33 Hawley is located on unceded Nipmuc, Pocumtuc, and Nonotuck land. The building, owned by the Northampton Community Arts Trust, is intended to provide affordable and accessible space for the arts to the local community in perpetuity.
As tenants of 33 Hawley, the Northampton Center for the Arts (NCFA) acknowledges that we operate on unceded Indigenous land. We recognize that a land acknowledgment alone is not sufficient. Meaningful acknowledgment must be accompanied by monetary support and tangible action as part of a larger process of repair.
Since 2022, NCFA has committed to an annual contribution of $500 to the Nipmuc Indian Development Corporation (NIDC), a 501(c)(3) organization supporting cultural preservation and sovereignty for the Nipmuc People.
We invite renters, artists, students, and community members to join us in this commitment by contributing a voluntary $5 donation each time they participate in a class, rental, performance, or event through NCFA. Every contribution helps.
In 2024, NCFA began a relationship with Ohketeau Cultural Center, a Native-led organization and community space in present-day Ashfield, MA. Ohketeau is dedicated to uplifting the voices of Indigenous peoples and dismantling unjust systems—replacing them with frameworks rooted in accessibility, equity, dignity, and wellness for Native communities. Ohketeau allows for the opportunity for interdisciplinary education through cultural workshops, dance, music, art, and activities that allows participants the opportunity to fully express their talents. The partnership with NCFA provides easily accessible, centrally located space for some of Ohketeau’s public-facing programs.
To contribute to the Northampton Center for the Arts’ efforts towards repair with our Indigenous community members, please send any amount via Paypal or Venmo, with “Indigenous Land Commitment” in the memo line. Any money raised above the $500 commitment to the NIDC will go to our Community Fund, which supports space use for Ohketeau programs.*
For more information about the Nipmuc People, please watch this video of Cheryll Toney Holley, Sonsq of the Hassanamisco Band of the Nipmuc People, or visit their FAQ resource.
For more information about Ohketeau Cultural Center, please visit their website.
*We are inviting this voluntary payment from people who use the spaces here at 33 Hawley, however we understand that some people may want to send money directly to the NIDC or Ohketeau Cultural Center. Online donations to the NIDC are not possible at this time, but checks may be mailed to the Nipmuc Indian Development Corporation, PO Box 60127, Worcester, MA 01606. Direct donations to Ohketeau Cultural Center can be made through their website here.