North Adams, like many towns and cities in America, has tried to revive itself by developing an arts industry. And there are signs that opening the Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art has proved to be a big boost. MASS MoCA is drawing about 120,000 visitors a year, putting it in the top tier of modern art museums outside New York. There’s a little frontier spirit here; there are opportunities for people, like the early days of SoHo. You don’t want it too perfect. Artists are small business operators; each new mill building that’s renovated for artists brings about $1 million into the local economy. If a few more buildings are done it will make this a very interesting town.”