MASS MoCA Celebrates 20 Years w/ Free Admission and More

The Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art is bringing in some heavy hitters to celebrate their 20th Anniversary including Annie Lennox and The Pretenders, plus the world renown museum is giving Berkshire County residents an entire week to enjoy the space for free.

The summer season will kick off with a week of free admission for Berkshire County residents, with proof residency, running May 6-13. Communications Director Jodi Joseph announced that summer hours will be starting sooner and lasting longer. Summer hours will start June 15 and the museum will be open every day, 10 to 6, with late hours some nights, through Oct. 14.

According to iBerkshires.com, the celebration will kick off with Annie Lennox on May 25th along with a public block party in the main courtyard featuring performances, games, including giant pong, activities and food from 5:30 to 8:30 and party band Tank and the Bangas perform beginning at 8:30. Lennox has already been in residence for several weeks and will be featured in An Afternoon of Conversation & Song with Annie Lennox at 4 p.m., a rare solo-acoustic performance to benefit the Annie Lennox Foundation and Mass MoCA's Fund for New Music. The singer-songwriter's foundation supports global human rights issues with a focus on women and children, particularly in regards to HIV/AIDS and homelessness.

The Pretenders will take the stage at Joe's Field on July 26th for a benefit concert which kicks off at 8 pm and is currently the only North American show for the band this summer. Proceeds from the show will go towards the Hans and Kate Morris fund for new music which underwrites new work by emerging and established musicians.

The festivals that have become bookends of MoCA's summer season, Solid Sound and Fresh Grass, will also return. Solid Sound Festival returns June 28–30, featuring Wilco, the band members' side projects, and a lineup curated by the band, including Courtney Barnett, Tortoise, The Feelies, Jonathan Richman, Cate Le Bon, John Hodgman's Comedy Cabaret, the return of Fishing, and more. FreshGrass Festival takes place on Sept. 20-22 with headliners Greensky Bluegrass, Calexico and Iron & Wine, Andrew Bird, Mavis Staples, and more

A full calendar of events and a tickets can be found here.