the clark art institute

2FortheRoadSaratoga

A great place to visit on a cold winters day. The Machine Age Modernism: Prints from the Daniel Cowin Collection introduced us to an art style that we knew little about, but learned shortly to enjoy by attending the outstanding lecture provided by the Clark. I would give it a 5 star except I found the new Center to be a little cold and under utilized, the book store seemed very limited and the cafe underwhelmed us.The art museum, which is part of the original structure, was very impressive with works dating back 700 years and so many pieces by the masters. A place we will go back to. The first Sunday during the winter is free admission. So no one can say they can't afford to see great art.

Eric12302

Thank you for the great review - we're so happy you enjoyed your visit.Free admission is offered on the first Sunday of the month October through May!

silvia20003544

We went to Clark museum for the 2nd time for a family outing. The collection is simply amazing, the audio guide was extremely well designed and provided a lot of information for us to better understand their collection. The building itself is an art! I felt so relaxed whenever I go visit Clark museum. Cons: The parking is a bit far from the entrance so it would be a bit cold in a super windy and cold day.. ( but again , it is about the weather not the Clark!)

JMSfrBOS

Take advantage of the various tools provided by the museum. Top of the list is museum's acoustic / video guide. Extremely well designed presentations of art in every exhibit. Also check the ClarkArt.edu website, especially under "Browse the Collections." Excellent information about the art which is helpful to review, both before and after your visit. The museum's goals include: " ... to help people realize that engaging with art can enhance their lives." Since there is such a variety of art in this wonderful museum, using the museum's excellent resources and tools definitely enhances the visit.

misod2014

I recently visited the Clark Art Institute for the first time and was utterly blown away by the collection. We planned to stay for 3 hours with the hope that we would make it to MassMOCA in North Adams, but soon realized that we would be staying at the Clark for the day.The 19th Century European Art Collection is simply exquisite. I was also REALLY impressed with the American and European Decorative Arts collections. I had such a wonderful time that we bought a family membership and will be returning as soon as possible!

luzita212

You must go. Lovely lovely lovely. Great Impressionists and a gorgeous setting. You can also hike on the grounds.

jptravels952

Be sure to visit The Clark when you're in Williamstown. It's in a gorgeous building in a lovely natural setting.

Brzygal

The permanent collection is worth a visit. The architecture of the museum is breath-taking as it highlights the amazing views. The cafe is also good with reasonably priced food.

PereLeBlanc

The newly-renovated Clark is really quite stunning. I live nearby so go frequently and it is beautiful year-round. The cafe is a quiet place for coffee or a light meal or snack and the special exhibitions and the permanent collection are beautifully displayed. There are also lovely walking paths up the hill and into the woods behind the museum -- about a 45 to 50 minute loop if you take the farthest route. The views of the Berkshire Hills and nearby Vermont mountains is magnificent. While you're in town also check out the Williams College Art Museum and then go to Mass MOCA which is about a 10 minute drive over to North Adams.

petersZ3789GK

Beautiful structure and a first-class collection of Impressionist art. And being by the pool, looking towards the autumn-colored hills was a wonderful bonus. We loved it and highly recommend it. It is not to be missed.

Mojo01267

I live in town, and the Clark has always been a refuge. It is now a bit crowded in the summer time to bring small children in -- too many big people around to see anything if you are that small! They do have a nice activity sheet for readers, and do look for the family days they have occasionally, when there are plenty of activities for kids of all ages.For Adults this is a wonderful museum. A must see if you like Impressionists, but it also has so much more. The setting alone is worth the visit. It is fun getting to know this museum really well. Now, when we see a big retrospective exhibition, I can usually find several works in the exhibition which come from the Clark -- that is how good their collection is. Other museums are embarrassed by how much they keep going to the Clark to ask for loans. Why not see them in their home museum?

L8227EYkens

Thanks Ken - we're so happy that you found the architecture so pleasing. There is so much to love about the Clark, even if you don't like Impressionism.

Brooklyn478

Fantastic museum and very stunning new entrance, cafe and gift shop. Especially visually stunning on a cold snowy Valentine's day. The art is world class and on par with NY museums and an overall delightful experience while in the Birkshires. Especially the Renior's and two very unique Sargent paintings.

892natashar

Thank you for taking time to write your review; we're so pleased you had such an enjoyable experience. But we're sorry that you found some of the changes and architecture difficult to navigate. Please know that we are constantly working on things like signage and visitor flow. We look forward to WARMYLY welcoming you in the future.

aBoater

Thank you for taking time to write your review; we love to hear from our visitors! Architecture, like art, is subject to personal taste and not all styles are appealing to everyone; sometimes change just takes a little getting used to. I hope you will visit again this summer to see our Van Gogh and Nature exhibition and experience the new galleries in a different way. In addition to funding the construction of the new Clark Center, the $145 million project cost also provided for the new landscape (which you MUST come back to see in the summer) and the extensive renovations to the museum building.