BARN DOOR GALLERY FUND

Invest in Equity, Expression, and Access through the Visual Arts

The Barn Door Gallery at 33 Hawley is more than just a place to display artwork—it’s a space for dialogue, discovery, and connection. As part of the Northampton Center for the Arts, the gallery reflects our commitment to fostering inclusive, community-rooted arts infrastructure in Western Massachusetts.

Your donation to the Barn Door Gallery Fund helps us keep this space accessible, inclusive, and artist-centered. It supports fair curatorial practices, diverse programming, and the long-term sustainability of a gallery that is rooted in equity, care, and creativity.

OUR MISSION & VALUES

  • Create an art space that is welcoming to a wide range of artists and mediums

  • Operate with transparency and inclusion in our curatorial practices

  • Expand access to gallery opportunities—especially for emerging, low-income, and underrepresented artists

  • Maintain financial sustainability so the space remains available for years to come

All curatorial decisions are guided by a rotating committee of NCFA staff, board members, and community members, and we uphold a strong commitment to listening and adapting based on feedback from our artists and audiences.

OUR COMMITMENT TO REPRESENTATION

At NCFA, we recognize that arts institutions have historically upheld systems of exclusion—through cost barriers, gatekeeping, and elitist norms. We are actively working to dismantle those patterns and reimagine what a community gallery can be.

In the first three years of the Barn Door Gallery:

  • At least 50% of exhibiting artists will identify as BIPOC

  • At least 50% will identify as LGBTQIA+ (with the understanding that identities often intersect)

  • One exhibit each year will be dedicated to emerging artists, prioritizing those who have never shown work in a gallery

  • We will prioritize artists within a 30-mile radius and consider those within 60 miles or with local ties

  • We will continue to provide no application fees, marketing support, reception refreshments, and resources for low-barrier submissions and installation

WHY YOUR SUPPORT MATTERS

Maintaining this space and living out these values requires ongoing resources. Donations to the Barn Door Gallery Fund help us:

  • Pay artists and curators fairly

  • Keep the space affordable and welcoming

  • Invest in programming that reflects the richness and diversity of our community

  • Build a sustainable future for inclusive visual arts in our region

  • Fund professional staff to manage and administer the gallery with care, consistency, and community accountability.

Help us make space for all artists.

SUPPORT THE BARN DOOR GALLERY