS MoCA, the Clark Art Institute, and the Williams College Museum of Art throughout the week.

Welcome dinner on Oct. 23.

Lunches at MASS MoCA’s eatery Lickety Split, Oct. 24 – Oct. 28.

Free parking

Cost:
$1,500. Limited financial assistance is available on a first come, first serve basis.

To reserve your space and to request additional information, contact: janfreemanpoetry@gmail.com.

Please share this link with your poetry friends!