Two Massachusetts Small Town Art Scenes Are Among The Best In America

Small towns in New England are known for their rustic charm. Artists likely find inspiration in these towns. USA Today's 10Best recently named two Massachusetts towns in a feature highlighting the best small town art scene.

The requirements here were that each town listed has a population under 30,000. "What each of these towns lacks in size, they make up for with museums, art galleries, performing arts, and busy event calendars," 10Best explains.

In Massachusetts, these great small-town art scenes are both along the Berkshires. Tanglewood music venue, which always draws incredible shows, is less than 30 miles away. Moreover, the two Massachusetts towns applauded here are actually just six miles from each other, in the northwestern part of the state.

So what are they?

This is the home of The Clark, an institute with a dual mission as an art museum and a distinguished center for research and higher education. You can visit their museum, their extensive library, attend a concert or a drop-in watercolor painting seminar. William College campus is also nestled in here. On Spring St. you'll often find a colorful array of privately owned businesses. You'll often find seasonal craft fairs that match the town's vibrant colors in Williamstown. Further, they typically feature local artists.

Pull out of Williamstown, and head east on Route 2 for about fifteen minutes, and you will arrive at the second town (ranked #3) on 10Best's list of small-town art scenes you need to know about. "As the home of the Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art, one of the biggest contemporary art museums in the country, North Adams attracts many artists and art lovers," 10Best states. In addition, this is the site of the Fresh Grass Festival in late September.

While the Berkshires out in western Massachusetts is certainly well-known for their quiet and peaceful nature, its also where you will go to find two of the best small town art scenes in the country.

"We have been given the name of Merch King Kong by our peers," Dino Funari, founder of Vitamin Sea Brewing says. That is because this brewery has some of the most recognizable merchandise in Massachusetts.

Chances are you've seen (or have) a hat or t-shirt that sports the branding "VSB," "South Shore," "Sea," an ocean/sunrise vector, or a duck on it. That's all Vitamin Sea Brewing. In fact, some of their items are so popular they fly off the shelf as soon as they are stocked. Furthermore, you can't buy them online. They are all purchased onsite.

Vitamin Sea Brewing opened in February of 2019. Their taproom (and headquarters) in Weymouth features twelve taps covering a wide range of craft beer styles. IPAs and stouts are also available to purchase in cans. Some of the beers vary per season, while others are more standard. The Summer IPA, currently on tap, for example, is hopped with Citra, Cascade, and Columbus hops. In addition, on tap number 12, you will find Seas and Desist Blueberry Lemonade. This is Vitamin Sea's take on hard seltzer.

Their location has a beer garden feel where outdoor seating is available, and they typically partner with food trucks onsite at least three days per week. If you go inside VSB's Weymouth home base, you will find a colorful wall of t-shirts adjacent to the bar and rack of hats, jackets, sweatshirts and more along the right-side wall.

"Our marketing strategy happened organically. Well before we opened, I was handing out hats, t-shirts, pins, and stickers to get the word out. And it paid off. We’re constantly asked to advertise monetarily, but we see more value in getting our merch out to people or groups (musicians, athletes, media personalities) with their own audiences and fan bases, which introduces them to our brand," Funari explains, about VSB's intent to create such merch.

They have one of New England's more recognizable logos. Whether you are walking in downtown Portland, ME or attending the Levitate Music and Artist Festival in Marshfield, it is likely you will see the Vitamin Sea round logo or duck along the way. People are proud to represent the passion that Vitamin Sea pours into everything they do. Wearing their gear also shows pride in where you are from.

Here, Funari will take us inside the taproom to provide some insight into this killer Vitamin Sea Brewing merch.